Tagcommunity engagement(276)

On August 14, 2019, Representative Orwall held a stakeholder meeting at Kent City Hall to discuss Port noise-insulation packages affecting homeowners near Sea-Tac Airport. The agenda included background information from an airport study, Public Health – Seattle & King County, and a review of legislative action, followed by homeowner testimonials describing issues such as failed insulation, mold, structural damage, sleep disruption from flight noise, and air quality concerns. Residents shared personal accounts dating back to the 1980s and 1990s, highlighting ongoing frustrations with inadequate soundproofing and health impacts tied to airport operations.

The South King County Fund (SKCF) was established by the Port of Seattle Commission on November 27, 2018, to provide resources and support to communities surrounding Sea-Tac Airport. The fund designated $750,000 for 2019, with total funding not to exceed $10 million between 2019 and 2023. This presentation by Environmental Engagement Program Manager Andy Gregory outlines the fund's origins, guiding principles, legal spending boundaries, and community outreach plans.

The Des Moines, Washington City Council held a Study Session on June 6, 2019, with aviation noise and policy among the key topics on the agenda. The city welcomed aviation consultants James Allerdice and Jason Schwartz from abcx2.com, along with Emily Tranter from federal relations firm Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P., to brief the council on aviation matters relevant to the Sea-Tac Airport area. Public comments were accepted for up to 20 minutes, limited to agenda items per Council Rule 10.

This 2018 Annual Progress Report, published in June 2019 by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), documents progress made under the LAX Master Plan Community Benefits Agreement (CBA), which outlines commitments to surrounding communities affected by airport expansion. The report was prepared by LAWA's Environmental Programs Group and covers areas such as environmental programs, business and social responsibility, and construction activities at Los Angeles International Airport. Note that this document pertains to LAX and is not directly related to Sea-Tac Airport noise policy.

In a May 2019 email, community advocate Sheila Brush shares meeting notes with colleagues outlining key arguments for why Sea-Tac Airport's Part 150 noise compatibility study may be out of compliance, including concerns about lack of transparency in the public scoping process and the unstudied noise impacts of a third runway. The notes also raise questions about whether the Port's plan to fold portions of the Part 150 study into the SAMP and SEPA/EIS processes is appropriate, and whether the EPA's lack of sign-off on the previous study is relevant. Brush expresses gratitude to Sharyn Parker for taking on the effort to formally request a compliance assessment from the FAA.

This March 2019 City Manager's Report from the City of Burien, Washington, covers a range of local government activities including community policing initiatives, youth programs, and regional jail operations. It details partnerships between Burien Police, schools, and community organizations, as well as funding updates for opioid treatment services at the SCORE regional jail facility shared by Burien, SeaTac, and neighboring cities. Note: this document does not contain substantive content related to Sea-Tac Airport noise policy.

The Beacon Hill Seattle Community Noise Team, a group of neighborhood residents working with the University of Washington, has been documenting the disproportionate impact of Sea-Tac Airport aircraft noise on their community. Building on decades of prior advocacy—including a landmark April 2000 report by Citizens for Aircraft Noise Equity—the team highlights that official noise impact assessments still rely on mathematical models rather than actual measured data. Beginning in October 2017, they launched a citizen science effort to conduct systematic, long-term noise measurements throughout the Beacon Hill neighborhood, with a focus on health effects and impacts on children's learning.