TagEcology(787)

The Washington State Department of Ecology sent a letter to Megan King at Port of Seattle requesting updated information about contaminated sites at SeaTac Airport by August 31, 2026. The letter explains the Site Hazard Assessment and Ranking Process (SHARP) used to evaluate contamination in soil, groundwater, surface water, sediment, and indoor air. Six specific

A community report from the Washington State Department of Ecology providing information about air quality, demographic data, greenhouse gas emissions, and health impacts for the South Seattle community. The report identifies the community as overburdened and highly impacted by air pollution based on screening criteria.

An environmental justice report by the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Air Quality Program analyzing air pollution impacts in South King County communities. The report provides demographic data, air quality information, and health impact assessments for overburdened communities highly impacted by air pollution.

A network plan for ambient air monitoring by the Air Quality Program of the Washington State Department of Ecology. The document outlines contact information, regional office structure, and accessibility policies for the department’s air quality monitoring initiatives.

This 2025 Ambient Air Monitoring Network Plan, published by the Washington State Department of Ecology's Air Quality Program, outlines the state's ambient air quality monitoring network across Washington. Authored by Jill Schulte and released in June 2025, it provides regional office contact information and details the counties served by each of Ecology's four regional offices. Note: this document covers air quality monitoring statewide and does not contain content specifically related to Sea-Tac Airport noise policy.

This October 2024 report from the Washington State Department of Ecology examines options for collecting and disposing of Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF), a firefighting chemical that contains harmful PFAS compounds. The Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement evaluates the potential environmental effects of different collection and disposal methods for this toxic foam, which has historically been used at airports and military facilities. It is published by Ecology's Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program and is unrelated to airport noise policy.

The Tub Lake/Sunset Park site in SeaTac, located one mile north of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, was contaminated by decades of illegal dumping of waste oil and bilge oil from ships between 1941 and 1945, as well as leaking underground storage tanks at a King County road maintenance facility. Environmental sampling conducted in 1990 detected petroleum hydrocarbons, benzene, and other chemicals exceeding cleanup standards in soil, sediment, and water, with contamination estimated to cover 2-3 acres up to 12 feet deep beneath nearby playing fields. The Port of Seattle, which owns the southern wetlands portion of the site including Tub Lake, fenced the area in the 1970s after demolishing residences in the airport's landing pathway, though public access and ongoing contamination remained concerns at the time of the assessment.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Negative Determination in July 2024, concluding that planned near-term construction and equipment relocation projects at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) are not reasonably likely to cause effects on Washington State's coastal zone. The 31 Near-Term Projects, which include taxiway extensions, blast pad expansions, and relocation of navigational aids, are part of the airport's Sustainable Airport Master Plan and are scheduled to begin construction in 2026. The FAA requested written concurrence from the Washington State Department of Ecology, while the Port of Seattle remains responsible for separate consistency certification for any projects requiring Clean Water Act permits.

The FAA issued a Negative Determination in July 2024, concluding that planned near-term construction and equipment-relocation projects at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport are not likely to cause effects on Washington State's coastal zone. The 31 Near-Term Projects—drawn from the airport's Sustainable Airport Master Plan—include taxiway extensions, blast pad expansions, and high-speed runway exits, with FAA involvement limited to relocating navigational aids and adjusting flight procedures on airport property. The Washington State Department of Ecology was asked to concur with this finding under the Coastal Zone Management Act.