TagEcology(797)

Internal email from Tom Luster to Kevin Fitzpatrick dated January 12, 2000, discussing the legal distinction between Clean Water Act Section 401(d) and Section 402(a) as applied to Sea-Tac Airport water quality (WQ) and State Environmental Policy Act (SEA/SEPA) policies. Email quotes statutory language verbatim: 401(d) uses mandatory ‘shall’ language for effluent limitations and monitoring

A December 1999 letter from Port of Seattle Senior Environmental Program Manager Paul W. Agid to the Washington Department of Ecology transmits a 'potential sites' table and map identifying locations at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport where historical operations may have caused soil or groundwater contamination. The document, compiled in compliance with an Agreed Order under Washington's Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA), lists twelve potential sites including former gas stations, fuel tanks, hydrant lines, and maintenance areas. The sites were identified based on past operational activities that had since been discontinued or modified prior to current environmental regulations.

This 1998/1999 study by the Washington State Department of Ecology monitored levels of oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter in the SeaTac area, likely in relation to emissions from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and surrounding traffic. Prepared by Jim Frost and Doug Knowlton of Ecology's Air Program, the report assessed local air quality conditions during that period. It serves as a technical reference for understanding pollution levels near the airport in the late 1990s.

Ground Water Flow Map for the C1 Aquifer prepared by Associated Earth Sciences, Inc. (project no. 8V07019, figure 7) as part of a Ground Water Study at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, dated 12/02/99. The map covers the Sea-Tac Airport area including Normandy Park, City of SeaTac, Tukwila, Des Moines, and surrounding Puget Sound shorelines. Shows ground

This October 1999 draft document outlines resolved and unresolved regulatory issues related to a Sea-Tac Airport expansion project, focusing primarily on stormwater management, wetland mitigation, and water quality concerns. Key unresolved issues include compliance with Ecology and King County Stormwater Manuals, the role of a proposed Regional Detention Facility (RDF) in wetlands, de-icing impacts on dissolved oxygen levels, and instream flow reductions in Des Moines Creek. Additional concerns involve NPDES permit compliance, clean fill criteria, legal proceedings before the Pollution Control Hearings Board, and whether a shoreline permit is needed for an Auburn mitigation site.

Dissolved Oxygen Deicing Study prepared by Cosmopolitan Engineering Group for Port Of Seattle Sea-Tac International Airport (AR042698, August 1999), examining impacts of de-icing agents from airport stormwater runoff on Miller Creek and Des Moines Creek, including BOD5 discharges to NW Ponds and Lake Reba. Accompanied by Washington State Department of Ecology (NWRO) response letter dated

In this October 1999 letter, the Washington State Department of Ecology reviewed a study by the Port of Seattle examining how de-icing chemicals used at Sea-Tac International Airport affect water quality in Miller and Des Moines Creeks. Ecology found significant deficiencies in the study, including incorrect water quality classifications, too few de-icing events sampled, and inadequate monitoring methods, concluding that dissolved oxygen levels in both creeks frequently failed to meet applicable standards. The agency requested that the Port resubmit the study with corrections before a determination could be made about whether de-icing operations were being properly managed to protect local waterways.

In this October 1999 internal memo, Washington State Department of Ecology staffer Tom Luster describes a meeting with his supervisor Paula regarding the agency's water quality review of Sea-Tac Airport expansion. Luster explains that he cannot yet provide 'reasonable assurance' that the Port of Seattle's proposal will meet water quality standards for Des Moines Creek, citing inadequate stormwater treatment plans and the Port's removal of flow augmentation measures from its mitigation plan. He expresses concern that management pressure to approve the project quickly could compromise the integrity of the regulatory review process.

Email chain from Raymond Hellwig (Washington State Department of Ecology) to Thomas Fitzsimmons and Bill Alkire, cc’ing Carol Jolly, Ron Langley, Tom Luster, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Dave Garland, Erik Stockdale, Roger Nye, and Paul David Carr, dated September 17, 1999. Discusses Governor’s reported commitment to Sea-Tac legislators (Paterson et al.) that the Section 401 Water Quality

Internal email from Tom Luster (Ecology) to Raymond Hellwig, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Erik Stockdale, and Paula Ehlers, dated September 16, 1999, regarding SeaTac Airport 401 certification and compliance with water quality standards under the Clean Water Act. Discusses non-attainment of water quality standards in Des Moines Creek and Miller Creek, antidegradation requirements, Level 2 detention requirements,