TagEIS(62)

228-78-R

These three maps outline proposed area zoning changes in communities surrounding Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, including White Center, Burien, and nearby neighborhoods. The plans identify land targeted for rezoning across residential categories (such as downzoning to single-family or upzoning to multi-family) as well as nonresidential categories (including airport open use, manufacturing, commercial, and air terminal-related business). Dotted boundaries mark primary impact areas around the airport, reflecting efforts to align land use policy with airport noise and operational concerns.

This document outlines the forty most frequently asked questions about the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), covering topics such as how agencies evaluate a range of alternatives, the role of environmental impact statements (EIS), and the use of environmental assessments (EA). It provides plain-language guidance on requirements like the no-action alternative, mitigation measures, public comment periods, and records of decision. While not specific to airport noise, it serves as a foundational reference for understanding the federal environmental review process that governs major infrastructure projects such as those at Sea-Tac Airport.

The Burien Airport Committee met on January 21, 2020 to discuss key aviation issues affecting the city, including advocating for a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) from the FAA rather than a less comprehensive Environmental Assessment (EA) related to Sea-Tac Airport's growth. The agenda also covered topics such as the Port's fuel dumping policy, updates on community re-engagement efforts through StART, and a planned trip to Washington, DC to address airplane noise concerns. Draft minutes from the December 2019 meeting reflect ongoing debates about air quality, health, and safety impacts stemming from airport expansion projects like the International and North Terminals.

These documents relate to community and legal efforts surrounding Sea-Tac Airport flight path and environmental policy in late 2019 and early 2020. They include notes from a December 2019 call with attorney Matt Adams discussing the aftermath of a 9th Circuit Court ruling against the FAA's automated flight turn over Burien, and a letter from 350 Seattle urging Washington State to include climate impacts in a comprehensive Sea-Tac Airport impact study. Key topics include cumulative environmental review requirements, potential EIS obligations under NEPA, and the significant greenhouse gas emissions attributed to Sea-Tac operations.

In a September 2018 letter to the Port of Seattle, Alaska Airlines urged that the environmental review of Sea-Tac Airport's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) be conducted as a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) rather than the less rigorous Environmental Assessment (EA) proposed by the Port and FAA. The airline argued that an EIS would provide stronger legal protection, more meaningful public input, and ultimately prove more cost-effective by reducing litigation risk. Alaska Airlines also pushed back on the Port's plan to focus expansion alternatives solely on a North Terminal, advocating instead for serious consideration of extending and modifying existing Main Terminal concourses as a viable alternative.