TagEnvironmental Impact Statement(328)

The Burien Airport Committee held a virtual meeting on June 16, 2020, to discuss airport-related policy matters including a draft letter to Port Commissioners about the post-COVID 'new normal' for aviation, an update on the NEPA Environmental Impact Statement process, and coordination with other cities on re-engaging with the StART (Sea-Tac Airport Roundtable) forum. Minutes from the May 19, 2020 meeting reflect committee discussions about reduced flight noise during the Stay Home order and the need for strategic communication with Port Commissioners regarding economic development and airport expansion impacts on Burien residents.

In April 2020, U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal, Adam Smith, and Rick Larsen wrote to FAA Administrator Steve Dickson urging a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), arguing that the FAA's planned limited Environmental Assessment was inadequate. The lawmakers contended that a comprehensive cumulative impact review was necessary to properly evaluate decades of growing noise and health impacts on communities surrounding Sea-Tac Airport. They warned that proceeding with a narrower assessment risked legal challenges that could delay critical airport infrastructure projects.

In a March 2020 letter to the FAA Administrator, King County Councilmember Dave Upthegrove urges the FAA to conduct a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) covering both short- and long-term projects for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's expansion, rather than splitting the review into separate studies. Upthegrove argues that a piecemeal approach risks undermining the integrity of the environmental analysis, particularly given the airport's significant noise and air pollution impacts on surrounding communities. He calls for the comprehensive EIS to include mitigation strategies addressing all projects outlined in the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP).

In a March 10, 2020 letter to Burien Mayor Jimmy Matta, FAA Regional Administrator David C. Suomi explained that an Environmental Assessment (EA) — not a full Environmental Impact Statement — is the appropriate level of review for Sea-Tac Airport's Near Term Projects (NTP), which are designed to meet projected demand through 2027. The EA will evaluate all resource categories and cumulative impacts from past, present, and foreseeable projects on and near the airport. The FAA noted that preparing an EA does not rule out a future Environmental Impact Statement if significant impacts are identified.

In March 2020, the Burien City Council wrote to the FAA requesting a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that fully accounts for the cumulative noise and air quality impacts of Sea-Tac Airport's rapid growth, which saw operations increase by nearly 30% between 2014 and 2018. The letter argues that multiple airport expansion projects — including new terminal gates and altered flight paths — were each approved without significant environmental review, but together have caused substantial harm to surrounding communities. The council also cites a 2019 Ninth Circuit Court ruling that found the FAA failed to properly assess cumulative impacts, and demands the agency conduct a thorough analysis using a pre-expansion baseline of 2013.

The Burien Airport Committee met in January and February 2020 to address concerns related to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, including efforts to push the FAA to conduct a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) rather than a lesser Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Sustainable Airport Master Plan. The committee also discussed re-engagement with the StART (Sea-Tac Airport Roundtable) process, involving six cities in dialogue with the Port of Seattle, and planned a joint visit to Washington, D.C. in March 2020 to advocate for community interests on airport noise and expansion issues.

The Port of Seattle requested $3.4 million in additional funding to complete environmental review studies required under federal (NEPA) and state (SEPA) law for planned near-term expansion projects at Sea-Tac Airport. The cost increase was driven by a two-year planning delay, expanded public engagement in multiple languages, additional technical analyses including aircraft noise, air quality, and environmental justice studies, and a decision to produce two separate review documents instead of one combined report. The contract with aviation environmental consulting firm Landrum & Brown brings the total project cost to $6.4 million.

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.

In summer 2019, Burien City Manager Brian Wilson coordinated with partner cities (Normandy Park, SeaTac, and Des Moines) and federal relations consultants at Lockridge Grindal Nauen to review a Port of Seattle presentation on the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Near-Term Projects Environmental Review, which had been delivered to the Burien City Council on June 17, 2019. The emails show Wilson requesting that consultant Emily Tranter analyze the presentation given by Port of Seattle Director of Aviation, Environment, and Sustainability Arlyn Purcell, in order to help the cities determine their next steps in responding to the airport's environmental review process. Wilson followed up with additional comments and questions on the resulting review, reflecting ongoing community concern about the potential noise and environmental impacts of planned airport expansion projects.

This document contains a May 2019 legal invoice from Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P. to the City of Burien for $2,750, covering 13.5 hours of attorney work related to environmental assessment modeling and preparation for client meetings on federal and stakeholder engagement strategies. The accompanying email chain shows City of SeaTac Community & Economic Development Director Steve Pilcher approving payment of the revised invoice after an error in the original billing was corrected by attorney Emily Tranter. The work appears connected to airport noise and environmental policy efforts involving both the City of Burien and the City of SeaTac.