TagEnvironmental Impact Statement(328)

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 May 2019, Burien City Manager Brian Wilson updated the Burien Airport Committee on the cities' joint effort to respond to the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), which outlines airport expansion through 2027. The cities of Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, and SeaTac formed an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) and hired the Washington DC firm Lockridge Grindal Nauen to help review and comment on the SAMP's environmental impact process. Key community concerns raised in the accompanying September 2018 scoping letter include aircraft noise, air quality, traffic congestion, and the disproportionate burden placed on neighborhoods closest to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

ATAC Corporation, an aviation analysis firm based in Santa Clara, CA, plays a major role in developing the FAA's Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT), which models aircraft noise and emissions at both local and global scales. The document also includes a letter from the FAA's Seattle Airports District Office congratulating an airport on the approval of its Part 150 Noise Compatibility Program, a formal plan aimed at reducing or eliminating incompatible land uses around the airport. The FAA notes that approval of the program does not guarantee federal funding, and encourages the airport to periodically review and update the plan as conditions change.

The Burien Airport Committee (BAC) met on October 16, 2018 to discuss aviation noise issues related to Sea-Tac Airport, including a review of Federal Way's Quiet and Healthy Skies Task Force recommendations and public comments on the Sea-Tac Airport Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Environmental Impact Statement. The committee also received updates on the City of Burien's legal petition challenging the FAA's approval of a 250-degree flight heading over Burien, which was described as still in early litigation stages. Additional topics included FAA funding for noise mitigation staff, a Washington State Department of Commerce airport impacts study, and a regional aviation baseline study by the Puget Sound Regional Council.

In September 2018, the cities of SeaTac, Burien, Normandy Park, and Des Moines submitted joint scoping comments urging the Port of Seattle to broaden its environmental review of the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) beyond just near-term construction projects. The cities argued that cumulative impacts — including a projected 60% increase in aircraft operations and 75% rise in passengers by 2034 — require a full analysis of noise, air quality, and traffic effects on nearby communities. They also called for a baseline period starting in 2012, rather than 2018, to capture the significant growth and airspace changes that have already occurred without adequate environmental review.

The City of SeaTac submitted formal scoping comments to the Port of Seattle in September 2018, raising concerns that the environmental review for the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) was too narrowly focused on 'near term projects' and should be expanded to cover the airport's full long-term growth vision. The city also reminded the Port of binding commitments made in a 2018 Interlocal Agreement and a 2015 Letter of Understanding, including promises to assess transportation impacts, protect nearby wetlands, and mitigate effects on city streets from increased cargo truck and passenger traffic. Key issues flagged include the impact of new cargo facilities, a proposed employee parking lot near wetlands, and the need to account for public transit use by airport workers and travelers.

In September 2018, Alaska Airlines submitted formal comments to the Port of Seattle during the scoping phase of Sea-Tac Airport's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), urging the Port to conduct a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) rather than a less rigorous Environmental Assessment (EA). The airline argued that an EIS would better withstand legal challenges, produce more meaningful public input, and ultimately be more cost-effective by reducing litigation risk. Alaska Airlines also called on the Port to broaden the range of alternatives under consideration beyond just North Terminal options, since the SAMP's stated purpose addresses airport-wide concerns.

The Burien Airport Committee met on September 18, 2018 to discuss ongoing efforts to address noise and environmental impacts from Sea-Tac Airport, including a legal challenge to the FAA's approval of a 250-degree flight heading over Burien and community engagement in the airport's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) environmental review process. The agenda also covered coordination with neighboring cities, a Washington State airport impacts study, and updates on sound insulation programs. Draft minutes from the July 17, 2018 meeting were included, documenting a presentation on environmental justice concerns related to airport noise affecting minority and low-income communities.

The Burien Aviation Advisory Committee met on September 17, 2018 to discuss the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) and its environmental review process. Key topics included a poorly-received public scoping meeting at Highline College that drew over 300 attendees, and the committee's review of draft scoping comments to be submitted jointly by the cities of Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, and SeaTac. The committee agreed to present a formal letter of scoping comments to City Council on September 27, 2018, ahead of the September 28 submission deadline.