TagEnvironmental Justice(114)

This 2021 Tree PAC questionnaire captures Port of Seattle Commissioner candidate responses on environmental justice, tree canopy, and pollution issues affecting South Seattle and South King County communities. The candidate, a fourth-generation Japanese American raised in Beacon Hill, advocates for cleaning up the Duwamish River, preserving North SeaTac Park from development, and expanding urban tree canopy in historically redlined neighborhoods. Key proposals include partnering with cities and King County to strengthen tree protection ordinances, requiring environmental justice evaluations before Port projects, and empowering Indigenous tribes as land stewards.

Washington State's E2SSB 5141, enacted in 2021, requires key state agencies including Transportation and Ecology to incorporate environmental justice principles into their planning and decision-making processes, with a focus on protecting overburdened communities from disproportionate environmental and health harms. Agencies must develop community engagement plans by 2022, environmental justice implementation plans by 2023, and conduct formal environmental justice assessments for significant actions such as new rules, grants, and capital investments. Note: this legislation addresses statewide environmental justice policy broadly and does not specifically address Sea-Tac Airport noise issues.

The Washington 2021 State Energy Strategy, published by the Washington State Department of Commerce in December 2020, outlines a blueprint for transitioning the state to clean energy by 2050, with the goal of nearly eliminating fossil fuel use while sustaining economic growth. The strategy emphasizes affordable and reliable energy, meeting science-based greenhouse gas emission limits, and ensuring that Tribes, rural communities, and low-income households are included as partners in the transition. Note: this document addresses statewide energy and climate policy and does not contain content related to Sea-Tac Airport noise policy.

A University of Washington study found that King County neighborhoods with the highest air pollution levels, concentrated in South King County, also experienced the highest COVID-19 infection rates. These areas are predominantly lower-income communities of color with below-average COVID-19 testing access. Researchers note that environmental health disparities, not air pollution as a direct cause, mirror the patterns of COVID-19 spread, and call for more testing resources and culturally appropriate outreach in affected communities.

Port of Seattle Commission resolution establishing the Century Agenda Policy Directive to codify goals guiding strategic planning, budget, and resource allocation. The resolution formalizes the Port’s 25-year vision of adding 100,000 jobs while reducing environmental footprint, and incorporates amendments for carbon emission reduction goals and increased participation by minority and women-owned businesses.

In November 2018, the Port of Seattle Commission set aside $10 million over five years (2019–2023) to benefit near-airport communities in South King County, with funds intended to address airport noise and support environmental health and sustainability projects. In June 2019, the Commission adopted eight guiding principles to govern the fund, emphasizing community input, equity, innovation, and matching funds where possible. This May 2020 presentation to the Highline Forum provided an update on the fund's progress and priorities.

A peer-reviewed study by researchers from Tufts, UCLA, USC, and the University of Washington found that mothers living near airports and exposed to ultrafine particles from jet exhaust face elevated rates of preterm birth. The research, published in Environmental Health Perspectives in 2020, is particularly relevant to communities near large airports like Sea-Tac, where millions of residents live within the impact zone of aircraft emissions. The findings carry significant environmental justice implications, as near-airport communities with high pollution exposure are often among the most vulnerable populations.

Washington House Bill 2688, introduced in the 2020 legislative session, proposes updating the state's transportation policy goals to prioritize accessibility, environmental justice, public health, and climate by replacing older goals focused primarily on economic vitality and mobility. The bill would require transportation projects to undergo a multi-agency evaluation—including input from vulnerable and impacted communities—before receiving budget authorization. Projects that do not meet a minimum score based on the new policy goals would generally be excluded from funding.

These two letters from 2019 address community concerns about noise and environmental impacts from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac). The EPA's Region 10 Regional Administrator responds to a Burien resident, explaining the agency's limited role in the NEPA review process and directing her to engage with the FAA regarding the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Environmental Assessment. Separately, the Port of Seattle's Executive Director responds to Burien's mayor, acknowledging community concerns about aircraft noise and emphasizing the Port's commitment to collaboration through forums such as the Sea-Tac Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART).