TagEPA(85)

In summer 2018, Beacon Hill residents partnered with University of Washington researchers to measure noise levels at 52 locations across Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood over several months, collecting 136 separate 24-hour measurement periods. The study found that the neighborhood is heavily affected by aircraft noise from three nearby airports — Seattle-Tacoma International, King County International, and Renton Municipal — with Sea-Tac arrival flight paths directly overlying the area and King County International Airport runways located as close as a quarter mile away. The project represents the first quality-assured, community-led noise dataset of its kind for Beacon Hill, and was designed to inform future research into the health impacts of airport noise on residents.

A December 2018 email chain forwarded by community advocate Debi Wagner to Burien city officials shares research links connecting aviation emissions and aircraft noise to serious public health concerns, including ultrafine particle pollution, cognitive impairment, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. The email references studies such as the University of Washington's MOV-UP study confirming ground-level ultrafine particle impacts near Sea-Tac Airport, as well as EPA Region X recommendations for resources on airport air quality and public health. The correspondence highlights growing community and regulatory interest in understanding the health effects of airport operations on neighborhoods surrounding Sea-Tac.

This EPA technical guide explains how residential air cleaners and HVAC filters work to reduce indoor air pollutants, covering different device types, their effectiveness, and health impacts. It reviews technologies such as fibrous media filters, HEPA filters, electrostatic precipitators, and ionizers, while noting important cautions about byproduct emissions like ozone. Though focused on home air quality rather than airport noise policy, it offers useful background on indoor environmental controls for residential settings near noise-impacted areas.

The Port of Seattle Commission considered a request to amend a contract with Just Health Action, a local community health nonprofit, to continue a pilot project engaging residents of the Duwamish Valley neighborhoods of South Park and Georgetown. The project, supported by a U.S. EPA Stakeholder Engagement and Capacity Building grant awarded in 2017, focuses on improving the Port's community outreach practices and addressing environmental health concerns in low-income and minority communities near Port operations. The total estimated project cost was $175,000, with the amended contract value reaching $224,999.

In January 2018, EPA project lead Sabrina Johnson notified partners that the Near-port Community Capacity Building Pilot Project deadline was extended from June to September 30, 2018. The extension was granted to better address project partners' concerns and support more durable outcomes, while still encouraging participants to maintain an expeditious pace. Capacity building under this EPA initiative focuses on improving conditions and removing barriers to effective community functioning near port areas.

This EPA report tracks U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and sinks from 1990 to 2015, covering sources such as transportation, agriculture, industry, and waste. It was published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2017 and is available for download on the EPA website. Note: this document does not appear to contain information relevant to Sea-Tac Airport noise policy.

This EPA report summarizes U.S. greenhouse gas emissions data from 1990 to 2015, showing that total emissions reached 6,587 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent in 2015, a 2.3% decrease from 2014 levels. Carbon dioxide makes up the largest share at 82% of emissions, with electricity generation and transportation being the biggest contributing economic sectors at 29% and 27% respectively. The report includes detailed emissions breakdowns by gas type, economic sector, and fuel source, along with unit conversion tables and global warming potential values for reference.

This academic paper examines how U.S. federal agencies have addressed Environmental Justice (EJ) since President Clinton's 1994 Executive Order 12898, which required agencies to reduce disproportionate pollution burdens on low-income and minority communities. The author, a Bureau of Land Management social scientist, reviews agency compliance efforts, highlights case studies like the Flint water crisis, and argues that practical steps such as staff training and social science tools can help agencies consistently protect vulnerable communities regardless of shifting political priorities.