TagFAA(514)

A 2021 presentation by Darlene Yaplee, founding member of the Aviation-Impacted Communities Alliance (AICA), argues that the FAA's current systems for assessing and addressing aircraft noise and health impacts are outdated and in need of legislative reform. The document outlines community perspectives on aircraft noise and emissions legislation, covering problem framing, insights for future laws, noise reduction strategies, and real examples of community input. Residents across impacted communities are calling for meaningful relief from the noise and emissions burdens caused by modern air traffic.

The FAA Administrator's Fact Book (December 2020) is an official reference document compiled by the FAA Office of Communications outlining the agency's core mission and vision. The FAA's mission is to provide the safest and most efficient aerospace system in the world, while its vision emphasizes advancing safety, efficiency, environmental responsibility, and global leadership with accountability to the American public. This document serves as a foundational overview of FAA priorities, which directly inform federal aviation and noise policies affecting airports such as Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

This October 2020 FAA memorandum provides internal guidance to airport district offices on how to implement changes brought by Section 163 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, which limited the FAA's authority over airport land use and layout plan approvals. The memo outlines a two-step screening process for reviewing proposed airport land use changes, explaining when the FAA retains approval authority versus when it must simply accept changes. Note that this document addresses general FAA airport oversight procedures nationwide and does not specifically concern Sea-Tac Airport noise policy.

The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) 2021–2025 is a federal planning document published by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration on September 30, 2020. It outlines the nation's airport infrastructure needs and investment priorities for a five-year period under Title 49 U.S. Code, Section 47103. While it covers the broader national airport system, it provides context for understanding federal aviation policy that can influence noise management decisions at airports like Sea-Tac.

Currently, FAA law has extremely complicated rules for establishing a noise boundary around airports. (A noise boundary is a geographic area inside which there is a certain acceptable noise level.) This is referred to as the DNL65. and it has several major flaws. The FAA Reauthorization Act Of 2018 attempted to address these flaws in several ways. This letter, from a caucus of Congressmen engaged on airport community issues complains to the Administrator that the spirit of the law is not being adhered to and demands that he make attempts to put his agency into compliance. The language is fairly technical, however there are a couple of basic points they raise: First, that the noise boundary be determined by actual noise measurements (currently the noise boundaries are 'modeled' and those calculations often do not reflect in any way the lived experience for residents.) Second, that the 'acceptable' noise level of sixty five decibels (hence DNL65) has been determined to be far too high to conform with current understandings of healthy living.

The Burien Airport Committee held a virtual meeting on September 15, 2020, to discuss workplan priorities related to Sea-Tac Airport issues, including community outreach, noise complaints, environmental justice, and preparation for the release of the Supplemental Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Environmental Assessment. The agenda also included a report from Chair Nancy Tosta on a recent FAA meeting, and approval of minutes from the August 18, 2020 meeting. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the meeting was conducted via Zoom, with public comments accepted by email, text, or online participation.