TagFONSI(9)

City of SeaTac officials exchanged emails in November 2025 regarding a Petition for Review filed to appeal the FAA's NEPA Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Record of Decision, coordinated under an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with the cities of Burien and Des Moines. A council member raised concern about the petition listing 'Attorneys for Vashon Island Fair Skies' rather than the three cities, to which Director Evan Maxim clarified that outside legal counsel Mr. Taber also represents other parties including Vashon Island in a related SAMP appeal, and that the reference was likely included by mistake. SeaTac is identified as the primary party in the event of any conflict of interest among the represented parties.

A petition filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit challenging the FAA’s Finding of Significant Impact/Record of Decision for the Sustainable Airport Master Plan Near-Term Projects at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The petition was filed by three Washington cities seeking review of the September 24, 2025 FAA decision.

This document outlines the forty most frequently asked questions about the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), covering topics such as how agencies evaluate a range of alternatives, the role of environmental impact statements (EIS), and the use of environmental assessments (EA). It provides plain-language guidance on requirements like the no-action alternative, mitigation measures, public comment periods, and records of decision. While not specific to airport noise, it serves as a foundational reference for understanding the federal environmental review process that governs major infrastructure projects such as those at Sea-Tac Airport.

A federal appeals court denied a challenge by Oregon residents and an aviation watchdog group against a new runway project at Hillsboro Airport near Portland, Oregon. The court found that the Federal Aviation Administration acted properly in concluding the project would have no significant environmental impact, including only a minimal effect on air traffic and air quality. This case, a follow-up to a 2011 ruling, may be relevant to discussions of how environmental reviews are conducted for airport expansion projects in the Pacific Northwest.