TagHB1791(9)

This document presents the agenda and key materials from the final meeting of Washington State's Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission (CACC), covering public engagement efforts, a recap of legislation ESHB 1791, and a commission member survey. The bill, signed by Governor Inslee, created a new Commercial Aviation Work Group (CAWG) to replace the CACC, though several sections were vetoed, including provisions for the CAWG task list, funding transfer, and immediate effect. A survey of commission members showed strong support (13 to 1) for the need for a new greenfield airport site to meet future commercial aviation capacity needs in the region.

Washington State's Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1791, passed in 2023, establishes a new 19-member Commercial Aviation Work Group to study the state's long-term airport capacity needs, replacing the earlier Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission. The bill responds to projections that by 2050, demand for flights in the central Puget Sound region will exceed Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's capacity, and directs the group to explore alternatives—including building or expanding other airports. The legislation acknowledges that any new airport site would carry significant environmental, health, and community impacts requiring decisions from federal, state, and local governments.

This 2023 Washington State House amendment (adopted March 8, 2023) updates the intent statement of SHB 1791 to more specifically acknowledge the environmental, health, social, and economic impacts that a major commercial airport can have on surrounding communities. It references a Puget Sound Regional Council study projecting that by 2050, central Puget Sound will face a significant gap between aviation demand and capacity. The amendment emphasizes that exploring alternatives to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport — potentially including new or expanded airports — is critical to meeting future regional transportation needs.

Washington State House Bill 1791 (2023) establishes a new Commercial Aviation Coordinating Work Group to study the state's long-range aviation needs over the next 20 years, replacing the previous Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission whose work was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The 19-member work group, appointed by the governor, will evaluate airport capacity across Washington and assess the potential need for a new commercial airport, taking into account community and environmental impacts. The study is particularly focused on meeting growing aviation demand in western Washington, which has direct implications for how future air traffic and infrastructure decisions may affect communities around Sea-Tac Airport.

Washington State's ESHB 1791 replaces the Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission with a new Commercial Aviation Work Group tasked with studying the long-range commercial aviation needs of the state, including evaluating potential sites for new or expanded airports. The Work Group must consider environmental impacts, greenhouse gas emissions, water quality, and compatibility with military installations, while excluding expansion of airports in counties with populations of 2 million or more residents — effectively ruling out major expansion at Sea-Tac. The group is required to submit annual progress reports to the Governor and the Legislature's Transportation Committees.