HB1847

2020-06-11
SHB1847 – Aircraft Noise Abatement Various Provisions

Washington State's Substitute House Bill 1847, signed into law on March 25, 2020, expands the aircraft noise abatement programs available to port districts by lowering the threshold for eligibility from airports serving more than 900 scheduled jet flights per day (previously 20). The law also enlarges the geographic 'impacted areas' around runways where noise relief programs—such as soundproofing, property acquisition, and transaction assistance—can be offered, extending coverage from six to ten miles north and up to thirteen miles south of runway ends, and from one to two miles from runway centerlines.

TagsAirport, Airport Noise Law, HB1847, Noise, Port Of Seattle, RCW53

As the source for federal transportation grants, the Puget Sound Regional Council was charged with developing a system to meet the growing need for commercial aviation. When the search for a second airport failed, they authorized the Port of Seattle to build the Third Runway, with a mandate to develop a noise abatement and mitigation program. In their effort to stop the Third Runway, the ACC argued over every detail of the Port's efforts--including property buyouts and sound insulation. The dispute was meant to be settled by a three member Expert Arbitration Panel. This is their final report. It finds 2-1, that the Port's program was insufficient in several respects. Despite that, funding for the Third Runway was approved by the PSRC, and the 'Port Package' program, proceeded largely unchanged. Expert Arbitration Panel's final decision finding that the Port of Seattle had not shown sufficient reduction in real on-the-ground noise impacts to satisfy noise reduction conditions required for approval of a third runway at Sea-Tac International Airport. The majority decision concluded the Port's noise abatement programs were insufficient despite being impressive in scope.

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SHB1847 – Aircraft Noise Abatement Various Provisions

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