TagNEPA(463)
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2025-11-26Petition for Review FAA NEPA FONSI ROD email chain
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. -
2025-11-21Petition for Review of Agency Order: Vashon Island Fair Skies v. Federal Aviation Administration
Vashon Island Fair Skies (VIFS), a Washington nonprofit representing residents affected by aircraft noise, has filed a petition in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals challenging a September 2025 FAA decision approving near-term expansion projects at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The group argues that the FAA's environmental review failed to adequately address the significant noise impacts on Vashon and Maury Islands resulting from concentrated, low-altitude flight paths introduced under the FAA's NextGen navigation program. VIFS has been actively opposing these flight path changes since 2018, when new Performance-Based Navigation procedures began routing more aircraft directly over the islands at lower altitudes. -
2025-11-21
Petition for Review of Agency Order: Vashon Island Fair Skies v. Federal Aviation Administration
Petition for Review filed November 21, 2025, by Vashon Island Fair Skies (VIFS), a Washington nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation based on Vashon Island, against the Federal Aviation Administration, Administrator Bryan Bedford, U.S. Department of Transportation, and Secretary Sean Duffy in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (Case No. 25-7373). VIFS challenges the -
2025-11-18Jennifer Sanscrainte: Attorney Profile, Ogden Murphy Wallace
Jennifer Sanscrainte is an environmental and tribal law attorney at Ogden Murphy Wallace in Seattle, representing public and private clients on matters involving federal and state environmental laws such as CERCLA, the Clean Water Act, and the Clean Air Act. She specializes in site remediation, cleanup cost recovery, and permitting, and also works with Native American tribes on environmental program development. This document is a professional biography and does not contain information related to Sea-Tac Airport noise policy. -
2025-11-18
Jennifer Sanscrainte: Attorney Profile, Ogden Murphy Wallace
Jennifer Sanscrainte is an environmental and tribal law attorney at Ogden Murphy Wallace in Seattle, representing public and private clients on matters involving federal and state environmental laws such as CERCLA, the Clean Water Act, and the Clean Air Act. She specializes in site remediation, cleanup cost recovery, and permitting, and also works with Native American tribes on environmental program development. This document is a professional biography and does not contain information related to Sea-Tac Airport noise policy. -
2025-11-16Interlocal agreement for coordinated SAMP review and legal services
The City of Des Moines and neighboring cities have entered into an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) to coordinate their review of and response to the SeaTac Airport Master Plan (SAMP) environmental review process, covering both federal (NEPA) and state (SEPA) requirements. Originally signed in 2018 and updated in 2024, the agreement establishes how participating cities share costs, manage contracts, and jointly hire environmental and legal consultants—including attorneys who can support a legal challenge to the SAMP's environmental conclusions. The latest version, managed by the City of SeaTac and expected to run through December 31, 2028, excludes Normandy Park but otherwise continues the multi-city partnership focused on protecting community interests during the airport planning process. -
2025-11-16
Interlocal agreement for coordinated SAMP review and legal services
The City of Des Moines and neighboring cities have entered into an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) to coordinate their review of and response to the SeaTac Airport Master Plan (SAMP) environmental review process, covering both federal (NEPA) and state (SEPA) requirements. Originally signed in 2018 and updated in 2024, the agreement establishes how participating cities share costs, manage contracts, and jointly hire environmental and legal consultants—including attorneys who can support a legal challenge to the SAMP's environmental conclusions. The latest version, managed by the City of SeaTac and expected to run through December 31, 2028, excludes Normandy Park but otherwise continues the multi-city partnership focused on protecting community interests during the airport planning process. -
2025-11-16Des Moines, WA – NEPA Appeal Slide, Airport Advisory Committee Recommendation
A City of Des Moines (Washington) presentation slide outlining a NEPA appeal with a deadline of 11/24/2025, an estimated initial filing cost of $1,000, and a recommendation from the Airport Advisory Committee that the City file the appeal. The slide notes the City would return to Council in early 2026 before incurring additional legal costs. -
2025-11-13Interlocal agreement between the cities of Burien, Des Moines, and SeaTac for legal and environmental review in connection with the NEPA and SEPA evaluations of the Sea-Tac Airport Sustainable Airport Master Plan
The cities of Burien, Des Moines, and SeaTac are joining forces under a formal Interlocal Agreement to coordinate their review of and legal response to the Port of Seattle's Sea-Tac Airport Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), which could bring significant noise and environmental impacts to surrounding communities. The agreement, considered by Des Moines City Council on November 13, 2025, allows the three cities to jointly hire environmental consultants and legal counsel to analyze and formally challenge the airport expansion's environmental review under both federal (NEPA) and state (SEPA) law. A Draft Environmental Impact Statement from the Port is expected in early 2026, with the overall process estimated to conclude by December 31, 2028. -
2025-11-13Interlocal agreement between the cities of Burien, Des Moines, and SeaTac for legal and environmental review in connection with the NEPA and SEPA evaluations of the Sea-Tac Airport Sustainable Airport Master Plan
The cities of Burien, Des Moines, and SeaTac are joining forces under a formal Interlocal Agreement to coordinate their review of and legal response to the Port of Seattle's Sea-Tac Airport Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), which could bring significant noise and environmental impacts to surrounding communities. The agreement, considered by Des Moines City Council on November 13, 2025, allows the three cities to jointly hire environmental consultants and legal counsel to analyze and formally challenge the airport expansion's environmental review under both federal (NEPA) and state (SEPA) law. A Draft Environmental Impact Statement from the Port is expected in early 2026, with the overall process estimated to conclude by December 31, 2028.