TagNEPA(390)

The Burien Airport Committee is scheduled to meet on May 19, 2026, to discuss key aviation policy topics including a SAMP Environmental Impact Statement planning session, a proposed restructuring of the StART regional airport advisory group, and a NEPA review update. Draft minutes from the April 21, 2026 meeting show the committee also addressed the Port of Seattle's response to Burien's request for revisions to the Sound Insulation Program, with the committee expressing continued disagreement over the Port's criteria for qualifying homes for noise-reduction packages. Members of the public can participate in person at Burien City Hall, via Zoom, or by submitting written comments by email before 4:45 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

The Federal Aviation Administration filed an amended certified index to the administrative record in two Ninth Circuit cases challenging the FAA's September 24, 2025, Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for near-term construction projects at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The cases were brought by Vashon Island Fair Skies and the City of Burien, among others, who are contesting the agency's environmental review of the airport expansion plans. The full administrative record was made available to petitioners electronically on May 8, 2026.

The Federal Aviation Administration filed an amended certified index to the administrative record in two Ninth Circuit cases challenging the FAA's September 24, 2025, Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for near-term construction projects at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The cases were brought by Vashon Island Fair Skies and the City of Burien, among others, who are contesting the agency's environmental review of the airport expansion plans. The full administrative record was made available to petitioners via a secure file-sharing link in May 2026.

The FCC and FAA have taken steps to regulate drone operations near critical infrastructure, with the FAA proposing a new petition-based system allowing facility owners to apply for drone flight restrictions over their sites. The proposed rule would create two levels of restricted airspace and applies to facilities across 16 critical infrastructure sectors, such as energy, transportation, and healthcare. State laws, such as Florida's Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act, may impose additional independent restrictions on drone operations beyond the federal framework.

The Port of Seattle released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) for the Sustainable Airport Master Plan Near-Term Projects at Sea-Tac Airport, finding that surface transportation is the only category with significant impacts requiring mitigation. The review examined sixteen environmental categories including noise, air quality, and community impacts, with a 60-day public comment period running from May 22 to July 21, 2026, including in-person meetings in SeaTac, Burien, Des Moines, and Federal Way. A final SEPA determination is expected by the end of 2026.

This May 2026 ESA policy briefing provides an update on federal permitting policy, noting that all three branches of government — legislative, executive, and judicial — are actively shaping permitting decisions. A key highlight is that Trump's second term has seen a dramatically higher number of first-year executive orders than any previous administration in recent history, signaling an aggressive pace of executive action on regulatory and permitting matters. While the document focuses broadly on federal permitting trends, its content is relevant to infrastructure and environmental review processes that can affect airport-related noise and land-use decisions.

This appendix lists the individuals and organizations responsible for preparing the environmental review documents for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's Sustainable Airport Master Plan Near-Term Projects. It includes two tables: one covering contributors to the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Environmental Impact Statement, and one listing those who prepared the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental Assessment. Key contributors include staff from the Port of Seattle, consulting firms such as Parametrix, Landrum & Brown, CDM Smith, Concord Engineering, and RS&H, covering areas such as air quality, noise, climate change, safety, and biological resources.

The Port of Seattle has released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under Washington State's environmental review law for 31 near-term construction projects at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). The projects, which include a new 19-gate terminal and an elevated busway system, are designed to handle up to 56 million passengers by 2032. While a prior federal review found no significant environmental impacts requiring mitigation except for surface transportation, this state-level review evaluates two action alternatives alongside a no-action scenario.

This draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) evaluates the potential environmental effects of near-term construction and expansion projects at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, comparing a No Action Alternative against two action alternatives through a projected analysis year of 2032, with an out-year assessment extending to 2037. The study examines impacts across multiple environmental categories—including air quality, noise, greenhouse gas emissions, and surface transportation—using forecasted aircraft operations and passenger levels for each alternative. Mitigation and minimization measures are identified to address any significant adverse impacts identified through the analysis.

Environmental Science Associates hosted a webinar examining rapid changes in federal environmental permitting, covering topics such as streamlined categorical exclusions under NEPA, cultural resources consultation under Section 106, and the growing use of AI tools in environmental review workflows. Experts noted that agencies face increasing pressure to accelerate infrastructure permitting timelines while maintaining legally defensible documentation, particularly as recent court decisions and regulatory rescissions create greater agency discretion and less standardized guidance. Organizations are advised to invest in adaptable workflows and early interagency coordination to manage permitting risk in this shifting landscape.