TagNEPA(390)

The City of Des Moines, WA considered an amendment to a consultant contract supporting a coordinated environmental review of the Port of Seattle's Sea-Tac Airport Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), a 20-year airport growth plan. The amendment adds $100,000 to the original $175,000 contract, extends its term to 2023, and shifts contract administration from SeaTac to Des Moines, with costs shared among Des Moines, Burien, Normandy Park, and SeaTac based on population. The consultant, now operating as Primacy Strategy Group LLC, assists the four cities in reviewing and responding to environmental documents and impacts related to the SAMP process under NEPA and SEPA.

This appendix documents the historic and cultural resources review conducted for near-term construction projects at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, as part of the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP). It includes a timeline of coordination between the FAA and Washington's Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP), which ultimately concurred that the projects would have no adverse effect on historic properties. The appendix also records outreach to ten Native American tribes in the region, including the Muckleshoot, Puyallup, Tulalip, and Suquamish, as required under the federal Section 106 review process.

This June 2021 amendment to a consultant contract extends an agreement between the City of Des Moines, WA and two consulting firms—Primacy Strategy Group, LLC and ABCx2, LLC—through December 31, 2023, with a maximum compensation of $275,000. The contract, originally signed in 2018 and administered by Des Moines on behalf of a partnership with the cities of Burien, SeaTac, and Normandy Park, relates to advocacy and consulting work connected to Sea-Tac Airport's environmental review process (SAMP SEPA/NEPA). Consulting services were suspended as of January 1, 2020, pending the public release of SAMP Environmental Review documents, with any interim work to be authorized by the City through individual Task Orders.

A comprehensive guide published by the Council on Environmental Quality explaining the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and how citizens can participate in the environmental impact assessment process conducted by Federal agencies. The guide covers NEPA procedures, public involvement opportunities, and methods for citizens to have their voices heard in environmental decision-making.

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.

The Burien Airport Committee held a virtual meeting on June 16, 2020, to discuss airport-related policy matters including a draft letter to Port Commissioners about the post-COVID 'new normal' for aviation, an update on the NEPA Environmental Impact Statement process, and coordination with other cities on re-engaging with the StART (Sea-Tac Airport Roundtable) forum. Minutes from the May 19, 2020 meeting reflect committee discussions about reduced flight noise during the Stay Home order and the need for strategic communication with Port Commissioners regarding economic development and airport expansion impacts on Burien residents.

In April 2020, U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal, Adam Smith, and Rick Larsen wrote to FAA Administrator Steve Dickson urging a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), arguing that the FAA's planned limited Environmental Assessment was inadequate. The lawmakers contended that a comprehensive cumulative impact review was necessary to properly evaluate decades of growing noise and health impacts on communities surrounding Sea-Tac Airport. They warned that proceeding with a narrower assessment risked legal challenges that could delay critical airport infrastructure projects.

This April 2020 FAA Report to Congress evaluates alternative noise metrics to the current Day-Night Level (DNL) 65 decibel standard used to measure community aircraft noise exposure, as required by the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. The report reviews the history and definitions of various noise measurement tools, explains why no single metric can address all aviation noise situations, and examines the roles of both noise modeling and actual noise sampling. It was produced in response to congressional direction to assess whether better methods exist for capturing and addressing community concerns about airplane noise.

In a March 10, 2020 letter to Burien Mayor Jimmy Matta, FAA Regional Administrator David C. Suomi explained that an Environmental Assessment (EA) — not a full Environmental Impact Statement — is the appropriate level of review for Sea-Tac Airport's Near Term Projects (NTP), which are designed to meet projected demand through 2027. The EA will evaluate all resource categories and cumulative impacts from past, present, and foreseeable projects on and near the airport. The FAA noted that preparing an EA does not rule out a future Environmental Impact Statement if significant impacts are identified.

In March 2020, the Burien City Council wrote to the FAA requesting a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that fully accounts for the cumulative noise and air quality impacts of Sea-Tac Airport's rapid growth, which saw operations increase by nearly 30% between 2014 and 2018. The letter argues that multiple airport expansion projects — including new terminal gates and altered flight paths — were each approved without significant environmental review, but together have caused substantial harm to surrounding communities. The council also cites a 2019 Ninth Circuit Court ruling that found the FAA failed to properly assess cumulative impacts, and demands the agency conduct a thorough analysis using a pre-expansion baseline of 2013.