TagNEPA(463)

This document is a review by ABCx2 of a Port of Seattle presentation to the city of Burien regarding the Sea-Tac Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Environmental Impact Statement. It raises concerns about the Port's decision to limit its environmental review of airport impacts to 2018 rather than 2012, questions whether significant construction growth and flight increases during that period were properly analyzed under federal (NEPA) and state (SEPA) environmental law, and challenges the Port's characterization of the FAR Part 150 noise abatement process as purely voluntary. The document also examines potential consequences if the Port fails to meet noise mitigation commitments tied to federal funding.

A legal and regulatory analysis arguing that the FAA must conduct a broader cumulative environmental impact review of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport expansion, following a 9th Circuit Court ruling that remanded the 'Burien Turn' flight path back to the FAA. The document contends that multiple airport expansion projects—including the addition of 14 new gates and the extension of Highway 509—were each approved individually under categorical exclusions (CATEXs) without properly accounting for their combined effects on noise, air quality, and environmental justice communities. The author argues that under NEPA regulations, the FAA is required to analyze these past, present, and future actions together to determine whether their collective impact is significant.

This document presents a point-by-point rebuttal to an FAA 'Limited Update' regarding a new flight departure procedure at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, arguing that the FAA has failed to conduct required safety risk analyses, properly assess cumulative noise and air quality impacts on environmental justice communities, and comply with court-ordered environmental review under NEPA. The authors contend that the FAA is understating the scope and timeline of the Sea-Tac Airport Master Plan (SAMP) expansion while dismissing significant health, noise, and emissions impacts on nearby residents. The critique calls out procedural shortcuts, incomplete public comment responses, and what it characterizes as predetermined conclusions designed to avoid full environmental scrutiny.

This March 2024 technical report, prepared by Landrum & Brown for the Port of Seattle, assesses air quality and climate impacts associated with near-term construction and operational projects outlined in the Sustainable Airport Master Plan for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. It analyzes emissions from sources including aircraft, ground support equipment, stationary and mobile sources, auxiliary power units, and construction activities. The report follows NEPA air quality and climate protocols to evaluate potential environmental effects of planned airport improvements.

This Noise Technical Report, prepared by Landrum & Brown for the Port of Seattle in March 2024, analyzes noise impacts associated with near-term construction and development projects outlined in the Sustainable Airport Master Plan for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The report is part of Appendix J, which covers noise and noise-compatible land use, and was developed to satisfy both federal (NEPA) and state (SEPA) environmental review requirements. It provides technical findings to help assess how proposed airport improvements may affect noise levels in surrounding communities.

This Noise Technical Report, prepared by Landrum & Brown for the Port of Seattle in March 2024, analyzes noise impacts associated with near-term construction and development projects outlined in the Sustainable Airport Master Plan for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The report is part of a broader Appendix J covering noise and noise-compatible land use, which also includes a Noise Modeling Protocol and a Construction Noise Technical Report. Together, these documents provide technical assessments to guide planning decisions that balance airport operations with the noise concerns of surrounding communities.

Appendix C of the Sea-Tac Sustainable Airport Master Plan covers air quality and greenhouse gas emissions analyses prepared for the Port of Seattle by Landrum & Brown. It includes technical reports on emissions from aircraft, ground support equipment, construction, and other airport sources, as well as a human health risk assessment focused on ultrafine particles. Note that some climate-related sections originally included in the Draft Environmental Assessment were later removed following changes to federal executive orders and a 2025 Supreme Court ruling.

This technical report, prepared by Landrum & Brown for the Port of Seattle in March 2024, analyzes air quality and greenhouse gas emissions associated with near-term projects in the Sustainable Airport Master Plan for Sea-Tac Airport. It covers emission sources including aircraft, ground support equipment, stationary and mobile sources, and construction activities. Note that following changes to federal executive orders and a 2025 Supreme Court ruling, references to climate change preparedness and cumulative impact analysis were removed from the final version, leaving only the quantified GHG emissions disclosures.