TagNEPA(390)

In an April 2019 letter to the Port of Seattle's Executive Director, Alaska Airlines expressed support for SeaTac airport expansion but raised serious concerns about the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), arguing that the proposed 19-gate north terminal is disconnected from the main terminal, more gates than needed, and would leave 80% of travelers underserved. Alaska's independent consultants concluded that only 10 additional gates are necessary to meet projected 2027 passenger demand, and the airline proposed a phased 10-gate alternative as a less costly and less environmentally impactful solution. The letter urged the Port to include Alaska's alternative in the formal NEPA environmental review process to ensure a more legally defensible and balanced approach to airport development.

This February 2019 Scoping Report summarizes the public and agency input process for the environmental review of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Near-Term Projects, which are planned for construction by 2027. The Port of Seattle and the FAA conducted a 60-day scoping period from July 30 to September 28, 2018, gathering community feedback through public meetings, newspaper ads, direct mail, and social media in five languages. The report documents the scope of environmental issues to be studied, including potential noise and other impacts, under both federal (NEPA) and state (SEPA) environmental review requirements.

The Port of Seattle and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conducted a public scoping process in 2018 to gather input on the environmental impacts of near-term construction projects planned at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) as part of the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP). The 60-day scoping period, which ran from July 30 to September 28, 2018, invited comments from the public and agencies through meetings, mailings, and an online open house advertised in five languages. This report summarizes the scoping process, public feedback received, and outlines next steps for the full environmental review under both federal (NEPA) and state (SEPA) environmental policy laws.

This February 2019 Scoping Report documents the public and agency input process for the environmental review of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's near-term construction projects, planned for completion by 2027 under the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP). The Port of Seattle and the FAA conducted a 60-day public scoping period from July 30 to September 28, 2018, gathering community concerns about potential environmental impacts through meetings, mailings, and online outreach in five languages. The report compiles scoping comments, meeting materials, and agency responses to inform the forthcoming environmental review under both federal (NEPA) and state (SEPA) law.

This 2018 Year in Review from Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell summarizes key developments in airport law, including the passage of the FAA Reauthorization Act, which addressed airport funding, noise, and hazardous chemicals in firefighting foams. The digest also covers major federal court decisions on topics such as drone regulations, airport noise challenges, and NextGen/Metroplex flight pattern disputes. It serves as a reference for airport legal professionals navigating the evolving regulatory and litigation landscape heading into 2019.

A federal appeals court denied petitions challenging the FAA's 2016 SoCal Metroplex project, which redesigned flight paths at several Southern California airports to improve air-traffic efficiency. Residents and local groups argued the FAA failed to adequately study increased noise, air emissions, and cumulative environmental impacts under federal law, but the court found the FAA's environmental analysis was reasonable and legally sound. The court upheld the FAA's Finding of No Significant Impact, concluding the agency had taken the required 'hard look' at environmental consequences before implementing the new flight routes.

The Port of Seattle and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) held public scoping meetings as part of the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Near-Term Projects environmental review, drawing over 300 attendees and more than 750 written comments. Notices for the meetings were distributed through mail, media releases, social media, advertisements, and legal affidavits. Following the scoping period, the agencies planned to brief the Port of Seattle Commission in early 2019 and release a full draft environmental review for public comment in Fall 2019.

In September 2018, the cities of SeaTac, Burien, Normandy Park, and Des Moines jointly wrote to the Port of Seattle urging a broader environmental review of the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The cities expressed concern that limiting the review to only near-term construction projects would ignore the cumulative noise, air quality, and traffic impacts already burdening their communities. They called on the Port to assess impacts from 2012 onward, include the full long-term SAMP in the environmental analysis, and consider alternative airport sites as part of the review.