TagNEPA(390)

The Port of Seattle outlined an environmental review schedule for the NTP (Noise Trajectory Program) at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, spanning 2018 to 2019. Key steps included public scoping meetings held in September 2018 in cities such as Des Moines, Seattle, Federal Way, and Sea-Tac, followed by environmental analysis and the release of draft and final NEPA/SEPA documents through late 2019. Community members could submit scoping comments by September 28, 2018, via the project website, email, mail, or in person at scoping meetings.

The Des Moines Aviation Advisory Committee met on August 13, 2018 to discuss the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) environmental scoping process, including a public scoping meeting scheduled for September 10, 2018 at Highline College. Committee members, city officials, and residents raised concerns about airport noise, air and water pollution, and the scope of the environmental review, which will cover both state (SEPA) and federal (NEPA) requirements. The committee encouraged broad community participation in the upcoming scoping meeting and discussed ensuring that airport expansion since 2012 be included in the review.

This report, produced by Community Attributes Inc. for the Port of Seattle and revised in August 2018, analyzes the economic impacts of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac). It is included as Appendix K in a broader study covering socioeconomics and children's health topics related to airport operations. The findings are intended to inform decision makers about the airport's role in the regional economy and its effects on surrounding communities.

The Port of Seattle is conducting an environmental review of near-term construction projects at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) planned through 2027, as part of the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP). Key planned improvements include a second terminal, a centralized maintenance campus, off-airport cargo facilities, and roadway and fueling expansions to accommodate up to 477,000 annual flights and 56 million passengers. A full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under Washington State's SEPA, as well as a federal Environmental Assessment under NEPA led by the FAA, are being prepared to evaluate potential environmental impacts.

This scoping information packet, prepared by Landrum & Brown, Inc. for the Port of Seattle in July 2018, outlines the environmental review process for near-term projects under the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Sustainable Airport Master Plan. It initiates the scoping phase, during which public and agency input is gathered to identify key environmental issues to be studied. The document serves as a foundational reference for understanding the scope and potential impacts of planned airport development projects.

This 2018 FAA memorandum explains how a special environmental review shortcut—called a Categorical Exclusion (CATEX 1)—can be used to streamline approval of certain GPS-based flight procedures (RNAV/RNP) at major airports, including core hub airports like Sea-Tac, without requiring a full environmental impact study. The exclusion applies unless officials determine that extraordinary circumstances exist that could cause significant environmental harm, such as notable noise impacts on surrounding communities. Specific documentation and approval from FAA environmental and legal offices are required before the exclusion can be applied.

This document presents a community challenge to the FAA's environmental review (CATEX) of new flight routes near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, arguing that the FAA's own noise analyses show significant noise increases in the surrounding General Study Area that exceed the agency's own significance thresholds. The authors contend that the FAA could not rely on the outdated 2013-2018 Port of Seattle Part 150 noise study, and that the FAA's independent analyses revealed noise level jumps ranging from 5.2% to nearly 60% across various decibel contours. The document concludes that the FAA's declaration of 'no noise impacts' is implausible given data showing that portions of previously quiet neighborhoods now experience non-compatible land use noise levels above 65 dB DNL.

This April 2018 Federal Aviation Administration document describes a proposed procedural change at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to automatically direct southbound turboprop aircraft to a 250-degree westerly heading during north-flow operations between 6 am and 10 pm, rather than requiring air traffic controllers to manually coordinate each turn. The nighttime hours of 10 pm to 6 am were excluded from the automatic turn procedure in response to community concerns from the City of Burien and other residents about flight noise over sensitive areas. The document evaluates this preferred alternative alongside other options, including changes to heading angles and missed approach procedures, which were ultimately eliminated due to safety and airspace separation requirements.

Four cities near Sea-Tac Airport — Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, and SeaTac — entered into a formal interlocal agreement in 2018 to coordinate their review of the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), a 20-year airport growth proposal with potential significant noise and environmental impacts on surrounding communities. The agreement establishes a shared process for hiring consultants, pooling funding, and submitting unified comment letters during the NEPA and SEPA environmental review processes. It covers the period from March 2018 through December 2020 and is governed by Washington State's Interlocal Cooperation Act (RCW 39.34).

The cities of Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, and SeaTac entered into a formal interlocal agreement to coordinate their review of the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), which outlines airport growth over the next 20 years. The agreement establishes a shared process for hiring and funding consultants, issuing joint comment letters, and responding to environmental documents produced under NEPA and SEPA. Contract administration is led by the City of SeaTac, while fiscal management is handled by the City of Burien.