TagNEPA(463)

This 2016 report by Palo Alto resident Mark Shull examines how the FAA's NextGen 'Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex' (OAPM) program, implemented between 2012 and 2015, led to dramatically increased aircraft noise over residential communities by redesigning flight paths to be lower, straighter, and more concentrated. The author argues that while the program was publicly marketed as improving efficiency, reducing fuel use, and lowering environmental impact, its primary purpose was increasing airport capacity by reducing separation between aircraft and simplifying flight corridors. The report traces the legislative, regulatory, and industry decisions that shaped the program, concluding that communities were left worse off and that genuine air traffic modernization will be harder to achieve going forward.

FAA Order 1050.1F, effective July 16, 2015, establishes the Federal Aviation Administration's policies and procedures for complying with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), covering actions such as grants, construction, rulemaking, and NextGen airspace improvements. The order outlines when environmental reviews, assessments, or full impact statements are required, and defines responsibilities for the FAA, applicants, and contractors. It is relevant to noise and environmental impact considerations at airports like Sea-Tac, as it governs how the FAA evaluates and documents the environmental effects of aviation-related actions.

In November 2012, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Record of Decision (ROD) approving new satellite-based navigation procedures at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) under the 'Greener Skies over Seattle' initiative. The new procedures, developed with Alaska Airlines, Boeing, and the Port of Seattle, use advanced RNAV/RNP technology to guide arriving aircraft along more precise, optimized descent paths, reducing fuel burn and environmental impact. The FAA determined that these airspace changes would not result in significant environmental harm or any physical airport development.

This document is Appendix D of the Final Environmental Assessment for proposed new arrival flight procedures at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, dated November 1, 2012. It contains TARGETS files—technical routing data packages used to define new RNAV (area navigation) flight paths, such as the HAWKZ RNAV Version 4.2 procedure, which charts a series of waypoints guiding arriving aircraft toward Sea-Tac from the south. The files were prepared in coordination with Seattle ARTCC and are intended to support evaluation of how the new routes may affect noise levels in surrounding communities.

This November 2012 Federal Aviation Administration report evaluates the environmental impacts of proposed new arrival flight procedures at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, part of the 'Greener Skies Over Seattle' initiative. It includes detailed appendices covering noise modeling, effects of aircraft noise on communities, historic and endangered species considerations, and agency coordination records. The goal of the proposed procedures was to reduce fuel consumption and emissions while assessing changes in noise exposure for surrounding neighborhoods.

ICAO good practice case study documenting the US/FAA NextGen ‘Greener Skies over Seattle’ initiative — a Final Environmental Assessment (FEA) completed November 1, 2012 for proposed PBN arrival procedures (STARs and RNP with Optimized Profile Descents) at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (KSEA/Sea-Tac Airport). Collaborative project between FAA, Alaska Air Group (Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air), The Boeing

FAA Draft Environmental Assessment (EA), Volume 2 Appendices, for the Greener Skies Over Seattle project proposing new arrival procedures to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac Airport / KSEA), dated 31 October 2012. Appendices cover noise metrics (DNL, SEL, Leq, dBA), NIRS noise modeling technical report, aircraft operations and flight tracks, runway utilization, meteorological conditions, historic resource

The FAA issued a Categorical Exclusion Declaration allowing limited testing of new Required Navigation Performance (RNP) arrival procedures at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, under the Greener Skies Over Seattle initiative. The test procedures, including optimized flight paths and descent profiles, were designed to reduce aircraft noise, fuel burn, and emissions while improving safety and efficiency. The exclusion, signed in February 2012, determined that the test phase would not require further environmental review, as it was a short-term evaluation to collect operational and noise data.