TagNEPA(390)

Jennifer Sanscrainte is an environmental and tribal law attorney at Ogden Murphy Wallace in Seattle, representing public and private clients on matters involving federal and state environmental laws such as CERCLA, the Clean Water Act, and the Clean Air Act. She specializes in site remediation, cleanup cost recovery, and permitting, and also works with Native American tribes on environmental program development. This document is a professional biography and does not contain information related to Sea-Tac Airport noise policy.

The City of Des Moines and neighboring cities have entered into an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) to coordinate their review of and response to the SeaTac Airport Master Plan (SAMP) environmental review process, covering both federal (NEPA) and state (SEPA) requirements. Originally signed in 2018 and updated in 2024, the agreement establishes how participating cities share costs, manage contracts, and jointly hire environmental and legal consultants—including attorneys who can support a legal challenge to the SAMP's environmental conclusions. The latest version, managed by the City of SeaTac and expected to run through December 31, 2028, excludes Normandy Park but otherwise continues the multi-city partnership focused on protecting community interests during the airport planning process.

The FAA has determined that Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's proposed expansion of its Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant (IWTP) qualifies for a Simple Categorical Exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act, meaning the project is not expected to have a significant impact on the environment. The project includes upgrades to the existing treatment plant infrastructure, construction of an aerated gravel bed, and updates to the adjacent Lagoon 3 site. This determination, issued November 14, 2025, clears the way for the required Airport Layout Plan update without the need for further environmental review.

The cities of Burien, Des Moines, and SeaTac are joining forces under a formal Interlocal Agreement to coordinate their review of and legal response to the Port of Seattle's Sea-Tac Airport Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), which could bring significant noise and environmental impacts to surrounding communities. The agreement, considered by Des Moines City Council on November 13, 2025, allows the three cities to jointly hire environmental consultants and legal counsel to analyze and formally challenge the airport expansion's environmental review under both federal (NEPA) and state (SEPA) law. A Draft Environmental Impact Statement from the Port is expected in early 2026, with the overall process estimated to conclude by December 31, 2028.

The cities of SeaTac, Burien, Des Moines, and Normandy Park are jointly challenging the FAA's environmental review of the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), arguing that a September 2025 Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) failed to adequately address their concerns about airport expansion impacts. The SeaTac City Council is being asked to approve a budget amendment of up to $350,000, authorize an Interlocal Agreement among the four cities, and hire two law firms to advocate for airport-affected communities. The action reflects ongoing efforts by neighboring cities to ensure environmental impacts of SEA airport growth are properly evaluated under both federal (NEPA) and state (SEPA) law.

The cities of Burien, Des Moines, and SeaTac have entered into a formal agreement to coordinate their review of, and potential legal challenges to, the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan, which could significantly impact surrounding communities over the next 20 years. The three cities agreed to share costs proportionally based on population, jointly hire environmental consultants and legal counsel, and issue unified comment letters during the NEPA and SEPA environmental review processes. Key provisions require unanimous agreement to file a joint appeal and a two-city majority to continue litigation at each subsequent stage.

The SeaTac City Council is considering an ordinance to hire outside legal counsel and update a cost-sharing agreement with the cities of Burien, Normandy Park, and Des Moines to challenge or engage with the FAA's environmental review of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport expansion plans. The four cities would jointly retain two law firms—Leech Tishman for federal NEPA matters and Ogden Murphy Wallace for state SEPA matters—at an estimated cost of $350,000, with SeaTac covering roughly 26% and recovering the rest from its partner cities. The effort is driven by the FAA's September 2025 issuance of a Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact, which must be challenged by November 25, 2025.