TagNEPA(390)

The City of SeaTac is authorizing its City Manager to join an updated cost-sharing agreement with Burien and Des Moines to hire outside legal counsel in response to the FAA's September 2025 environmental review of the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP). The cities are concerned that their comments about the airport's potential negative impacts were not adequately addressed in the FAA's Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact. To fund the legal effort, SeaTac is amending its 2025–2026 budget by adding $350,000 in expenditures and $253,000 in shared revenues to its Port ILA Fund.

The cities of Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, and SeaTac are proposing a formal Interlocal Agreement to coordinate their response to the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), which could bring significant growth and environmental impacts to surrounding communities over the next 20 years. Under the agreement, the four cities would jointly hire consultants and legal counsel to review environmental documents, submit formal comments during the SEPA and NEPA review processes, and potentially mount legal challenges to FAA or Port decisions. Burien's share of costs is estimated at approximately $100,000.

In September 2025, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) issued updated non-binding guidance to federal agencies on how to conduct environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), replacing earlier guidance from February 2025. The update streamlines the permitting process by incorporating a recent Supreme Court ruling limiting the scope of required environmental analysis, removing climate change and environmental justice considerations, and introducing an optional fee-based program that cuts review timelines in half. Agencies are encouraged to revise their own NEPA procedures using a provided template while continuing existing review processes without delay.

Port of Seattle presentation updating on the FAA’s completion of NEPA Environmental Assessment for 31 proposed SAMP projects, finding no significant environmental impact. Covers regional growth driving air travel demand, project details, and next steps including Port-led environmental review and public engagement.

This traffic engineering report analyzes three signalized intersections along S 128th Street near SR 509 in the Sea-Tac area under projected 2032 No Action conditions during the PM peak hour. The study finds that the SR 509 ramp intersections are operating well over capacity, with an Intersection Capacity Utilization of 104.6% and an ICU Level of Service G, while the Des Moines Way S intersection operates more acceptably at 63.3% ICU. Overall intersection control delays range from approximately 19 to 27 seconds, with most approaches functioning at Level of Service B or C.

The Bonneville Power Administration's 2018–2023 Strategic Plan Progress Update outlines the agency's efforts to improve its financial health, modernize its power grid assets, and better serve customers across the Pacific Northwest. The plan identifies five strategic goals, including strengthening financial performance, providing competitive power products, and valuing its workforce. This update, issued nearly three years after the original 2018 plan, documents accomplishments and highlights areas needing further attention.