TagNoise Remedy Program(52)

The Sea-Tac Communities Plan, jointly developed by the Port of Seattle and King County beginning in 1973, outlines strategies to improve compatibility between Sea-Tac International Airport and surrounding neighborhoods, with a focus on aircraft noise remedies, water quality improvements, and land use conversion. The plan identifies specific areas for outright property acquisition, purchase guarantees, and noise insulation programs affecting thousands of homes north and south of the airport. It also establishes policies for drainage management, community development, and long-term airport facility improvements to accommodate projected air traffic growth through 1993.

This document summarizes the Sea-Tac Communities Plan, a 1973 joint study by the Port of Seattle and King County to improve compatibility between Sea-Tac International Airport and its surrounding neighborhoods. The plan examined aircraft noise exposure, air and water quality, and community growth, finding that noise levels were expected to decrease over time due to quieter aircraft technology despite rising flight operations. It proposed a range of noise remedy programs—including property acquisition, purchase guarantees, and insulation assistance—affecting thousands of homes in areas north and south of the airport.

Harris Miller Miller & Hanson Inc. (HMMH) conducted sound insulation testing at 30 homes near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) in March 2026 to measure how much aircraft noise penetrates indoors. The study found that none of the 30 homes exceeded the FAA's 45-decibel interior noise threshold required to qualify for sound insulation treatments under current federal policy. However, nine homes had at least one individual room where interior noise levels surpassed 45 decibels, suggesting those specific rooms could benefit from upgraded windows or doors.

The Port of Seattle wrote to Des Moines Mayor Traci Buxton in December 2025 to explain its Sound Insulation Repair and Replacement Pilot Program, a $5 million initiative aimed at helping homeowners near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport whose aging sound insulation packages may no longer be performing adequately. The program focuses on homes that received insulation before 1993 and are located within the FAA-approved Noise Remedy Boundary, with eligibility determined by acoustic testing showing interior noise levels at or above 45 dB DNL. Of the 117 homes tested in the initial phase, five were found eligible, and the Port plans to expand outreach to an additional 209 homes in early 2026 while pursuing FAA grant funding that could cover up to 80% of design and construction costs.

In September 2025, acoustical engineers tested 29 homes near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to measure how much aircraft noise penetrates indoors. The study found that none of the homes exceeded the 45-decibel interior noise threshold required to qualify for federally funded soundproofing treatments, though 10 homes had at least one room above that level. The findings are part of SEA's Repair and Replacement Program, which evaluates whether previously soundproofed homes need updated windows and doors.