TagNoise(193)

WAC 246-366-110 sets sound control standards for Washington State school classrooms, requiring that background noise in new construction not exceed NC-35 on the noise criterion curve, with actual noise levels capped at 45 dBA during normal operation. Industrial and vocational classrooms have separate limits, with ambient noise not to exceed 65 dBA when exhaust systems are running. In music and vocational education areas, student noise exposure is strictly regulated by duration, and hearing protection must be provided if exposure limits are exceeded.

Resolution No. 3032, adopted by the Port of Seattle Commission on October 25, 1988, amends an earlier resolution (No. 3016) concerning noise management at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The key change gives the negotiating committee—known as the Joint Committee on Aircraft Overflights—the freedom to select their own neutral convener (mediator) from at least three interviewed candidates, rather than being restricted as under the previous rules. The chosen convener would be retained for up to four months to organize a mediation process, ensure all relevant parties are represented, and report regularly to the Port Commission on progress.

In July 1984, homeowners on 26th Ave. South near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport wrote to Port of Seattle Commissioners supporting the acquisition of their properties under the Noise Remedy program, citing increasing aircraft noise, growing industrial traffic hazards, and uncertainty that had delayed home maintenance. A separate letter from the Port's Director of Aviation to an airline captain acknowledged that non-compliance with existing noise abatement procedures — such as aircraft flying lower or turning sooner than prescribed — was a significant community concern, and noted that the Port was developing computer software using FAA radar data to automatically detect and report such violations.

In this February 28, 1984 letter, the FAA's Northwest Mountain Region reviewed the Port of Seattle's proposed Noise Remedy Program for Sea-Tac Airport, raising concerns about the criteria used to add 44 homes to an acquisition program and 275 homes to a purchase assurance program. The FAA questioned whether the new criteria of 'buffer for airport-related development' and 'neighborhood continuity' were sufficiently justified, particularly for homes along 24th Avenue South. The agency urged that all criteria be reasonable, clearly documented, and tied to measured noise impacts, and cautioned against finalizing the purchase assurance plan before key federal policy questions were resolved.

Minutes from the September 28, 1983 Policy Advisory Committee meeting at Sea-Tac Airport cover updates on noise reduction efforts, including new aircraft departure procedures, expanded noise monitoring stations, and a study on noise insulation and building codes. The committee also reviewed the 20-year Airport Master Plan, which will identify surplus Port-owned land that could be repurposed for commercial development or parks, and received updates on facilities improvements such as a new taxi holding area, completed runway safety zones, and the expanded South Satellite International Terminal.

This 1983 work program outlines a study to evaluate and update Sea-Tac International Airport's aircraft noise remedy program, originally established in the 1970 Sea-Tac/Communities Plan. The study, conducted by the Port of Seattle alongside Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co. and McClure Research Company, addresses updated noise projections, progress on existing remedies, and current financial conditions. Key tasks include study design, federal funding coordination, and a Community Involvement Program to keep the public informed and engaged in noise abatement planning.

Published in June 1980 by the Federal Interagency Committee on Urban Noise, this document provides guidelines for incorporating noise considerations into land use planning and control decisions. It was produced jointly by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Department of Defense, Environmental Protection Agency, and Department of Housing and Urban Development. The guidelines are intended to help planners and policymakers manage the impact of noise—such as that generated by airports like Sea-Tac—on surrounding communities through zoning and land use strategies.

A memorandum from James Branch documenting 23 questions raised by the public at a Zone Three Steering Committee meeting regarding airport development, noise issues, land acquisition programs, and community concerns around Sea-Tac Airport. Questions cover topics including flight patterns, noise abatement, land use planning, and community impacts.

This document presents F.A.A. Density Guidelines for North Sea-Tac Park, a neighborhood near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. It maps out population density limits across different zones, ranging from 1.5 people per acre in the Clear Zone closest to the airport, to 2 people per acre in the Extended Clear Zone, up to 20-40 people per acre in areas farther from the runway. The guidelines reflect FAA safety and noise policy restrictions that limit how many residents can live in areas most directly affected by airport flight paths.