TagNoise(258)

Washington State law (WAC 173-60-040) sets maximum allowable noise levels based on the zoning class of both the noise source and the receiving property, ranging from 55 to 70 dBA, with nighttime limits reduced by 10 dBA for residential areas between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Short-duration noise spikes are permitted, allowing up to 15 dBA above the limit for no more than 1.5 minutes per hour. Enforcement is complaint-driven, measured at the receiving property, and each 24-hour period of violation counts as a separate offense under RCW 70.107.050.

A 1975 summary presentation of the Sea-Tac/Communities Plan, jointly undertaken by the Port of Seattle and King County, outlines the key problems that prompted the study, including aircraft noise complaints from nearby residents, related lawsuits and FHA mortgage restrictions, flooding issues, and neighborhood blight. The plan aimed to achieve compatibility between Sea-Tac International Airport and surrounding communities through technical studies, citizen participation, and advisory committees. Key findings indicated that no major airport expansion was needed, but noise would remain a significant environmental concern, and many property owners believed they deserved relief or compensation.

This document outlines a development concept addressing the relationship between Sea-Tac International Airport and its surrounding communities. While the airport contributes significantly to the regional economy—supporting over 15,200 jobs and $390 million in annual business activity—local residents have long struggled with aircraft noise, uncertainty about airport expansion, and the impact on property values and neighborhood character. The concept seeks to find greater compatibility between the airport's growth and the needs of the communities it affects.

This 1975 working draft memo from the Port of Seattle and King County outlines updates to the Sea-Tac Communities Plan, including revised sections on noise remedies and community development programs. It provides socioeconomic data for the Sea-Tac area, noting that median family incomes ranged widely from $3,600 in White Center public housing to $18,700 in Normandy Park, with Sea-Tac Airport serving as the primary local employer with over 15,200 jobs and $160 million in annual payroll.

This 1975 working paper from the Maryland State Aviation Administration examines methods for measuring and analyzing airport noise exposure, focusing on the Day-Night Average Sound Level (Ldn) as the recommended metric for assessing community noise impact. It reviews how sound characteristics such as magnitude, frequency, and time distribution affect human response, and evaluates criteria for acceptable noise limits based on effects including hearing loss, speech interference, sleep disturbance, and annoyance. The document also compares international noise exposure standards and proposes guidelines for land-use compatibility around airports.

This 1974 noise study, prepared by MAN-Acoustics and Noise, Inc. for the Port of Seattle and King County, examines aircraft noise impacts on communities surrounding Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. It covers noise measurement methodologies, noise exposure calculations, effects of weather and aircraft location, maintenance runups, thrust reverser noise, and background noise levels. The report also evaluates potential noise control alternatives and flight operational changes aimed at reducing noise burdens on nearby residents.

This 1973 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency document establishes scientific criteria for understanding how noise affects public health and welfare, including hearing damage, annoyance, communication interference, and property value loss. Prepared by EPA's Office of Noise Abatement and Control under the Noise Control Act of 1972, it describes cause-and-effect relationships between noise exposure and human health impacts. The criteria laid out in this document were intended to serve as a foundation for developing future noise standards and regulations, though the document itself does not constitute a standard or regulation.

Minutes from a July 18, 1973 'Near Term' task force meeting focused on Sea-Tac Airport noise issues, in which members agreed to support the Port of Seattle's 90-day Interim Study for acquiring property in the extended clear zone, with partial FAA funding. The group also decided to write to U.S. Senators Magnuson and Jackson to seek additional funds for interim and future property acquisition in serious noise-impacted areas. The next meeting was scheduled for July 26, 1973, to review draft letters and explore funding options.

This 1973 fact sheet describes a noise exposure study commissioned by the Port of Seattle and King County to measure aircraft noise impacts around Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Two Seattle firms, Robin M. Towne and Associates and Man-Acoustics and Noise, Inc., conducted measurements at six community locations ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 feet from the runway ends, with plans to expand to 60 sites. The study aimed to produce noise exposure contours, future noise predictions, and alternative land-use recommendations, while also accounting for non-airport noise sources and structural vibrations caused by aircraft operations.

Engrossed House Bill No. 97, introduced in Washington State's 43rd Legislature in January 1973, establishes the right of property owners to seek compensation in inverse condemnation actions when their property value is diminished due to highway, aviation, or airport operations. Qualifying impacts include noise, vibrations, air pollution, water pollution, loss of view or scenery, and risk to life from nearby traffic. The bill also limits recovery to properties within one-quarter mile of a highway right-of-way or within one hundred yards of an airport facility, and requires actions to be filed within three years of the alleged taking or damaging.