TagPart 150(263)

This Summer 2009 edition of Air Mail, published by the Port of Seattle for Sea-Tac Airport neighbors, covers the planned demolition of the former Lora Lake Apartments near the third runway, where soil contamination required cleanup under an Agreed Order with the Washington Department of Ecology. The newsletter also announces an upcoming Part 150 Noise and Land-Use Compatibility Study to assess real-world noise conditions, including the impact of the new third runway, and recognizes Virgin America and Federal Express with 2009 Fly Quiet Awards for minimizing aircraft noise. Additional community updates include Sea-Tac Airport scholarships awarded to Highline School District graduates and an environmental curriculum program at Aviation High School.

The Port of Seattle is seeking authorization to hire a consulting team to update Sea-Tac Airport's Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibility Plan, last approved by the FAA in 2002. The update is needed to reflect major changes in the airport's noise environment, including the opening of a new third runway, the shift to quieter aircraft by airlines such as Alaska and Horizon, and fewer flight operations than originally forecast. The project, estimated to cost between $500,000 and $1 million and funded 80% by FAA grants, is expected to be completed and submitted to the FAA by late 2010.

FAA record of approval for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport’s Noise Compatibility Program under 14 CFR Part 150. The document evaluates eight noise abatement measures and six noise mitigation measures, with the FAA providing approvals and disapprovals for various proposed actions.

Final recommendations from the FAR Part 150 Advisory Committee to update the Federal Aviation Regulations Part 150 Noise Compatibility Program for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The document outlines 14 measures for noise abatement and mitigation, including advanced navigation procedures and air traffic control training for flights along the Potomac River corridor.

This guide, produced by law firm Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell and noise consulting firm Harris Miller Miller & Hanson, explains the rules and regulations governing airport noise and aircraft use restrictions at publicly owned airports. It covers who is responsible for regulating airports and aircraft, what tools airports have to manage noise, and the requirements of the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990. The guide is designed for airport managers, elected officials, consultants, and community groups seeking to understand how noise disputes are handled and resolved.

A 2003 newsletter from the Regional Commission on Airport Affairs (RCAA) criticizes the Port of Seattle for claiming credit on aircraft noise reduction at Sea-Tac Airport without actually implementing the key recommendations—such as building a hush house for engine run-up noise—that its own Part 150 community committee proposed. The newsletter also highlights the Port's contradictory positions, including claiming the Third Runway would boost economic capacity while simultaneously arguing it would add no new flights and therefore require no noise mitigation. Critics argue these tactics allowed the Port to satisfy regional planning requirements on paper while avoiding real environmental costs.

This September 2003 report presents an update to the FAR Part 150 Noise Exposure Maps for Snohomish County Airport (Paine Field) near Everett, Washington, prepared by Barnard Dunkelberg & Company. It covers airport inventory, aircraft operations forecasts, and the development of noise contours to map areas affected by aircraft noise. The study was conducted with input from a Study Advisory Committee and involved formal public consultation processes.