TagPCHB(607)

This Washington State Department of Ecology publication, authored by Stewart M. Lombard and Cliff J. Kirchmer and released in February 2001, provides guidelines for preparing Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs) for environmental studies. It outlines standards and procedures to ensure that data collected during environmental investigations meets defined quality and reliability requirements.

Field notes dated 1/28/01 document an inspection of Ace Airport View, recording observations at a stormwater detention station (DM1 - Monitoring Station) near Des Moines Creek. The inspector noted a turbid outfall at SDS-1 in the southwest, associated wetlands, steep sides, and the presence of an oil boom, with water samples collected at 11:45 AM by Dr. Strand. Additional notes reference a southwest pond draining adjacent to the creek, clogging of material at outfall infrastructure, and embankment flows requiring attention to discharge locations.

This document outlines the Washington State Department of Ecology's Section 401 Water Quality Certification review process for the proposed Sea-Tac Airport expansion, detailing the legal standards and unresolved environmental issues involved. Ecology was required to determine whether the expansion would meet state water quality standards by assessing direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts on wetlands, stormwater, and streamflow, while coordinating with federal Clean Water Act permit requirements under Sections 401 and 402. As of October 2000, key aquatic resource protection issues—including stormwater management, wetland mitigation, and streamflow augmentation—remained unresolved pending additional information from the Port of Seattle.

In a January 2001 letter to Washington State Senator Julia Patterson, outgoing Department of Ecology official Tom Luster summarizes the key water quality issues surrounding the proposed Sea-Tac Airport expansion review under Section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act. The assessment outlines concerns including stormwater management, wetland impacts, streamflow, and whether the project's discharges would meet state water quality standards for antidegradation, beneficial uses, and numeric water quality criteria. Luster notes the views are his own and may not fully reflect Ecology's current position, directing the Senator to contact Ann Kenny at Ecology's Northwest Regional Office for the latest information.

This December 2000 email from Northwest Hydraulic Consultants summarizes technical concerns about Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's Industrial Wastewater System (IWS) and its effects on local waterways. The consultants warn that diverting large areas of stormwater runoff to the IWS is reducing natural water flows to Walker Creek and Des Moines Creek, and that lining the IWS storage lagoons may further diminish groundwater base flows to those streams. Additional concerns include undersized detention facilities, lack of continuous simulation modeling, and unresolved conflicts with FAA wildlife guidelines related to the proposed Third Lagoon expansion.

This December 2000 Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan, prepared by Parametrix, Inc. for the Port of Seattle, outlines how Seattle-Tacoma International Airport planned to manage stormwater runoff as part of its Master Plan Update improvements. The plan covers water quantity and quality standards, drainage basin conditions, hydrologic modeling, and best management practices for both existing and future airport development areas. It addresses topics such as detention storage, treatment of industrial wastewater, wildlife safety near detention ponds, and protection of nearby waterways including Miller Creek and Des Moines Creek.

This document summarizes technical negotiation meetings held between October and December 2000 regarding a 401 Water Quality Permit for the Port of Seattle's proposed third runway construction at Sea-Tac Airport. The discussions focused on resolving stormwater management issues, including detention pond sizing, basin hydrology, wetland impacts, and compliance with environmental regulations. A master list of technical issues was maintained jointly by the Port and the Washington State Department of Ecology to track the resolution status of each item prior to permit issuance.

A fisheries biologist hired by the Airport Communities Coalition reviewed the Port of Seattle's permit application for the Miller Creek Relocation Project, raising serious scientific concerns about the proposed construction near Sea-Tac Airport. The review found that the project design lacked supporting scientific citations and calculations, and concluded that summer water temperatures would likely exceed safe levels for cutthroat trout for several years until riparian vegetation matured. Additional concerns were raised about inadequate water flow depths and the risk of the stream running dry due to highly porous spawning gravels used in the channel design.

Wetland Functional Assessment and Impact Analysis prepared by Parametrix, Inc. (Kirkland, Washington) for Port Of Seattle, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, December 2000, project number 556-2912-001 (03). Document filed in PCHB No. 01-133, received October 1, 2001 by Environmental Hearings Office, submitted as part of Port of Seattle’s Memo Opposing ACC’s Motion for Stay, Declaration of James

Final Natural Resource Mitigation Plan prepared by Parametrix, Inc. for Port Of Seattle covering Master Plan Update Improvements at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, dated December 2000. Filed as part of PCHB No. 01-133, Port of Seattle’s memo opposing ACC’s motion for stay, Volume 3 of 3, received by Environmental Hearings Office on October 1, 2001. Includes