TagPermitting(5)

This May 2026 ESA policy briefing provides an update on federal permitting policy, noting that all three branches of government — legislative, executive, and judicial — are actively shaping permitting decisions. A key highlight is that Trump's second term has seen a dramatically higher number of first-year executive orders than any previous administration in recent history, signaling an aggressive pace of executive action on regulatory and permitting matters. While the document focuses broadly on federal permitting trends, its content is relevant to infrastructure and environmental review processes that can affect airport-related noise and land-use decisions.

This is a Washington State Joint Aquatic Resources Permit Application (JARPA) submitted by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for the SR 509 Stage 2 Project, which involves constructing a new expressway between 24th Avenue South and South 188th Street in the cities of Burien, Des Moines, and SeaTac, King County. The project corridor runs through publicly owned land and spans multiple sections of townships near Sea-Tac Airport. The application was received on March 24, 2022, and covers permits related to aquatic resources affected by the highway construction.

This circa-2002 community advocacy document from the Regional Commission on Airport Affairs opposes construction of a third runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, arguing that the Port of Seattle lacked required environmental permits, had already spent over $300 million, and that the project posed serious risks to local wetlands, fish habitat, and watersheds affecting 150,000 south county residents. The document also highlights a controversial proposal to transport arsenic-laden fill material via a conveyor belt through Des Moines Beach Park and Des Moines Creek to the airport construction site. Residents are urged to contact Port commissioners and local city council members to halt the project.