TagPort Of Seattle(2405)

A September 26, 2000 letter from Water Resources Consulting L.L.C. to the Washington State Department of Ecology critiques the Port of Seattle's plans to augment water flow in Des Moines Creek, a project related to Sea-Tac Airport operations. The letter identifies several serious flaws in the proposal, including the lack of a secured water source, concerns about water temperature and fluoride toxicity to fish, and a maintenance-intensive design prone to failure. The author concludes that the Port's 'preliminary design' does not provide reasonable assurance that water quality standards will be met.

A September 2000 letter from Northwest Hydraulic Consultants raises concerns that the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's Stormwater Management Plan fails to adequately assess or mitigate the third runway embankment's impact on stream base flows and seepage flows to nearby wetlands. The consultants argue that the Port of Seattle's own data contradicts its claims that the embankment fill would maintain groundwater recharge, and that independent re-analysis suggests summer groundwater reductions to Miller Creek could be roughly twice what the Port reported. The letter calls for more rigorous and consistent hydrologic modeling before construction commitments are made.

In September 2000, King County's Department of Natural Resources provided a technical review of the Port of Seattle's Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan (SMP) for proposed Master Plan Update improvements at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The review found no fatal flaws in the plan's approach to meeting King County's stormwater standards, but identified inconsistencies in flow control calculations and water quality measures that needed to be resolved before final permitting. King County also emphasized the importance of rigorous erosion and sediment control during construction and recommended that Ecology and the Port establish a joint compliance team to oversee implementation of the complex, multi-year project.

A water resources consultant wrote to the Washington State Department of Ecology in September 2000, arguing that Seattle Public Utilities' Lake Youngs water supply is too warm to effectively cool Des Moines Creek during summer months. Temperature data showed that Lake Youngs outlet water exceeds 16°C from mid-June through mid-October — the exact period when cooler stream temperatures are needed — reaching as high as 20°C in summer 2000. The letter concludes that the Port of Seattle's proposed flow augmentation facility for Des Moines Creek cannot rely on this water source for temperature improvement, undermining the Port's claims about its water supply plan.

Hart Crowser report prepared for Port of Seattle, dated September 12, 2000 (J-4978-13), evaluating perched groundwater zone interception at Borrow Area 3 for the Sea-Tac Third Runway project. Analyzes shallow perched groundwater flow from northwest to southeast beneath Borrow Areas 3 and 4, its role in sustaining Wetland 29, and the impact of borrow area

Internal email exchange between Peter Kmet and Kevin Fitzpatrick (Supervisor, Industrial Permit Unit, Water Quality Program, NWRO) dated September 11, 2000, regarding Clean Fill Criteria language for the 401 Water Quality Certification on the Sea-Tac Third Runway project. Document marked ‘Deliberative Document Currently Exempt From Public Disclosure.’ Kmet comments on draft certification conditions E6 (borrow

This September 2000 internal briefing document from the Washington State Department of Ecology (ECY) outlines the agency's long-running regulatory review of the proposed Third Runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, covering key environmental concerns such as wetland mitigation, stormwater management, and wildlife hazard management. It describes ongoing conflicts with the Port of Seattle over compliance with environmental permits, including a Clean Water Act Section 401 certification that was heavily conditioned in 1998 and subsequently withdrawn by the Port. The document also notes intensifying political pressure from legislators, the Governor's office, and community opposition groups threatening legal action over perceived environmental violations.

Fax cover sheet and two-page letter dated September 7, 2000 from Richard A. Poulin of Smith & Lowney, P.L.L.C. to Raymond Hellwig (Director, NW Regional Office, Washington Department of Ecology) and Tom Luster (Permit Coordination Unit, Ecology), on behalf of Citizens Against Seatac Expansion (CASE) and Waste Action Project (WAP). Letter transmits a 60-day Notice

A biological assessments consultant, writing on behalf of the Airport Communities Coalition, critiques the Port of Seattle's revised plan to use City of Seattle drinking water to boost summer flows in Des Moines Creek near Sea-Tac Airport. The letter raises concerns that the plan inadequately addresses the toxicity of fluoride and residual chlorine in treated drinking water, which can harm fish and other aquatic life at very low levels. The consultant also warns that differences in temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen between the makeup water and the creek could cause serious ecological damage if not corrected before augmentation begins.

Technical memorandum dated September 5, 2000 from Elizabeth Leavitt (Port Of Seattle) to Ray Helwig (Washington State Department of Ecology), cc’d to Erik Stockdale, Nancy Groves (Ecology), Jim Kelley and Paul Fendt (Parametrix), Project No. 556-2912-001(03). Addresses CWA Section 401 permit issues for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Master Plan Update projects involving wetlands and streams. Topics