TagPort Of Seattle(2609)

The Port of Seattle's SEA Sound Insulation Programs presentation, led by Sr. Manager Stan Shepherd, outlines efforts to reduce aircraft noise impacts on nearby residents. Following Commission Motion 2020-4, the Port committed to accelerating its Sound Insulation Program with a completion target of 2026, supported by newly hired staff, over 70 additional Port employees, and two consulting firms for construction services. The update also covers program status and funding considerations.

This presentation by Stan Shepherd, Senior Manager of Airport Noise Programs at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, provides an overview of SEA's key noise management initiatives. The programs covered include Noise Abatement (such as flight procedure monitoring and the Fly Quiet program), the StART stakeholder roundtable, noise monitoring, noise mitigation, and community outreach. Together, these efforts reflect the airport's commitment to reducing the impact of aircraft noise on surrounding communities.

A May 2023 ethics investigation report from the Port of Seattle found that Commissioner Fred Felleman violated the Commissioner Code of Ethics by using his official position to seek special privileges and treatment for himself in connection with the Quiet Sound orca conservation program. The investigation also found evidence that he used his commissioner role to retaliate against a Port employee he believed had opposed one of his personal requests to an outside organization. The complaint's third allegation — that Felleman discriminated against an employee based on gender — was not substantiated by a preponderance of the evidence.

This campaign mailer from the Washington Alliance of Taxpayers and Travelers (WATT) opposes the Port of Seattle's plan to build a third runway at Sea-Tac Airport, calling it a billion-dollar 'boondoggle' that would take four years to construct and burden the region with overwhelming truck traffic. The group warns that the project would require moving 26 million cubic yards of dirt via 2,000 trucks per day through neighborhoods across the Puget Sound region, and that taxpayers could face property tax increases of over 60% if airline fees fall short of covering costs. Residents are urged to contact the Port of Seattle and mail in an attached postcard to oppose the runway expansion.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE'S RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

A class action lawsuit filed in King County Superior Court by plaintiffs Cindy Codoni and Michelle Geer against the Port of Seattle, Alaska Air Group, and Delta Air Lines alleges that aircraft operations at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport have contaminated the surrounding air and soil with dangerous pollutants, including particulate matter, hazardous gases, and toxic heavy metals. Residents living beneath flight paths below 3,000 feet claim increased health risks and property damage as a result of the defendants' ongoing activities. The suit seeks medical monitoring, property decontamination, and other relief on behalf of all similarly situated homeowners, renters, and residents in the affected area.

This April 2023 memo from the Port of Seattle outlines the agenda and goals for the first-ever StART DC Fly-in, a trip in which Port and local city officials traveled to Washington, DC to advocate for federal policies addressing aircraft noise and emissions near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The delegation met with members of Congress, including Senator Maria Cantwell and several House Representatives, to push for legislation such as the Sound Insulation Treatment Repair and Replacement Program Act and the Aviation Noise and Emissions Mitigation Act. Key priorities included expanding eligibility for home sound insulation funding, involving the EPA in noise mitigation efforts, and establishing a formal Aircraft Noise Advisory Committee with a clear timeline for policy action.