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This is a ‘live’ example of the handbook that every homeowner received describing the process involved in receiving a Port Package–replacement windows, insulation and other modifications to the structure of one’s home in order to reduce the interior sound level. We chose this one to point out just how seriously many homeowners took the process.
2026-07-08
What if the solution to decades of airport noise and community impacts has been hiding in plain sight all along? In this open letter to city managers across airport communities, we revisit a landmark yet largely forgotten document: the Sea-Tac Communities Plan of 1976. Built on the Port of Seattle's promise — *"As we do better, you'll do better"* — this collaborative plan was supposed to be the long-term answer for neighborhoods living under the flight path. So why has it been reduced to little more than an expensive property buyout program? The answer reveals a critical gap that neither elected officials nor community advocates can fill alone. Real, lasting solutions require sustained professional commitment to airport community planning — something that should have been established 50 years ago. If you work in city management, this episode speaks directly to you and the unique role only you can play in finally delivering on that broken promise.
2026-06-28
**Discover why environmental progress stalled for airport communities while cars got cleaner**
Ever wonder why your car's emissions have dramatically improved over decades, but aviation seems stuck in the past? In this eye-opening episode of The Airport Communities Podcast, we explore the fascinating tale of two environmental paths that diverged after 1970.
While Washington Senator Scoop Jackson spearheaded NEPA—one of the largest expansions of environmental policy in American history—and California secured game-changing carve-outs in the Clean Air Act that led to massive air quality improvements, aviation somehow got left behind. Despite Boeing being headquartered in Washington, aviation environmental standards never caught up.
UW Meteorologist Cliff Mass delivers some stark perspective: those two annual flights to Europe generate more greenhouse gases than most people produce in their entire homes over a year. Meanwhile, Boeing's monopoly status has eliminated market incentives for cleaner technology.
This wasn't an oversight—it was intentional. Today, every airport community continues paying the price for decisions made decades ago that exempted aviation from automotive-level engineering standards.
Changes 1985-2032 The black outline depicts the 1985-2013 Part 150 noise contour. The light orange rectangle is the 92 sq mile area defined under State of Washington law (RCW 53.54.020) that is eligible for funding to mitigate noise impacts–but only those generated by Sea-Tac Airport. All sound insulated homes inside the original DNL65 (1985-2032). Sound
2025-10-04
Airport Committee recommendation highlights program failures At Monday night’s meeting, the Burien City Council will be asked to support and transmit to the Port of Seattle Commission the following letter. The letter is a specific response to the Port’s 2024 Sound Insulation Repair Replacement Pilot Program (SIRRPP), which was intended to begin addressing documented problems
2025-06-26
Visualizing Port Package eligibility from 1991 until today A few weeks ago we wrote a post describing the work we had begun to improve our maps and charts and graphs. Here is one tiny example of how you can use them. This one minute video is a ‘fly-over’ of the DNL65 from 1991 until today
2024-02-28
By Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks The Port of Seattle will spend $5 million to repair and replace soundproofing equipment it funded years ago in homes near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport that has since failed and led to moldy windows, rotting wood frames and damaged drywall. Community advocates and residents with failed soundproofing installations in their homes celebrated the
2025-10-04