Tagpos_sm_2016_10_25(2)

Port of Seattle Special Meeting Oct 25, 2016

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2024-02-23
E2SSB5955 Capital Budget Committee hearing

Port Package Update Bill heard in House Capital Budget Committee SB5955 was heard today in the Capital Budget Committee public hearing. It will be decided upon in Executive Session Monday, February 26 at 8:00AM. If it passes, it will get within two steps of becoming law. As we’ve mentioned previously, bills are usually not scheduled

CategoriesLegislationTagsPort Package Program Updates, pos_sm_2016_10_25, SB5955, Tina Orwall
2016-10-25
Testimony of David E. Ortman before the Seattle Port Commission, October 25, 2016

Attorney David E. Ortman testified before the Seattle Port Commission in October 2016, arguing that Sea-Tac Airport's expansion plans are financially wasteful and environmentally harmful, citing a Washington State Auditor's report that found nearly $100 million wasted in Third Runway construction contracts and 10 instances of civil fraud. He contended that Sea-Tac cannot sustainably handle projected passenger growth to 66 million by 2034, and that overflight noise from the Third Runway has already depressed property values in north Seattle and Shoreline. Ortman also called on the Port to end its property tax levy, arguing that costs for fishing industry support, cruise facilities, and economic development should be borne by industry users rather than King County taxpayers.

TagsDavid E. Ortman, Flight Corridor Safety Program, pos_sm_2016_10_25

As the source for federal transportation grants, the Puget Sound Regional Council was charged with developing a system to meet the growing need for commercial aviation. When the search for a second airport failed, they authorized the Port of Seattle to build the Third Runway, with a mandate to develop a noise abatement and mitigation program. In their effort to stop the Third Runway, the ACC argued over every detail of the Port's efforts--including property buyouts and sound insulation. The dispute was meant to be settled by a three member Expert Arbitration Panel. This is their final report. It finds 2-1, that the Port's program was insufficient in several respects. Despite that, funding for the Third Runway was approved by the PSRC, and the 'Port Package' program, proceeded largely unchanged. Expert Arbitration Panel's final decision finding that the Port of Seattle had not shown sufficient reduction in real on-the-ground noise impacts to satisfy noise reduction conditions required for approval of a third runway at Sea-Tac International Airport. The majority decision concluded the Port's noise abatement programs were insufficient despite being impressive in scope.

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