TagRCAA(197)

A 1996 Natural Resources Defense Council report examines the environmental impacts of America's airports, including aircraft noise, air pollution, water quality, and climate change, based on a 1995 survey of 125 of the nation's busiest airports. The report finds that the FAA's current noise threshold of 65 dB DNL inadequately measures the true impact of aircraft noise on nearby communities, and that noise problems are likely to worsen as air travel grows. NRDC recommends updating noise measurement standards and improving land-use planning around airports to better protect residents from aviation-related environmental harms.

In August 1996, community groups CASE and RCAA formally appealed the Port of Seattle's Resolution No. 3212, which approved construction of a third runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The appeal argued that newer navigation technologies such as Localizer Directional Aid (LDA) and GPS, combined with demand management strategies, could provide equivalent airport capacity at far lower cost and with less environmental harm. The groups requested a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement to evaluate these technology-based alternatives and reconsider the third runway decision.

A 1996 Natural Resources Defense Council report estimates that approximately 64,000 premature deaths from cardiopulmonary causes occur each year due to particulate air pollution (PM-10) across 239 American cities. The report ranks metropolitan areas by PM-10 concentration, attributable mortality, and mortality rate, with California cities like Visalia, Bakersfield, and Fresno topping the pollution charts. Note: this document addresses urban air quality and public health broadly and does not contain content specifically related to Sea-Tac Airport noise policy.

In 1996 congressional testimony, Dr. Stephen Hockaday argued against building a costly third runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, contending that the Port of Seattle greatly overstated the frequency of poor weather conditions that would require it. He presented evidence that true instrument flight conditions occur less than 8% of the year—not the 44% the Port claimed—and that existing navigation technologies like Localizer Directional Aid approaches could address capacity needs at far lower cost. Hockaday warned that spending half a billion dollars on a runway used only 15% of the time would divert resources from better long-term regional aviation solutions.

A 1995 letter from Allan M. Furney to Chester Beattie of the Airport Communities Coalition summarizes a 1974 settlement agreement between King County, the Washington State Highway Commission, and local citizens regarding flooding and drainage problems in the Miller Creek watershed. The settlement requires King County to improve water quality, prevent excess stormwater runoff into Miller Creek, and construct appropriate drainage facilities, while prohibiting full channelization of the creek. The letter raises concerns that proposed SeaTac Airport third-runway expansion plans, as outlined in the Draft EIS, would violate these settlement provisions by significantly increasing impervious surface area and stormwater flows into the Miller Creek drainage basin.

A 1995 letter from the Regional Commission on Airport Affairs to airport-interested parties summarizes two reports submitted to an arbitration panel deciding the Sea-Tac Airport third runway issue. The reports argue that alternatives to the third runway—such as regional airport system use and peak-hour pricing—were not fairly considered, that flight delay figures cited to justify the runway were overstated, and that the project itself may never be buildable due to cost, financing, and construction obstacles. A separate shorter report addresses noise concerns related to the proposed runway.

A March 1993 letter from the RCAA (Regional Commission on Airport Affairs) Executive Board addressed to John Sandelius of Seattle, thanking him for his time, energy, and wisdom contributed to the organization's efforts regarding Sea-Tac Airport noise issues. The letter expresses well-wishes for his recovery and notes that his work was valued whenever the community needed him. The document is endorsed by a wide coalition of over 50 community organizations, city governments, and civic groups from the greater Seattle and South King County area opposing airport noise expansion.

A January 28, 1993 letter from James T. Murphy of the Regional Commission on Airport Affairs (RCAA) to the Transportation Policy and Executive Board, presenting independent consultant research on air capacity options for the Puget Sound region. The letter notes that RCAA had delivered three volumes of material over three weeks, with a final compilation to follow, aimed at helping the Board make informed decisions about managing airport capacity. The RCAA, backed by dozens of community organizations and cities including Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, and Tukwila, framed its work as an alternative voice on Sea-Tac Airport expansion and noise policy.

The Regional Commission on Airport Affairs (RCAA) was a coalition of cities and citizen groups in the Puget Sound region that opposed the proposed third dependent runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in the early 1990s. The organization compiled expert research and white papers covering noise impacts, public health effects, environmental and social consequences, and economic costs associated with airport expansion. Their goal was to identify financially feasible and environmentally responsible alternatives to meet the region's air capacity needs without further expanding Sea-Tac.

This January 1993 document from the Regional Commission on Airport Affairs (RCAA) presents materials to the Puget Sound Regional Council's Transportation Policy and Executive Board covering demand management, airport planning, and regional air capacity alternatives. The packet includes analysis of flight delays, airspace and runway capacity issues, and landside capacity concerns prepared by consultants J. Richard Aramburu and Gerald Bogan, along with alternative airport development ideas from locations such as Grays Harbor County, Toledo-Winlock, and Moses Lake. The RCAA, backed by dozens of community groups and several cities in the Sea-Tac area, sought to offer expert-driven solutions to address long-term aviation capacity needs while addressing aircraft noise concerns affecting surrounding neighborhoods.