TagRCAA(203)

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.

This archival record (Box 1323) from the Port of Seattle's Administration office contains airport litigation documents related to Sea-Tac Airport noise issues from 1995. The materials include memos and attachments from Clare Impett covering topics such as RCAA reports, condensed transcripts, aircraft noise group submissions, and expert panel materials for arbitration on demand/system management and noise reduction. Also included is a methodology document for measuring and predicting aircraft noise levels at Sea-Tac Airport, stored at the Washington State Archives.

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.

This archival box (Box No. 01291, Title 1323) from the Administration office contains Airport Litigation Documents dating from 1995, prepared by Angie Daniels. The contents include memos, attachments, faxes, and condensed transcripts from Clare Impett and Jerry Dinndorf related to RCAA reports, aircraft noise group resubmittals, expert arbitration panel materials, and Sea-Tac Airport capacity plan updates and citizen correspondence. The records are classified under the Dept Subject Files series and cover key dates between April and October 1995.