TagRegional Commission On Airport Affairs(43)

This is Book #1 of materials compiled by the Regional Commission on Airport Affairs (RCAA), a coalition of community organizations and cities in the Puget Sound region, submitted to the Transportation Policy Board in January 1993. The packet presents expert reports on air traffic forecasting, economic impacts, noise, effects on children's education, public health, and air pollution—all focused on the proposed expansion of Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) International Airport. The RCAA argues against airport expansion on the grounds of quality of life, environmental harm, and equity for surrounding communities.

A January 13, 1993 memo from Janet O'Donnell to Jim Murphy, President of the Regional Commission on Airport Affairs (RCAA), requests $150.00 to obtain a bulk mail postal permit — $75.00 for the annual fee and $75.00 for the setup fee — to support distribution of materials related to Sea-Tac Airport noise issues. The memo outlines the process for obtaining the permit through the Seattle Post Office and coordinating with a volunteer to finalize mailing logistics. The document is endorsed by a broad coalition of community organizations, city governments, and civic groups opposed to Sea-Tac Airport expansion and aircraft noise.

A 1992 report by the Regional Commission on Airport Affairs found that Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, despite occupying less than 0.2% of King County's land, was responsible for 8% of the county's carbon monoxide emissions and 5% of its nitrogen oxide emissions, along with significant quantities of toxic pollutants like benzene. At the time of the report, the airport had no air-pollution monitoring system in place, and the author argued this represented a critical gap in the airport's Environmental Impact Statement that urgently needed to be addressed.