TagSAMP(650)

The City of SeaTac is authorizing its City Manager to join an updated cost-sharing agreement with Burien and Des Moines to hire outside legal counsel in response to the FAA's September 2025 environmental review of the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP). The cities are concerned that their comments about the airport's potential negative impacts were not adequately addressed in the FAA's Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact. To fund the legal effort, SeaTac is amending its 2025–2026 budget by adding $350,000 in expenditures and $253,000 in shared revenues to its Port ILA Fund.

The cities of SeaTac, Burien, Des Moines, and Normandy Park are jointly challenging the FAA's environmental review of the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), arguing that a September 2025 Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) failed to adequately address their concerns about airport expansion impacts. The SeaTac City Council is being asked to approve a budget amendment of up to $350,000, authorize an Interlocal Agreement among the four cities, and hire two law firms to advocate for airport-affected communities. The action reflects ongoing efforts by neighboring cities to ensure environmental impacts of SEA airport growth are properly evaluated under both federal (NEPA) and state (SEPA) law.

The cities of Burien, Des Moines, and SeaTac have entered into a formal agreement to coordinate their review of, and potential legal challenges to, the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan, which could significantly impact surrounding communities over the next 20 years. The three cities agreed to share costs proportionally based on population, jointly hire environmental consultants and legal counsel, and issue unified comment letters during the NEPA and SEPA environmental review processes. Key provisions require unanimous agreement to file a joint appeal and a two-city majority to continue litigation at each subsequent stage.

The Des Moines, Washington Airport Advisory Committee met on October 13, 2025, to discuss matters related to the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) and noise-related community concerns, including a review of citizens' complaints received over the prior month. The committee voted unanimously to recommend adding legal services to an existing Interlocal Agreement related to airport planning, and reappointed Joe Dusenbury as the city's representative to the StART (Sea-Tac Airport Roundtable) noise oversight body. The November 10, 2025 follow-up meeting agenda includes a Q&A session, further StART and SAMP updates, and continued review of community complaints and communications.

This is an agenda for a Burien City Council Regular Meeting scheduled for November 3, 2025, covering local municipal business such as a public hearing on the 2026 Mid-Biennium Budget Update, approval of vouchers and meeting minutes, and a proposed tax assessment settlement agreement. The meeting was held both in person at Burien City Hall and virtually via Zoom, with public comment and language access provisions available. Note: this document does not contain content specifically related to Sea-Tac Airport noise policy.

The cities of Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, and SeaTac are proposing a formal Interlocal Agreement to coordinate their response to the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), which could bring significant growth and environmental impacts to surrounding communities over the next 20 years. Under the agreement, the four cities would jointly hire consultants and legal counsel to review environmental documents, submit formal comments during the SEPA and NEPA review processes, and potentially mount legal challenges to FAA or Port decisions. Burien's share of costs is estimated at approximately $100,000.

Port of Seattle presentation updating on the FAA’s completion of NEPA Environmental Assessment for 31 proposed SAMP projects, finding no significant environmental impact. Covers regional growth driving air travel demand, project details, and next steps including Port-led environmental review and public engagement.

The Des Moines City Council Airport Advisory Committee met on September 8, 2025, discussing community outreach survey options, a update on the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) presented at a recent City Council meeting, and an update on the SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART), a body focused on Sea-Tac Airport noise and related policy issues. The committee approved the previous meeting's minutes in a 3-0 vote. A follow-up meeting was scheduled for October 13, 2025, with agenda items including a StART representative appointment, citizens' complaints, and further SAMP updates.