TagSAMP(642)

In January 2019, the City of Burien, Washington considered Resolution No. 406, calling for action on growth and safety concerns at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The resolution highlights the negative health, environmental, and economic impacts on Burien residents due to the city's proximity to the airport, and notes that even with a planned $10 billion expansion under the Sustainable Airport Master Plan, the airport would still lack sufficient capacity within a decade. The city supported ongoing state and federal studies into regional aviation capacity and the impacts of airport operations on surrounding communities.

In this Winter 2019 edition of Des Moines City Currents, Mayor Matt Pina outlines the city's strong opposition to Sea-Tac Airport's expansion plans, arguing that rapid growth between 2012 and 2017—including surging passenger numbers, aircraft operations, and air cargo—has already caused disproportionate noise, health, and environmental impacts on surrounding communities. The city formally called on the Port of Seattle to conduct a comprehensive environmental review under Washington State's SEPA laws before approving any further capacity-building projects, and specifically demanded that issues such as nighttime flight noise, fuel dumping, ultra-fine particle emissions, and Third Runway usage be included in the scoping process. Members of the city's Aviation Advisory Committee also voiced concerns about the health toll on residents, outdated federal standards, and the need for alternatives such as a second regional airport.

This 2019 Aviation Committee document outlines Sea-Tac Airport's Ground Transportation Framework, detailing the guiding principles, goals, and strategies for managing how passengers and vehicles move through the airport. Key goals include reducing environmental impact (50% scope 3 emissions reduction), cutting private vehicle pick-up and drop-off to 30% of trips, and achieving a 15-minute tower-to-curb travel time. Strategies span infrastructure planning (SAMP), access policy (GTAP), day-to-day operations, and taxi/TNC contracts, with Port policies providing overarching guidance across all areas.

The Des Moines Aviation Advisory Committee met on December 10, 2018 to discuss next steps following the submission of scoping comments for the Airport Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), including plans to bring consultants before the Committee and Council. The City outlined roughly $97,000 in active aviation-related programs covering environmental review, an airport impacts study, and an ultra-fine particle research study conducted by the University of Washington. The Committee agreed that measuring the airport's impact on the surrounding community and securing mitigation funds should be top priorities going forward.

The Burien Airport Committee met on November 15, 2018, to discuss potential city council resolutions related to airport noise and impact issues, including ideas drawn from Federal Way's Quiet and Healthy Skies Task Force Report. The committee also reviewed updates on the Sea-Tac Airport Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Environmental Impact Statement, which was described as being in its early stages. Additional agenda items included an update on the committee's appointment process and approval of minutes from the October 16, 2018 meeting.

The Burien Airport Committee (BAC) met on October 16, 2018 to discuss aviation noise issues related to Sea-Tac Airport, including a review of Federal Way's Quiet and Healthy Skies Task Force recommendations and public comments on the Sea-Tac Airport Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Environmental Impact Statement. The committee also received updates on the City of Burien's legal petition challenging the FAA's approval of a 250-degree flight heading over Burien, which was described as still in early litigation stages. Additional topics included FAA funding for noise mitigation staff, a Washington State Department of Commerce airport impacts study, and a regional aviation baseline study by the Puget Sound Regional Council.

The Port of Seattle and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) held public scoping meetings as part of the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Near-Term Projects environmental review, drawing over 300 attendees and more than 750 written comments. Notices for the meetings were distributed through mail, media releases, social media, advertisements, and legal affidavits. Following the scoping period, the agencies planned to brief the Port of Seattle Commission in early 2019 and release a full draft environmental review for public comment in Fall 2019.

In September 2018, the cities of SeaTac, Burien, Normandy Park, and Des Moines jointly submitted scoping comments on the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, raising concerns about the growing impacts of airport expansion on their communities. The cities argued that the environmental review must cover the entire SAMP—not just near-term construction projects—to fully account for cumulative impacts including increased aircraft noise, air emissions, and traffic congestion in nearby residential neighborhoods. They also called for a baseline assessment stretching back to 2012 to capture significant growth that has already occurred without adequate environmental review.

In September 2018, the cities of SeaTac, Burien, Normandy Park, and Des Moines submitted joint scoping comments urging the Port of Seattle to broaden its environmental review of the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) beyond just near-term construction projects. The cities argued that cumulative impacts — including a projected 60% increase in aircraft operations and 75% rise in passengers by 2034 — require a full analysis of noise, air quality, and traffic effects on nearby communities. They also called for a baseline period starting in 2012, rather than 2018, to capture the significant growth and airspace changes that have already occurred without adequate environmental review.