TagSAMP(650)

The Federal Way City Council Regular Meeting agenda from September 18, 2018 includes a notable item under Council Business: authorization to submit a public comment regarding Environmental Review Scoping for the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), found on page 41 of the agenda packet. The meeting also covers consent agenda items, proclamations, and committee reports, but the SAMP comment authorization represents the council's formal engagement with airport-related environmental policy affecting the Sea-Tac area. This item reflects the city's opportunity to weigh in on potential noise and land-use impacts associated with the airport's long-term expansion plans.

The Burien Airport Committee met on September 18, 2018 to discuss ongoing efforts to address noise and environmental impacts from Sea-Tac Airport, including a legal challenge to the FAA's approval of a 250-degree flight heading over Burien and community engagement in the airport's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) environmental review process. The agenda also covered coordination with neighboring cities, a Washington State airport impacts study, and updates on sound insulation programs. Draft minutes from the July 17, 2018 meeting were included, documenting a presentation on environmental justice concerns related to airport noise affecting minority and low-income communities.

The Burien Aviation Advisory Committee met on September 17, 2018 to discuss the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) and its environmental review process. Key topics included a poorly-received public scoping meeting at Highline College that drew over 300 attendees, and the committee's review of draft scoping comments to be submitted jointly by the cities of Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, and SeaTac. The committee agreed to present a formal letter of scoping comments to City Council on September 27, 2018, ahead of the September 28 submission deadline.

A public meeting was held on September 10, 2018, at Highline Community College to allow Des Moines residents to weigh in on the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), which outlines Sea-Tac Airport's growth strategy through 2027. The plan proposes removing limits on Third Runway use and adding 80,000 more annual flights on top of the existing 416,000, raising community concerns about noise, health risks, property values, and environmental justice. Residents were urged to attend and submit comments before the scoping period closed on September 28, 2018.

This document contains public scoping comments from a September 10, 2018 hearing, including testimony from Jill Aldrich, a property owner of over 50 years, who raised concerns about a building site on 24th Avenue South near Des Moines Creek. She described observing bulldozed dirt and construction activity in close proximity to a stream located in a King County-designated Critical Area, visible from the Des Moines Creek Trail. Her comments reflect community concerns about environmental protection of nearby waterways during nearby development.

The Port of Seattle outlined an environmental review schedule for the NTP (Noise Trajectory Program) at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, spanning 2018 to 2019. Key steps included public scoping meetings held in September 2018 in cities such as Des Moines, Seattle, Federal Way, and Sea-Tac, followed by environmental analysis and the release of draft and final NEPA/SEPA documents through late 2019. Community members could submit scoping comments by September 28, 2018, via the project website, email, mail, or in person at scoping meetings.

This is a legal billing statement dated September 1, 2018, from Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P., a Minneapolis law firm, submitted to the City of Burien, Washington, totaling $62,685.58. The invoice covers attorney and staff time from July through September 2018 related to work on Sea-Tac Airport noise and airspace policy issues, including review of the airport's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), SEPA/NEPA research, and strategy meetings with city officials. Work tasks included document review, legal research on airport procedures and noise impacts, teleconferences with clients and consultants, and preparation of planning documents in support of Burien's advocacy goals regarding Sea-Tac Airport operations.