TagSea-Tac Airport(1835)

This January 1987 edition of the Sea-Tac Forum newsletter reports on the Port of Seattle's ongoing Noise Remedy Program, which had already soundproofed 14 homes near Sea-Tac Airport and provided selling assistance to homeowners in high-noise areas. The program, part of a broader 15-year plan expected to benefit thousands of households, was drawing interest from major airports across the country seeking to launch similar initiatives. The newsletter also includes a community calendar of January 1987 meetings related to airport noise, land use, and flight track planning.

In September 1985, the Port of Seattle's Port Commission passed Resolution No. 2974, authorizing acceptance of a Federal Aviation Administration grant (AIP Project No. 3-53-0062-10) to fund land acquisition and relocation of residents in the extended clear zone around Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The grant agreement, issued under Contract No. DOT-FA85NM-0062, covered nine specific land parcels (J-54, J-56, J-114, J-141, J-144, J-146, J-149, J-150, and J-151) adjacent to the airport. The resolution directed the Port's Executive Director to execute the agreement on the Port's behalf, provided it met FAA standard form requirements.

This 1985 Master Plan Update, prepared by Peat Marwick/TRA for the Port of Seattle, outlines the long-term development strategy for Sea-Tac International Airport to handle projected growth in air traffic through the early 2000s. The plan rules out construction of new runways due to existing capacity, prior investment, and environmental concerns, while recommending expansion of the passenger terminal complex to accommodate up to 55 air carrier gates and 25 commuter airline gates. Planning activity levels projected total annual passengers growing from 12.5 million in the short term to 21 million in the long term.

This 1985 document, prepared by the Port of Seattle, outlines the Part 150 Airport Noise Compatibility Program for Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) International Airport. It combines two phases: Phase I, Noise Exposure Maps (officially submitted to the FAA in October 1984), and Phase II, a Noise Compatibility Program adopted by the Port Commission in January 1985. Together, these phases identify noise exposure around the airport and propose measures to address compatibility between aircraft noise and surrounding land uses.

A resolution authorizing the Port of Seattle to accept an FAA grant offer and execute Grant Agreement for AIP Project No. 3-53-0062-06 to obtain federal aid for Sea-Tac International Airport development, specifically for land acquisition in Extended Clear Zone areas and relocation of persons. The resolution was adopted by the Port Commission on August 28,

A July 9, 1984 letter from Port of Seattle to United Airlines Vice President Captain M. E. Volz outlines the noise abatement procedures in use at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The procedures include FAA-established Standard Instrument Departure (SID) routes using the Seattle VOR 158 and 338 radials to minimize noise over surrounding communities, a Visual Bay Approach for south flow arrivals, and a Run-Up Curfew with designated engine run-up locations. The letter also notes that the most noise-impacted areas fall within the 65 Ldn noise contour, where the Port was pursuing land acquisition, purchase assurance, and sound insulation programs as remedies.

In a June 22, 1984 letter to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, United Airlines Vice President Captain M. E. Volz requested information about the airport's noise-sensitive areas and any formal or informal noise abatement procedures in place. The airline was conducting a survey of all airports it served in order to build a computer database of noise procedures accessible to pilots at any United Airlines terminal. United Airlines asked Sea-Tac to provide copies or descriptions of its noise procedures and to send future updates to the Flight Safety Department in Chicago.

In this February 28, 1984 letter, the FAA's Northwest Mountain Region reviewed the Port of Seattle's proposed Noise Remedy Program for Sea-Tac Airport, raising concerns about the criteria used to add 44 homes to an acquisition program and 275 homes to a purchase assurance program. The FAA questioned whether the new criteria of 'buffer for airport-related development' and 'neighborhood continuity' were sufficiently justified, particularly for homes along 24th Avenue South. The agency urged that all criteria be reasonable, clearly documented, and tied to measured noise impacts, and cautioned against finalizing the purchase assurance plan before key federal policy questions were resolved.

In December 1983, the FAA completed an aeronautical study of a proposal by the Port of Seattle to eliminate the 'right-turn' departure route for eastbound turbojet aircraft leaving Sea-Tac Airport (Runway 34) during daytime hours. The study found that removing this route would simply shift aircraft noise to other communities, increase airline operating costs by an estimated $1.5 million annually, and raise fuel consumption, without providing a net noise reduction benefit. As a result, the Port of Seattle withdrew its proposal and the FAA declined to eliminate the existing noise abatement route.

In a November 1983 letter to the FAA's Northwest Mountain Region Director, Port of Seattle Executive Director Richard D. Ford requested clarification on federal funding eligibility for a purchase assurance program under Henry M. Jackson International Airport's Noise Remedy Program. The Port sought guidance on several key issues, including the level of federal financial assistance available, which types of residential properties and program costs would qualify, and compliance requirements with federal relocation law. The letter noted that while outright property acquisitions had consumed most available noise remedy funds to date, the Port was now ready to consider a purchase assurance program for less noise-impacted areas if additional federal funding could be secured.