TagSea-Tac Airport(720)

In an April 2019 letter to the Port of Seattle's Executive Director, Alaska Airlines expressed support for SeaTac airport expansion but raised serious concerns about the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), arguing that the proposed 19-gate north terminal is disconnected from the main terminal, more gates than needed, and would leave 80% of travelers underserved. Alaska's independent consultants concluded that only 10 additional gates are necessary to meet projected 2027 passenger demand, and the airline proposed a phased 10-gate alternative as a less costly and less environmentally impactful solution. The letter urged the Port to include Alaska's alternative in the formal NEPA environmental review process to ensure a more legally defensible and balanced approach to airport development.

The Burien Airport Committee met on March 19, 2019 to discuss concerns about Sea-Tac Airport's impact on the surrounding community, including noise pollution, safety, and health effects. The agenda included updates on federal and regional aviation policy efforts, and a review of three resolutions adopted by the Burien City Council on January 28, 2019, addressing airport growth, noise pollution, and requests for health impact monitoring. The committee also discussed priorities for 2019 and how to advance action on these resolutions at the local, state, and federal levels.

A presentation by Port of Seattle staff to the Washington State Transportation Commission providing an update on Sea-Tac Airport capital development projects. The presentation covers regional economic growth driving airport demand and includes discussion of the Sustainable Airport Master Plan near-term projects and environmental review processes.

In March 2019, the Washington State Department of Commerce issued a $500,000 Request for Proposal (RFP) to study the impacts of growing operations at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on surrounding communities. The study, mandated by the state Legislature, was set to examine issues including air traffic noise, public health, traffic congestion, property values, and economic development in nearby cities such as Burien, Des Moines, SeaTac, and Tukwila. The effort was prompted by Sea-Tac's rapid growth — reaching 50 million passengers in 2018, far exceeding the 30 million projected for 2030 — and aimed to help local leaders and lawmakers identify ways to mitigate negative impacts.

The Late-Night Noise Limitation Program is a voluntary Port of Seattle initiative that monitors aircraft noise at Sea-Tac Airport between 12 a.m. and 5 a.m., using four close-in noise monitors to track takeoffs and landings that exceed established thresholds. Airlines that violate these thresholds receive penalty scores under the Port's Fly Quiet Incentive Program, which has evaluated airline noise compliance since 2005. The program, developed in 2019 as an outcome of the Sea-Tac Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART), aims to encourage air carriers to schedule flights during less noise-sensitive hours or switch to quieter aircraft.

On February 15, 2019, the Washington State Department of Commerce held a pre-proposal conference for a study examining the current and ongoing effects of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's operations on surrounding communities, as directed by Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6032. The conference outlined the project's objectives, scope of work, timeline, and proposal requirements for prospective contractors. The study was part of a broader state effort to understand how airport operations impact local neighborhoods, housing, and community well-being.

The Port of Seattle and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conducted a public scoping process in 2018 to gather input on the environmental impacts of near-term construction projects planned at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) as part of the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP). The 60-day scoping period, which ran from July 30 to September 28, 2018, invited comments from the public and agencies through meetings, mailings, and an online open house advertised in five languages. This report summarizes the scoping process, public feedback received, and outlines next steps for the full environmental review under both federal (NEPA) and state (SEPA) environmental policy laws.

This February 2019 Scoping Report documents the public and agency input process for the environmental review of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's near-term construction projects, planned for completion by 2027 under the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP). The Port of Seattle and the FAA conducted a 60-day public scoping period from July 30 to September 28, 2018, gathering community concerns about potential environmental impacts through meetings, mailings, and online outreach in five languages. The report compiles scoping comments, meeting materials, and agency responses to inform the forthcoming environmental review under both federal (NEPA) and state (SEPA) law.