TagSea-Tac Airport(716)

This 1990 Final Environmental Assessment, prepared by the FAA's Air Traffic Division in Seattle, evaluates proposed changes to arrival and departure flight routes at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The document was signed by Air Traffic Division Manager Temple H. Johnson, Jr. on March 27, 1990, and examines the potential environmental impacts of rerouting aircraft traffic in and out of Sea-Tac. It serves as an official federal record relevant to noise and environmental policy affecting communities around the airport.

This 1990 Final Environmental Assessment, published by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration, examines proposed changes to air traffic arrival and departure routes at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Volume II of the document compiles public comments received in response to the Draft Environmental Assessment, reflecting community input on how the proposed route changes could affect noise and other environmental conditions in the Seattle, Washington area.

This 1989 FAA draft Environmental Assessment examines proposed changes to arrival and departure flight routes at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, aimed at reducing air traffic congestion and improving airspace efficiency. The document identifies a key inefficiency: during good weather and peak demand, south-landing capacity (42 aircraft/hour) was significantly lower than north-landing capacity (56 aircraft/hour), largely due to a requirement routing turbojet aircraft through Elliott Bay. The assessment traces the issue back to noise abatement procedures established since 1970 that prioritized limiting jet overflights in certain Seattle metropolitan areas over operational efficiency.

In April 1989, the Port of Seattle Commission passed Resolution No. 3042 authorizing the Executive Director to enter into an agreement with the Puget Sound Council of Governments (PSCOG) to develop a long-term regional air carrier system plan for the Puget Sound area. The resolution was prompted by a recognized need for additional air carrier capacity beyond the year 2000, following a 1988 Airspace Study Update of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The agreement allowed the Port to seek federal FAA funding and hire consultants to study long-term aviation capacity options for the region.

Resolution No. 3032, adopted by the Port of Seattle Commission on October 25, 1988, amends an earlier resolution (No. 3016) concerning noise management at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The key change gives the negotiating committee—known as the Joint Committee on Aircraft Overflights—the freedom to select their own neutral convener (mediator) from at least three interviewed candidates, rather than being restricted as under the previous rules. The chosen convener would be retained for up to four months to organize a mediation process, ensure all relevant parties are represented, and report regularly to the Port Commission on progress.

In September 1988, the Port of Seattle Port Commission passed Resolution No. 3035, authorizing the acceptance of a Federal Aviation Administration grant (AIP Project No. 3-53-0062-19) to fund development work at Sea-Tac International Airport. The project included construction of Taxiway A-3/4, installation of an electrical duct bank and broadramp centerline lights, and widening of Taxiways B-2 and A-1. The resolution directed the Executive Director to sign the grant agreement on the Port's behalf, provided it was reviewed and approved by the Aviation Division and Legal Department.

The 1988-2020 Regional Airport System Plan, published in October 1987, outlines policies for managing and developing public-use airports across King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish counties through the year 2020. A central finding is that Sea-Tac Airport was projected to reach full capacity within 10 to 15 years, with intolerable aircraft delays expected unless alternative measures were taken. The plan also addresses noise and flight track mitigation programs, land use compatibility near airports, and the potential role of satellite airports such as Paine Field, Bremerton National, and Tacoma Narrows in relieving pressure on Sea-Tac.

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.