TagSEPA(233)

This document is Appendix G of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), covering a cultural resources survey of near-term airport projects in King County. It outlines coordination between the FAA and the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP), which ultimately concurred with findings of No Adverse Effect on historic resources. The appendix also documents outreach to ten Native American tribes as part of the federally required Section 106 review process.

This June 2021 amendment to a consultant contract extends an agreement between the City of Des Moines, WA and two consulting firms—Primacy Strategy Group, LLC and ABCx2, LLC—through December 31, 2023, with a maximum compensation of $275,000. The contract, originally signed in 2018 and administered by Des Moines on behalf of a partnership with the cities of Burien, SeaTac, and Normandy Park, relates to advocacy and consulting work connected to Sea-Tac Airport's environmental review process (SAMP SEPA/NEPA). Consulting services were suspended as of January 1, 2020, pending the public release of SAMP Environmental Review documents, with any interim work to be authorized by the City through individual Task Orders.

The Port of Seattle filed an environmental checklist in May 2021 for a project to widen Arrivals Drive at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) from two lanes to four lanes, aiming to reduce congestion and improve safety for passengers and ground transportation vehicles. Construction was planned to begin in mid-2023 and last approximately 18 months, involving road realignments, updated stormwater drainage, new LED lighting, and utility relocations. The project was designed as a standalone improvement but coordinated with broader airport master plan efforts to accommodate potential future infrastructure expansions at SEA.

This Third Amendment to a consultant contract between the City of SeaTac, the City of Burien, and Lockridge Grindal Nauen PLLP extends the contract term to December 31, 2021, while suspending all consultant services starting January 1, 2020, until the SeaTac Airport Master Plan (SAMP) environmental review documents are released for public comment. The suspension was put in place due to delays in the SEPA/NEPA environmental review process, which was not expected to conclude until late 2020 or early 2021. The amendment also acknowledges that Aviation Compatibility Consulting, LLC and ABCx2, LLC have combined, with services to be performed jointly by Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P. and ABCx2, LLC.

The Port of Seattle requested $3.4 million in additional funding to complete environmental review studies required under federal (NEPA) and state (SEPA) law for planned near-term expansion projects at Sea-Tac Airport. The cost increase was driven by a two-year planning delay, expanded public engagement in multiple languages, additional technical analyses including aircraft noise, air quality, and environmental justice studies, and a decision to produce two separate review documents instead of one combined report. The contract with aviation environmental consulting firm Landrum & Brown brings the total project cost to $6.4 million.

The City of Burien invoiced the City of Normandy Park $688.80 for services rendered in July 2019 under Interlocal Agreement #18-A101, related to the 'SAMP' (Sub-Area Master Plan) program, which addresses land use and noise policy planning near Sea-Tac Airport. The invoice, numbered 960 and dated October 4, 2019, was directed to Ryan Harriman at Normandy Park's SEPA Office, with payment due by November 4, 2019. The document reflects ongoing intergovernmental cooperation between Burien and Normandy Park on airport-area environmental and planning matters.

In September 2019, the City of Des Moines responded to a Port of Seattle apology letter regarding the allocation of $10 million for Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) design work without prior environmental review or stakeholder notice, which had prompted Des Moines and other nearby cities to temporarily suspend participation in the Sea-Tac Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART). The City challenged the Port's claims of meaningful progress on noise reduction measures, requesting specific data on the Late Night Noise Limitation program, changes to nighttime flight schedules, and the status of runway glide slope adjustments. The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between Sea-Tac Airport and surrounding communities over transparency, environmental compliance, and the effectiveness of collaborative noise mitigation efforts.

In a September 12, 2019 letter to Port of Seattle Executive Director Steve Metruck, Des Moines Mayor Matt Pina outlines the city's concerns about Sea-Tac Airport's decision to allocate $10 million for Sustainable Airport Master Plan design work without environmental review or stakeholder notice, which prompted Des Moines to temporarily suspend its participation in the StART Committee. The letter demands specific, verifiable data on six noise-mitigation measures the Port claimed to have accomplished, including late-night flight reductions, runway glide slope adjustments, and third-runway usage limits, arguing these initiatives have been overstated as completed achievements. While expressing willingness to re-engage and noting several positive Port-city partnerships, Des Moines calls for greater transparency and accountability in the airport's community engagement process.