TagSEPA(293)

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.

This February 2019 Scoping Report summarizes the public and agency input process for the environmental review of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Near-Term Projects, which are planned for construction by 2027. The Port of Seattle and the FAA conducted a 60-day scoping period from July 30 to September 28, 2018, gathering community feedback through public meetings, newspaper ads, direct mail, and social media in five languages. The report documents the scope of environmental issues to be studied, including potential noise and other impacts, under both federal (NEPA) and state (SEPA) environmental review requirements.

This Scoping Report, published February 12, 2019, documents the public and agency scoping process conducted by the Port of Seattle for the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Near-Term Projects Environmental Review. It summarizes scoping meetings held with agencies and the public, common themes raised by commenters, and organizes the written comments received during the scoping period. The report serves as the foundation for determining which environmental topics—including noise impacts—will be analyzed in the subsequent environmental review.

The Port of Seattle and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) held public scoping meetings as part of the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Near-Term Projects environmental review, drawing over 300 attendees and more than 750 written comments. Notices for the meetings were distributed through mail, media releases, social media, advertisements, and legal affidavits. Following the scoping period, the agencies planned to brief the Port of Seattle Commission in early 2019 and release a full draft environmental review for public comment in Fall 2019.

In September 2018, the cities of SeaTac, Burien, Normandy Park, and Des Moines jointly submitted scoping comments on the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, raising concerns about the growing impacts of airport expansion on their communities. The cities argued that the environmental review must cover the entire SAMP—not just near-term construction projects—to fully account for cumulative impacts including increased aircraft noise, air emissions, and traffic congestion in nearby residential neighborhoods. They also called for a baseline assessment stretching back to 2012 to capture significant growth that has already occurred without adequate environmental review.

In September 2018, the cities of SeaTac, Burien, Normandy Park, and Des Moines submitted joint scoping comments urging the Port of Seattle to broaden its environmental review of the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) beyond just near-term construction projects. The cities argued that cumulative impacts — including a projected 60% increase in aircraft operations and 75% rise in passengers by 2034 — require a full analysis of noise, air quality, and traffic effects on nearby communities. They also called for a baseline period starting in 2012, rather than 2018, to capture the significant growth and airspace changes that have already occurred without adequate environmental review.

The City of SeaTac submitted formal scoping comments to the Port of Seattle in September 2018, raising concerns that the environmental review for the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) was too narrowly focused on 'near term projects' and should be expanded to cover the airport's full long-term growth vision. The city also reminded the Port of binding commitments made in a 2018 Interlocal Agreement and a 2015 Letter of Understanding, including promises to assess transportation impacts, protect nearby wetlands, and mitigate effects on city streets from increased cargo truck and passenger traffic. Key issues flagged include the impact of new cargo facilities, a proposed employee parking lot near wetlands, and the need to account for public transit use by airport workers and travelers.