TagSEPA(232)

The City of Des Moines and neighboring cities have entered into an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) to coordinate their review of and response to the SeaTac Airport Master Plan (SAMP) environmental review process, covering both federal (NEPA) and state (SEPA) requirements. Originally signed in 2018 and updated in 2024, the agreement establishes how participating cities share costs, manage contracts, and jointly hire environmental and legal consultants—including attorneys who can support a legal challenge to the SAMP's environmental conclusions. The latest version, managed by the City of SeaTac and expected to run through December 31, 2028, excludes Normandy Park but otherwise continues the multi-city partnership focused on protecting community interests during the airport planning process.

The cities of Burien, Des Moines, and SeaTac are joining forces under a formal Interlocal Agreement to coordinate their review of and legal response to the Port of Seattle's Sea-Tac Airport Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), which could bring significant noise and environmental impacts to surrounding communities. The agreement, considered by Des Moines City Council on November 13, 2025, allows the three cities to jointly hire environmental consultants and legal counsel to analyze and formally challenge the airport expansion's environmental review under both federal (NEPA) and state (SEPA) law. A Draft Environmental Impact Statement from the Port is expected in early 2026, with the overall process estimated to conclude by December 31, 2028.

The cities of Burien, Des Moines, and SeaTac have entered into a formal agreement to coordinate their review of, and potential legal challenges to, the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan, which could significantly impact surrounding communities over the next 20 years. The three cities agreed to share costs proportionally based on population, jointly hire environmental consultants and legal counsel, and issue unified comment letters during the NEPA and SEPA environmental review processes. Key provisions require unanimous agreement to file a joint appeal and a two-city majority to continue litigation at each subsequent stage.

The SeaTac City Council is considering an ordinance to hire outside legal counsel and update a cost-sharing agreement with the cities of Burien, Normandy Park, and Des Moines to challenge or engage with the FAA's environmental review of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport expansion plans. The four cities would jointly retain two law firms—Leech Tishman for federal NEPA matters and Ogden Murphy Wallace for state SEPA matters—at an estimated cost of $350,000, with SeaTac covering roughly 26% and recovering the rest from its partner cities. The effort is driven by the FAA's September 2025 issuance of a Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact, which must be challenged by November 25, 2025.

The cities of Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, and SeaTac are proposing a formal Interlocal Agreement to coordinate their response to the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), which could bring significant growth and environmental impacts to surrounding communities over the next 20 years. Under the agreement, the four cities would jointly hire consultants and legal counsel to review environmental documents, submit formal comments during the SEPA and NEPA review processes, and potentially mount legal challenges to FAA or Port decisions. Burien's share of costs is estimated at approximately $100,000.

The City of SeaTac hired the law firm Ogden Murphy Wallace, P.L.L.C. to serve as special environmental counsel, representing the city in the environmental review processes under NEPA and SEPA related to the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan. The engagement, dated September 10, 2025, also covers any litigation that may arise against the Port or the Federal Aviation Authority in connection with the plan. Legal services are billed at hourly rates ranging from $300 to $535 depending on the level of attorney or staff involved.

The City of Des Moines, Washington, formally requests that the Port of Seattle reject the Determination of Non-Significance (DNS) for the Sea-Tac Airport Flight Corridor Management Program, arguing that it fails to adequately assess impacts on the city's tree canopy and urban forest. City Manager Katherine Caffrey urges the Port to instead conduct a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) examining tree removal, urban heat, air quality, stormwater, and habitat effects. The letter emphasizes that Des Moines residents already face disproportionate noise and health burdens from airport traffic, making tree canopy preservation especially critical to their wellbeing.

Appendix K of this environmental review examines socioeconomic conditions, environmental justice, and children's health and safety risks in the area surrounding the proposed project. It finds that 23.3% of the population in the study area is under 18—higher than both King County and statewide averages—and identifies two schools within the project boundary that could expose children to environmental health risks. The appendix also includes an economic impact analysis for the Northwest Seaport Alliance and a separate environmental justice memorandum prepared under Washington State's environmental review process.