TagSound Insulation(58)

In February 2020, the Port of Seattle Commission adopted Motion 2020-04, directing the Executive Director to accelerate the sound insulation program at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and complete it no later than 2026. The motion calls for appropriate staffing, funding, and contracting to deliver the program on time, with regular progress updates to the Commission's Aviation Committee. The Port is also directed to coordinate with other public agencies to ensure the program complements, rather than duplicates, existing efforts related to low-income housing and energy upgrades.

On August 14, 2019, Representative Orwall held a stakeholder meeting at Kent City Hall to discuss Port noise-insulation packages affecting homeowners near Sea-Tac Airport. The agenda included background information from an airport study, Public Health – Seattle & King County, and a review of legislative action, followed by homeowner testimonials describing issues such as failed insulation, mold, structural damage, sleep disruption from flight noise, and air quality concerns. Residents shared personal accounts dating back to the 1980s and 1990s, highlighting ongoing frustrations with inadequate soundproofing and health impacts tied to airport operations.

This FAA Report to Congress examines the aging of federally funded sound insulation installed in homes near airports to reduce aircraft noise, focusing on treatments installed before 2007 such as window and door replacements, weatherstripping, and other upgrades. The report identifies key factors affecting long-term effectiveness, including product quality, installer workmanship, deterioration over time, and lack of homeowner maintenance. It draws on research covering over 143,000 residences treated since the early 1980s and offers recommendations for repairing or replacing insulation that has exceeded its effective lifespan.

These documents relate to airport noise insulation programs and community advocacy efforts. The first section describes San Francisco International Airport's Replacement and Second Chance Noise Insulation Initiative, which offers free acoustical improvements—such as window replacement and ventilation installation—to eligible homeowners within the 65-decibel noise contour. The accompanying letter, written by a member of the League of Quiet Skies Voters, calls for gathering comparative data on noise mitigation programs from major airports across the country, with the goal of holding the Port of Seattle accountable by benchmarking its practices against peer airports.

In a June 2018 email, acoustics consultant Ben Sharp contacts Sharyn Ward, former manager of King County's Sound Insulation (SI) program, while researching aging airport sound insulation treatments for an FAA report responding to a Congressional inquiry. Sharp notes that SFO is the only airport he has found planning a replacement/repair program for homeowners within the DNL 65 noise contour, funded without FAA assistance. He specifically asks Ward about known aging problems with windows installed during the early years of the Sea-Tac (SEA) sound insulation program, noting that the program is not currently planning to offer any assistance to affected homeowners.

In June 2018, the Port of Seattle notified the cities of SeaTac, Burien, and Des Moines that its single-family sound insulation program would resume that summer for eligible homeowners near Sea-Tac Airport. The Port's program manager, C&S Engineers, requested meetings with city staff to review local building and construction inspection practices. In response, Burien City Manager Brian Wilson designated Community Development Director Chip Davis as the city's primary contact for the program.

This October 2016 Port of Seattle briefing presents the Airport Noise Insulation Project for Sea-Tac Airport, outlining how a federally guided noise study (known as a Part 150) is used to identify noise and land-use conflicts in surrounding communities. The project aims to provide sound insulation to eligible homeowners in high-noise areas, with approved mitigation measures qualifying for 80% federal Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant funding. The briefing covers project elements, homeowner eligibility requirements, community benefits, and associated costs.