TagStART(508)

The Port of Seattle presented an environmental review of near-term construction projects at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport as part of its Sustainable Airport Master Plan. Projects include expanded passenger terminals and gates to handle a projected 56 million annual passengers, additional cargo facilities, airfield safety upgrades to meet FAA standards, taxiway efficiency improvements, and new fuel storage to support Sustainable Aviation Fuel initiatives. The review maps out how these developments will be assessed for their environmental impacts across the airport and surrounding areas.

The StART (SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table) meeting agenda for February 28, 2024 outlines a two-hour session focused on reviewing the group's operating procedures and the Sustainable Airport Master Plan's (SAMP) Near-Term Projects Environmental Review. Key topics include updates from the Federal Policy and Aviation Noise Working Groups, along with a refresher on StART's organizational structure, including the roles of its Steering Committee and working groups. The meeting, held via Zoom, also included time for public comment, with the next tentative meeting scheduled for April 24, 2024.

The StART Aviation Noise Working Group met on February 12, 2024, to review Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's operational trends for early 2024, including a modest 0.2% increase in operations compared to the same period in 2023 and the handling of Boeing Max 9 groundings. The meeting also covered updates to the Late Night Noise Limitation Program, which monitors flights between midnight and 5 a.m. and tracks airline noise exceedances, as well as an overview of SEA's Sound Insulation Program, which has helped insulate over 9,400 homes. Additionally, members discussed promoting voluntary one-engine taxiing as a way to modestly reduce ground noise while significantly cutting fuel consumption and emissions.

The StART Federal Policy Working Group met on February 5, 2024, to discuss the stalled FAA reauthorization bill and key 2024 priorities related to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and surrounding communities. Topics included a potential study on failed noise insulation, seven legislative priorities such as sustainable aviation fuel and aircraft particle emissions, and a possible Washington D.C. advocacy trip. The group also expressed interest in expanding their scope to include state and local policy issues in addition to federal ones.

The Highline Forum held its January 24, 2024 meeting at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, hosted by the Port of Seattle, focusing on 2024 state and federal legislative issues affecting communities near the airport. The hybrid meeting covered administrative matters, a StART (Sea-Tac Airport Roundtable) update from Aviation Managing Director Lance Lyttle, and allowed public comment in person, via email, or through Microsoft Teams. The Forum's 2024 schedule includes six bimonthly meetings hosted by rotating local jurisdictions, including Federal Way, Tukwila, Highline College, Des Moines, and SeaTac.

The SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART) held a videoconference meeting on December 13, 2023, focused on providing an overview of the major components of a Part 150 Noise Study, including the roles of participating cities and the Technical Review Committee. The agenda featured presentations by ESA aviation specialists, an update on Aviation Noise Working Group activities, and a public comment period. The tentative next meeting was scheduled for February 28, 2024, via Zoom.

This document presents the opening materials from a December 13, 2023 StART (Stakeholder Advisory Round Table) meeting for the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Part 150 Study, a federally guided process for assessing and managing aircraft noise impacts. The study is being conducted by ESA, an environmental aviation consultancy with experience at more than 180 airports nationwide and over 25 completed Part 150 Studies. The meeting introduced the ESA project management team and outlined the firm's qualifications for leading Sea-Tac's noise compatibility planning effort.

The SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART), convened on October 25, 2023 by the Puget Sound Regional Council, brought together stakeholders to discuss regional planning around Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in the context of the Vision 2050 plan, which guides growth for 5.8 million people across the Central Puget Sound region. The meeting covered key planning priorities including mobility, housing, equity, climate, and environment. It also outlined a regional planning timeline from 2020 to 2025, encompassing transportation plans, economic strategies, countywide growth targets, and local comprehensive plan updates leading to plan certification.