TagStART(441)

The Burien Airport Committee had a meeting scheduled for March 17, 2020 that was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Key topics on the agenda included a follow-up phone call with the city's FAA lawsuit attorney Matt Adams, an update on a Washington D.C. legislative visit, and discussion of the Port of Seattle's response to community concerns about airport impacts. Draft minutes from the February 26, 2020 meeting document earlier discussions about challenging FAA flight path decisions over Burien and addressing cumulative noise and growth impacts on surrounding communities through the Seattle-Tacoma Airport's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Environmental Impact Statement process.

This document summarizes a March 9, 2020 Aviation Noise Working Group meeting held via Zoom videoconference, involving representatives from the Port of Seattle, FAA, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and local communities. The meeting covered an update on a Ground Noise Analysis study at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, including plans to temporarily monitor noise from aircraft taxiing, engine run-ups, reverse thrust, and ground equipment at five sites over five days. Additional agenda items included discussion of the Terminal Flight Data Manager program, the Noise Abatement Departure Profiles Study, and an upcoming Aviation Noise and Emissions Symposium.

The 2019 StART Annual Report documents the activities of the Sea-Tac Stakeholder Advisory Round Table, a collaborative body that facilitates cooperation between the Port of Seattle and communities neighboring Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The report covers 2019 membership, meeting summaries, and the work of two specialized groups focused on aviation noise and federal policy advocacy. Key accomplishments include revisions to operating procedures and the development of action agendas aimed at addressing aircraft noise impacts on surrounding neighborhoods.

This is a summary of the February 26, 2020 StART (SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table) meeting held at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, covering key topics including a federal policy advocacy trip to Washington DC, updates on aviation noise reduction efforts, and a University of Washington study on ultrafine particles near the airport. The meeting highlighted progress in the Late-Night Noise Limitation Program, with airlines such as EVA Air and FedEx Express committing to quieter aircraft or fleet changes to reduce nighttime noise exceedances. Additional discussions covered an accelerated sound insulation program for nearby residences and places of worship, as well as ongoing ground noise analysis to identify and mitigate noise sources around the airfield.

The Burien Airport Committee met in January and February 2020 to address concerns related to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, including efforts to push the FAA to conduct a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) rather than a lesser Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Sustainable Airport Master Plan. The committee also discussed re-engagement with the StART (Sea-Tac Airport Roundtable) process, involving six cities in dialogue with the Port of Seattle, and planned a joint visit to Washington, D.C. in March 2020 to advocate for community interests on airport noise and expansion issues.

The February 26, 2020 StART (SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table) meeting brought together Port of Seattle officials, airline representatives, and neighboring community members to discuss airport noise concerns. Key topics included a planned advocacy trip to Washington DC, updates on the Late-Night Noise Limitation Program showing EVA Air, FedEx Express, and China Airlines Cargo as top noise violators, and a University of Washington study on ultrafine particle pollution near the airport. Airlines were encouraged to reduce noise impacts, with EVA Air committing to quieter aircraft and FedEx Express planning to retire its louder MD-11 fleet.

The StART (Sea-Tac Stakeholder Advisory Round Table) meeting agenda for February 26, 2020 outlines a two-hour session focused on aviation noise and environmental issues affecting communities near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Key topics include updates on the Sound Insulation Program, federal policy advocacy, the Late-Night Noise Limitation Program's fourth-quarter results, and a briefing by the University of Washington on a study examining ultrafine particle pollution from aircraft. The meeting was hosted by Sea-Tac Airport Managing Director Lance Lyttle and included time for public comment.

The Port of Seattle's Late Night Noise Limitation Program monitors aircraft noise between midnight and 5:00 a.m. at four locations around Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, with departure thresholds of 91 dB and arrival thresholds ranging from 82 to 89 dB depending on the monitor. In the fourth quarter results presented to the Sea-Tac Stakeholder Advisory Round Table on February 26, 2020, twelve airlines were found to have exceeded noise thresholds, with cargo carriers showing the highest exceedance rates—Cargolux at 89%, China Airlines Cargo at 79%, and EVA Air at 64%. The program includes outreach to airlines with exceedances and tracks feedback and any positive outcomes aimed at reducing late-night noise impacts on surrounding communities.

The MOV-UP (Mobile ObserVations of Ultrafine Particles) study, conducted by the University of Washington, investigates air quality impacts from air traffic at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport by measuring concentrations of ultrafine particulate matter (UFP) in surrounding communities. The research aims to distinguish between aircraft-related and other sources of UFP pollution, while actively engaging with local governments and community groups through advisory meetings and public outreach. Funded by a Washington State budget proviso, the study has included presentations to bodies such as the Federal Way City Council and the Seattle/King County Board of Health.