TagStART(508)

This is the meeting agenda for the Sea-Tac Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART) held on August 28, 2019, at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Conference Center. The meeting focused on recapping the Aviation Noise Working Group, reviewing the Federal Policy Advocacy Work Plan, and hosting a panel discussion on the components and requirements of a Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study. Key presenters included Port of Seattle staff, an FAA Environmental Program Manager, and the President and CEO of acoustics consulting firm HMMH.

The Sea-Tac Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART) met on August 28, 2019 to discuss airport noise reduction efforts, federal policy priorities, and an overview of Part 150 noise studies. Key updates included progress on a Revised Runway Use Agreement, the launch of a Late Night Noise Limitation Program, and a new noise complaint system. The meeting also addressed the temporary suspension of three neighboring cities from StART, with airport leadership pledging improved communication and good-faith efforts to re-engage those communities.

In August 2019, the City of Burien formally suspended its participation in the Sea-Tac Advisory Roundtable (StART), citing the Port of Seattle's decision to advance airport expansion designs before completing required environmental reviews, a lack of transparency, and a feeling that community concerns were being ignored. The letter raises serious questions about noise abatement, slow sound insulation programs, air quality impacts extending miles beyond the airport, and the exclusion of nighttime engine run-up mitigation measures recommended as far back as 1996. Burien called on the Port to engage in an honest discussion about how much airport growth is sustainable given the health and quality-of-life impacts on surrounding communities.

In August 2019, the City of Burien sent a formal letter to the Port of Seattle's Executive Director and Commissioners raising nine pointed questions about Sea-Tac Airport's noise policies and community health impacts. The city challenged the Port's failure to conduct updated noise studies across all runways since 2002, slow implementation of sound insulation programs, and lack of transparency in the StART community committee process. Burien concluded by calling for an honest public dialogue about whether continued airport growth is sustainable given the environmental and quality-of-life consequences for neighboring residents.

In August 2019, the Burien City Council sent a formal letter to the Port of Seattle's Executive Director and Commissioners raising nine pointed questions about Sea-Tac Airport's noise management failures, including the lack of updated noise studies since 2002, slow implementation of sound insulation for affected homes, unaddressed air quality concerns, and the exclusion of meaningful community input. The letter argues that the Port has prioritized airport expansion and profits over the health and quality of life of surrounding residents for more than 20 years. The Council calls for an honest, open dialogue about how much airport growth is truly sustainable given its ongoing environmental and community impacts.

In August 2019, the City of Des Moines formally notified Sea-Tac Airport's Director of Aviation that it was suspending its participation in the Stakeholder Advisory Roundtable (StART) Committee. The decision followed the Port of Seattle's approval of $10 million for Near-Term Airport Master Plan design work at an off-site meeting held without prior notice to affected communities, which Des Moines argued violated state environmental review requirements and broke the trust the StART process was built upon. The letter also highlights ongoing concerns about the disproportionate noise and health impacts experienced by Des Moines residents due to the city's proximity to Sea-Tac Airport.

This document summarizes an August 12, 2019 meeting of the StART Aviation Noise Working Group, a collaborative body between the Port of Seattle and neighboring communities including Normandy Park, SeaTac, and Federal Way. The group received updates on several noise reduction initiatives, including a newly launched Late Night Noise Limitation Program, a revised Runway Use Agreement aimed at reducing third-runway use at night, and a Glide Slope Adjustment project expected to take approximately four years to implement. Additionally, an ongoing analysis of Noise Abatement Departure Profiles was discussed, with final results expected by September 30, 2019.