TagStART(508)

In August 2019, the City of Burien sent a draft letter to the Port of Seattle raising eight pointed questions about Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's handling of aircraft noise, air quality, and community impact. The letter challenges the Port's failure to conduct comprehensive noise studies since 2002, its slow implementation of sound insulation programs, and its prioritization of airport expansion planning over legally recommended noise mitigation measures. Burien officials conclude that the Port has not treated compatibility with surrounding communities as a genuine priority, citing decades of unaddressed recommendations dating back to a 1996 Expert Arbitration Panel report.

A August 5, 2019 meeting of the StART Federal Policy Working Group gathered community representatives, congressional staff, and Port of Seattle officials to review draft legislation — the Aviation Impacted Communities Act — proposed by U.S. Representative Adam Smith, which would establish a process for noise-impacted communities near airports to form advisory boards and develop mitigation plans. Participants provided feedback on the bill, raising concerns about eligibility thresholds, FAA accountability, community board composition, and the risk of simply shifting flight paths rather than solving noise problems. The group also reviewed a Federal Advocacy Work Plan outlining their priorities and next steps for engagement.

The Highline Forum held a public meeting on July 31, 2019, at Highline College in Des Moines, Washington, focusing on the FAA Part 150 Aviation Noise Program and the South King County Fund, both related to managing aircraft noise impacts around Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Port of Seattle staff presented updates on community engagement, environmental funding, and noise mitigation efforts, with additional time for public comment and discussion of emerging issues. The forum also announced two upcoming 2019 meetings scheduled for September 25 in Tukwila and November 20 in Des Moines.

A July 23, 2019 Port of Seattle briefing document outlines the aviation capital planning and preliminary design process for Sea-Tac Airport, covering three phases: completed master planning, advanced planning still in progress, and preliminary design requiring capital funds approval. Key topics include near-term projects, projects requiring preliminary design authorization, and the relocation of a Glideslope Antenna. The preliminary design phase aims to develop individual project programs in sufficient detail to produce a Project Definition Document (PDD) and transition projects into full design.

This document contains a legal invoice dated July 15, 2019, from Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P. to the City of Burien for $5,262.50, covering 26 hours of legal and consulting work performed in May and June 2019 related to Sea-Tac Airport noise and community impact issues, including meetings with four cities, StART (Sea-Tac Airport Roundtable) planning and preparation, and review of airport presentations. The invoice details work by attorneys James Allerdice, Emily Tranter, and Jason Schwartz on strategy correspondence, in-person client meetings, and research into community impacts and Part 150 noise regulations. An accompanying email thread confirms City of SeaTac Director Steve Pilcher approved payment of the invoice, which was submitted by Emily Tranter on July 30, 2019.

This document details billing records from the City of Burien, Washington, for legal consulting services provided by Lockridge Grindal Nauen PLLP in connection with the Sea-Tac Airport Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) environmental review. Under an interlocal agreement signed March 6, 2018, the cities of Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, and SeaTac jointly hired the firm to represent their interests, sharing costs at approximately $1.50 per capita based on population. By July 2019, six invoices had been processed against a $175,000 total contract, with roughly $75,829 billed and $99,171 remaining.

This document summarizes a July 8, 2019 meeting of the StART (Sea-Tac Stakeholder Advisory Round Table) Federal Policy Working Group, held at Sea-Tac Airport. Participants, including representatives from local cities, congressional offices, and the Port of Seattle, discussed concerns about FAA noise research, reviewed priorities related to the FAA Reauthorization Act, and considered new legislation such as the Aviation Impacted Communities Act. The group also outlined advocacy strategies, including working with a national coalition, seeking federal grant funding for noise mitigation, and requesting the FAA formally respond to the WHO Europe noise study and release 2017 noise annoyance survey results.