TagSustainable Airport Master Plan(233)

Vashon Island Fair Skies (VIFS), a Washington nonprofit representing residents affected by aircraft noise, has filed a petition in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals challenging a September 2025 FAA decision approving near-term expansion projects at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The group argues that the FAA's environmental review failed to adequately address the significant noise impacts on Vashon and Maury Islands resulting from concentrated, low-altitude flight paths introduced under the FAA's NextGen navigation program. VIFS has been actively opposing these flight path changes since 2018, when new Performance-Based Navigation procedures began routing more aircraft directly over the islands at lower altitudes.

In November 2025, the law firm Ogden Murphy Wallace (OMW) agreed to jointly represent the cities of Burien, Des Moines, and SeaTac as special environmental counsel in matters related to the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan. The firm's scope of work covers environmental review processes under federal (NEPA) and state (SEPA) law, as well as any potential litigation against the Port of Seattle or the Federal Aviation Administration. Attorneys are billed at hourly rates ranging from $300 to $535 depending on role and experience, with no advance fee deposit required.

The cities of Burien, Des Moines, and SeaTac have jointly hired the law firm Leech Tishman Fuscaldo & Lampl to challenge the Federal Aviation Administration's approval of the Port of Seattle's Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP). The firm will file a Petition for Review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, naming the FAA as the respondent. Under the agreement, SeaTac will receive and pay all legal invoices on behalf of the three cities, with legal fees starting with a $10,000 retainer and billed at $540 per hour for the lead attorney.

Port of Seattle presentation updating on the FAA’s completion of NEPA Environmental Assessment for 31 proposed SAMP projects, finding no significant environmental impact. Covers regional growth driving air travel demand, project details, and next steps including Port-led environmental review and public engagement.

This traffic engineering report analyzes three signalized intersections along S 128th Street near SR 509 in the Sea-Tac area under projected 2032 No Action conditions during the PM peak hour. The study finds that the SR 509 ramp intersections are operating well over capacity, with an Intersection Capacity Utilization of 104.6% and an ICU Level of Service G, while the Des Moines Way S intersection operates more acceptably at 63.3% ICU. Overall intersection control delays range from approximately 19 to 27 seconds, with most approaches functioning at Level of Service B or C.

The Bonneville Power Administration's 2018–2023 Strategic Plan Progress Update outlines the agency's efforts to improve its financial health, modernize its power grid assets, and better serve customers across the Pacific Northwest. The plan identifies five strategic goals, including strengthening financial performance, providing competitive power products, and valuing its workforce. This update, issued nearly three years after the original 2018 plan, documents accomplishments and highlights areas needing further attention.