TagThird Runway(1084)

This 1997 Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement evaluates the environmental effects of proposed expansion projects at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, including construction of a new 8,500-foot third parallel runway, terminal improvements, and expanded parking and cargo facilities. The document examines potential impacts such as wetland disturbance, floodplain encroachment, stream relocation, and air, water, and noise quality effects on surrounding communities. It was prepared jointly under the National Environmental Policy Act and Washington State Environmental Policy Act to address concerns arising from continued growth in aviation activity levels.

This 1997 Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) evaluates the environmental effects of proposed expansion projects at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, including the construction of a new 8,500-foot third parallel runway, terminal improvements, parking expansions, and cargo facilities. The document addresses a range of potential impacts such as noise, air and water quality, wetlands, and floodplains resulting from increased aviation activity. It was prepared jointly under federal (NEPA) and Washington State (SEPA) environmental review requirements by the Port of Seattle and the Federal Aviation Administration.

In March 1997, the Airport Communities Coalition — representing the cities of Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Normandy Park, and Tukwila, as well as Highline Public Schools — submitted formal comments on the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for proposed development actions at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The comments were prepared by Washington, D.C. law firm Cutler & Stanfield, L.L.P., in consultation with a team of noise, engineering, and environmental experts from across the country. The document reflects community concerns about the environmental and noise impacts of the airport's Master Plan Update on surrounding neighborhoods.

This 1997 document argues that the Port of Seattle's Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed third runway at Sea-Tac Airport inadequately examines impacts on wetlands and fails to prescribe sufficient mitigation measures. It contends that the FAA and Port must meet federal and state legal requirements — including Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Washington's Growth Management Act — before any construction affecting wetlands can proceed. The document asserts that the EIS does not consider a broad enough range of alternatives, making it legally insufficient as a basis for approving the runway project.

This 1997 intergovernmental agreement, signed by the Highline School District and several cities in the Sea-Tac Airport vicinity — including Des Moines, Normandy Park, Burien, Federal Way, and Tukwila — establishes a coordinated framework for addressing airport noise impacts and related funding for schools. The agreement supersedes earlier agreements from February 1992 and June 1996 between the same parties. It outlines provisions for settlement authority, dispute resolution, and the role of the Airport Communities Coalition (ACC) Executive Committee in approving any claims or compromises.

A 1997 study examined the unequal distribution of costs and benefits generated by Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, finding that while the airport's economic benefits (jobs, income, and travel services) spread across the broader Puget Sound region, its harms—including noise, traffic, and reduced property values—fell disproportionately on a small number of nearby cities: Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Normandy Park, and Tukwila. Data from a 1991 passenger survey showed that these five heavily impacted communities accounted for only 5.9% of home-originating enplanements, while King County as a whole contributed 57.2%. The study concluded that mitigation measures were needed to redirect some of the airport's regional benefits back to the communities bearing the greatest burden of its operations.

A 1997 study commissioned by cities and institutions near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport found that airport operations depress nearby property values compared to similar homes elsewhere in King County, and that properties directly under flight paths suffer additional losses from noise, visual pollution, and reduced quality of life. Researchers compared single-family homes around Sea-Tac with comparable homes in Northwest King County (Shoreline area), using strict criteria to ensure fair comparisons. The study notes that while overall regional growth means nearby home values may still rise over time, they appreciate more slowly than they would without the airport's presence.

This 1997 draft study assessed the potential environmental, transportation, and socioeconomic impacts of a proposed third runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on five neighboring communities—Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Normandy Park, and Tukwila—as well as the Highline School District and Highline Community Hospital District. Funded by a Washington State grant administered through the City of Burien, the study was conducted by a team of consultants and aimed to develop mitigation strategies and funding mechanisms to address impacts on affected jurisdictions. The report reviewed the Port of Seattle's Environmental Impact Statement and proposed independent mitigation measures, while expressly prohibited from being used to oppose the runway's construction.