TagThird Runway(1084)

This brochure, published by the Regional Commission on Airport Affairs (RCAA), argues against the Port of Seattle's 'Flight Plan' proposal to add a third runway at Sea-Tac International Airport. It highlights existing noise burdens on South End communities—where jet noise already averages 65 Ldn and reaches up to 105 decibels—and warns that the expansion would add 120,000 more flights annually by 2020, consuming 12% of residents' daily lives with jet noise. The document cites health experts and a renowned noise specialist, Dr. James Chalupnik, to advocate for alternative solutions such as remote airports and high-speed rail instead of expanding the urban airport.

This pamphlet from the Regional Commission on Airport Affairs (RCAA) opposes a proposed third runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, arguing that construction costs alone could exceed $500 million and balloon to $1.2 billion when mitigation and interest are included. Economists cited in the document warn that the true total cost could approach $2 billion when factoring in school insulation, declining property values, and other indirect impacts on surrounding communities. The RCAA contends that taxpayers and airline passengers would bear up to 92% of the cost while receiving a runway that generates less than 1% return on the public's investment.

This community newsletter from the RCAA (Residents for a Cleaner Airport Area) outlines how Highline-area communities near Seattle's Sea-Tac Airport have held the Port of Seattle accountable for noise, water pollution, and runaway construction costs on a proposed third runway. Key victories include a $150 million noise-mitigation settlement for Highline schools, a court-ordered halt to third-runway construction due to unmet environmental permit requirements, and improved water quality in local streams. The document urges residents to stay engaged, warning that the Port continues to pursue runway expansion despite being $3 billion in debt and facing ongoing legal and environmental challenges.

This campaign mailer from the Washington Alliance of Taxpayers and Travelers (WATT) opposes the Port of Seattle's plan to build a third runway at Sea-Tac Airport, calling it a billion-dollar 'boondoggle' that would take four years to construct and burden the region with overwhelming truck traffic. The group warns that the project would require moving 26 million cubic yards of dirt via 2,000 trucks per day through neighborhoods across the Puget Sound region, and that taxpayers could face property tax increases of over 60% if airline fees fall short of covering costs. Residents are urged to contact the Port of Seattle and mail in an attached postcard to oppose the runway expansion.

Box 15 is an archival collection of videotapes documenting environmental and regulatory proceedings related to the Sea-Tac Airport area, recorded between 2000 and 2001. The collection includes footage of a KIRO 7 news segment, an Army Corps of Engineers public hearing, hydrology study workshops, and a public meeting on NPDES 402 stormwater permit modifications. Also included is a videotape focused on Miller Creek Wetlands and migratory birds, totaling 15 videotapes across six subject categories.

A 2008 investigation by the Seattle Port Commission found ten instances of fraud in Port of Seattle contracting practices, including bid manipulation, improper payments, and contract steering to preferred vendors, though no personal financial gain or embezzlement was identified. The inquiry, which reviewed over 250,000 pages of documents and conducted 75+ interviews, also found several instances where Port staff violated laws or policies without meeting the legal definition of fraud. Additionally, some findings from the State Auditor's 2007 Performance Audit were determined to be unsubstantiated by the underlying facts.