TagThird Runway(1068)

FAA Northwest Mountain Region letter dated August 9, 2001, from Lowell H. Johnson (Manager, Airports Division) to Colonel Ralph Graves (District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District Office) regarding Seattle-Tacoma International Airport third runway project. References May 22 meeting and April 30 Memorandum for Record. Describes two written environmental re-evaluations of the Final

Fax cover sheet dated 8/9/01 from Ralph Wessels (Port Of Seattle, 3rd Runway/Airfield, Westside Office, 1006 S 170th, Seatac WA 98148) to Ann Kenny at Washington State Department of Ecology (fax 425-649-7088), requesting attached documents. Attached is an April 4, 2001 certified mail letter from Ecology to Ralph Wessels granting coverage under the Stormwater General

Confidential discussion draft press release (01-138 DRAFT, dated August 9, 2001) from Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) announcing approval of Port Of Seattle’s 401 water-quality certification permit under the federal Clean Water Act to construct a third runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The permit includes conditions covering stormwater management (15 major ponds and vault

Pacific Groundwater Group (Seattle, WA, project JE0105) prepared this embankment fill modeling report for Port Of Seattle regarding the Sea-Tac Airport Third Runway construction, dated August 8, 2001. The report addresses groundwater and fill modeling associated with the Third Runway embankment fill at Sea-Tac Airport. Document marked ‘Superceded’ and received by Foster Pepper & Shefelman

FAA Northwest Mountain Region Record of Decision (ROD) dated August 8, 2001, determining that no supplemental EIS is required for Port of Seattle Master Plan Update (MPU) development actions at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, including the Third Runway project. Relies on 1996 Final EIS and 1997 Supplemental EIS (FSEIS). Two environmental reevaluations (Appendix A and Appendix

Memorandum dated August 7, 2001 from Dave Garland, NWRO Water Quality Watershed Unit Supervisor, to Ann Kenny, Kevin Fitzpatrick, and Ray Hellwig of the Washington State Department of Ecology Northwest Regional Office. Reviews the Parametrix Inc. July 2001 report ‘Low Flow Analysis, Flow Impact Offset Facility Proposal’ prepared for Port Of Seattle regarding predicted impacts

Department of Ecology memorandum dated August 7, 2001, from Director Tom Fitzsimmons to Governor Gary Locke, briefing on Ecology’s decision to approve with conditions a 401 Water Quality Certification to Port Of Seattle for construction of a third runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac Airport). Covers project impacts including 18.37 acres of wetlands, 980 linear

Memorandum dated August 7, 2001 from Dave Garland, NWRO Water Quality Watershed Unit Supervisor, Washington State Department of Ecology, to Ann Kenny, Kevin Fitzpatrick, and Ray Hellwig, reviewing Parametrix Inc.’s July 2001 “Low Flow Analysis, Flow Impact Offset Facility Proposal” prepared for the Port Of Seattle regarding the proposed third runway at Sea-Tac Airport. Reviews

A water resources consultant, writing on behalf of the Airport Communities Coalition, argues that the Port of Seattle's July 2001 Low Flow Analysis for Sea-Tac Airport expansion fails to provide reasonable assurance that the project will meet water quality standards in Miller, Walker, and Des Moines Creeks. The letter criticizes the submission as incomplete and rushed, noting missing figures, unfinished sections, and an unresolved plan to store the required 46 acre-feet of stormwater across the three watersheds. The consultant contends that the Port's proposed water quality protections—including filtration, aeration, and biofiltration swales—are unproven, inadequately designed, and fall short of the regulatory standard required for Section 401/404 permit approval.

In August 2001, GeoSyntec Consultants submitted technical comments to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Washington State Department of Ecology raising serious concerns about the geotechnical safety analyses for the proposed Third Runway expansion at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The firm identified multiple flaws in the design work performed by the Port of Seattle's consultants, including underestimation of earthquake risk, incorrect seismic stability analyses, and overestimation of post-earthquake soil stability. GeoSyntec concluded that the Port's consultants had not adequately demonstrated that the embankment fill and retaining wall structures would perform safely under anticipated seismic loads over the facility's lifetime.