TagThird Runway(1067)

Memorandum dated January 25, 2001 from Douglas Lindquist (EIT) and Michael Bailey (P.E.) of Hart Crowser, Inc. to the Embankment Technical Review Board (Attn: Pete Douglass), project J-4978-30, CC to Jim Thomson (P.E., HNTB). Provides additional information on seismic analyses for the Third Runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (STIA) in SeaTac, Washington. Covers probabilistic seismic

Letter dated January 25, 2001 from Peter M. Douglass, P.E. (Technical Review Board Facilitator) to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Jonathan Freedman, Project Manager) and Washington State Department of Ecology (Ann Kenny, Environmental Specialist) summarizing findings of an independent expert panel convened by Port Of Seattle to review embankment fill and mechanically stabilized earth (MSE)

These are prepared talking points for Washington State Department of Ecology officials attending public meetings on January 26-27, 2001, regarding the proposed Third Runway (3RW) at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The notes address 17 anticipated public questions covering topics such as Ecology's 401 Water Quality Certification review process, the use of Port-funded consultants, SEPA compliance, wetlands impacts, and whether the project was receiving special political consideration. Officials emphasized that no approval would be granted until the project demonstrated full compliance with all applicable environmental laws and regulations.

A January 2001 letter and accompanying meeting notes document communications between the Port of Seattle and the Washington Department of Ecology regarding a groundwater contamination study at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, conducted under the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) Agreed Order 97TC-N112. The records outline the scope of the study, which focuses on hydrogeologic investigation and a review of the Fuel Operations Area, and clarify that any necessary cleanup would be handled separately after the study's completion. Both parties discussed concerns about scope expansion and the process for addressing contaminated sites identified through the study.

This document outlines the Washington State Department of Ecology's Section 401 Water Quality Certification review process for the proposed Sea-Tac Airport expansion, detailing the legal standards and unresolved environmental issues involved. Ecology was required to determine whether the expansion would meet state water quality standards by assessing direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts on wetlands, stormwater, and streamflow, while coordinating with federal Clean Water Act permit requirements under Sections 401 and 402. As of October 2000, key aquatic resource protection issues—including stormwater management, wetland mitigation, and streamflow augmentation—remained unresolved pending additional information from the Port of Seattle.

In a January 2001 letter to Washington State Senator Julia Patterson, outgoing Department of Ecology official Tom Luster summarizes the key water quality issues surrounding the proposed Sea-Tac Airport expansion review under Section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act. The assessment outlines concerns including stormwater management, wetland impacts, streamflow, and whether the project's discharges would meet state water quality standards for antidegradation, beneficial uses, and numeric water quality criteria. Luster notes the views are his own and may not fully reflect Ecology's current position, directing the Senator to contact Ann Kenny at Ecology's Northwest Regional Office for the latest information.

United Airlines formally disagreed with a proposed use of Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) funds totaling $104.3 million toward a $587.4 million third runway construction project at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The airline argued that the runway would not meaningfully improve national air transportation capacity, safety, or competition, noting that less than 30 seconds of average delay could actually be attributed to the absence of a third runway. United also raised concerns about potential improper diversion of federal transportation funds and warned that approving the project before its full costs were understood would set a harmful precedent.

Port of Seattle transmittal letter dated January 11, 2001 from Environmental Manager Elizabeth Leavitt to Ann Kenny at the Washington State Department of Ecology, transmitting a revised Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Consistency Statement (Federal Project Number 96-4-02325). The CZM certification covers construction of a third runway and other improvements at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, including filling

Transmittal record dated January 11, 2001 from Elizabeth Leavitt, Environmental Manager, Port Of Seattle Aviation Environmental Group, to Ann Kenny, Department of Ecology, transmitting a revised Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Consistency Statement for Federal Project Number 96-4-02325. The CZM certification covers construction of a third runway and other improvements at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, including filling

Email dated January 3, 2001 from Chung K. Yee to Kevin Fitzpatrick regarding copper contamination in fill soil samples from a proposed Third Runway fill source site. Beth Clark questioned use of Method B protection of groundwater standard (100X groundwater standard) for copper samples testing 70–100 mg/kg. Yee reaffirmed the Method B standard and disagreed