TagThird Runway(1098)

These are internal deliberative notes from a telephone conversation with Ray Hellwig on October 26, 2000 at 4:50 p.m., discussing the need for consistency between the NAMP and SMP programs, concerns about underestimating the difficulty of technical review, and a decision deadline set for the end of January. The notes also address cumulative impacts described as 'reasonably foreseeable,' a South Access Road and Tyee Pond condition related to DOT and subsequent development, a refusal to permit SAR, consultant oversight of mitigation implementation, and contingency mitigation at a multiplied ratio.

In October 2000, Washington State Department of Ecology prepared internal talking points to explain staff changes in the environmental review of the Sea-Tac Airport Third Runway project, including shifting the 401 water quality permit review from Olympia headquarters to the Bellevue regional office and replacing the senior wetlands specialist with an outside consultant. Ecology emphasized that these were routine workforce-management decisions driven by competing project demands, not outside pressure. The agency maintained that its responsibility to ensure the Third Runway met state environmental protection laws — covering stormwater, wetlands, in-stream flow, and clean fill — remained unchanged.

Letter dated October 25, 2000 from Elizabeth Leavitt, Manager of Aviation Environmental Programs, Port of Seattle, to Jonathan Freedman, Regulatory Branch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District, submitting a new Joint Aquatic Resources Permit Application (JARPA) for Clean Water Act Section 404 permit, Corps of Engineers Project No. 96-4-02325, for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Master

A October 25, 2000 internal memo from Tom Luster to Ann Kenny outlines the transition of the 401 water quality certification review for the Sea-Tac Airport expansion project. It covers key outstanding issues including flow augmentation, water quality BMPs, and Clean Air Act compliance, as well as coordination needs with the Army Corps of Engineers, EPA, and WDFW. The memo also addresses document management, public disclosure requests, and contract administration changes related to the King County Stormwater Review.

In an October 25, 2000 letter to Washington State Department of Ecology Director Tom Fitzsimmons, the Airport Communities Coalition (representing cities of Burien, Tukwila, Des Moines, Federal Way, Normandy Park, and the Highline School District) protested the removal of senior environmental specialist Tom Luster from the Port of Seattle's third runway 401 water quality permit review. The coalition alleged that political pressure from the Port of Seattle — including secret meetings with the Governor's office and a coordinated public relations campaign — was improperly influencing the regulatory process. The letter demanded Luster's immediate reinstatement, citing his three years of institutional knowledge and commitment to science-based, nonpolitical decision-making on the permit.

In October 2000, Washington State Department of Ecology staff exchanged internal emails debating conditions for issuing a Section 401 water quality certification related to Sea-Tac Airport's proposed third runway expansion. Key concerns included the need for approved stormwater plans for the Highway 509 interchange, potential impacts to Tyee Pond and Des Moines Creek flows from construction fill and impervious surfaces, and ensuring compliance with an existing Agreed Order governing groundwater contamination. Staff member Tom Luster warned that draft meeting notes did not accurately reflect prior internal agreements, and that issuing a 401 without addressing these issues could fail to meet regulatory requirements.

Memorandum dated October 24, 2000 from Paula Ehlers, Section Manager, to Gordon White, Jeannie Summerhays, Ray Heilwig, and Seatac File, regarding refocusing work priorities for Tom Luster, Senior Policy Lead for federal permitting. Ehlers explains that Tom Luster’s involvement in the SeaTac Third Runway project has prevented him from fulfilling his statewide Section 401 Clean

Final draft meeting notes prepared by Rachel McCrea of Floyd & Snider Inc. for the Sea-Tac Airport Third Runway 401 Permit Negotiations meeting held October 24, 2000, 1:30–5:00 PM. Attendees include representatives from King County (Kelly Whiting, Mark Lampard), AquaTerra (Joe Brascher), Earthtech (Rick Schaefer), Parametrix (Paul Fendt, Jim Dexter), HNTB (Alan Black), and Floyd

Email exchange dated October 24, 2000 between Ann Kenny (Ecology NWRO, 425-649-4310) and Rachel McCrea of Floyd & Snider, Inc. regarding Third Runway 401 permit negotiations with Port Of Seattle. McCrea informs Kenny she will be replacing Tom Luster in the 401 permit negotiations and provides meeting notes (3rw-401 100200, 100600, 101000, 101300, 102000). Upcoming

Internal email chain dated October 23, 2000 from Tom Luster (Ecology) to Raymond Hellwig, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Erik Stockdale, and Joan Marchioro (ATG), forwarded November 20, 2000 to Thomas Fitzsimmons, concerning 401/404 review of SeaTac airport Third Runway expansion. Luster raises unresolved issues including: NPDES major modification and stormwater plan approval for SR-509 interchange as prerequisite