TagThird Runway(1067)

A April 25, 2000 email from Martha Choe of the Washington State Community, Trade and Economic Development office to a colleague at the Department of Ecology summarizes concerns raised by the Port of Seattle regarding delays in obtaining a 401 water quality permit for Sea-Tac Airport's proposed third runway. Key issues include the FAA's unfamiliarity with Endangered Species Act requirements after taking over the review from the Army Corps of Engineers, King County's slow progress on stormwater documentation, and formatting problems that caused further delays. The email warns that if the permit is not issued by July 21, 2000, the third runway's inclusion in the regional transportation plan—and its federal funding eligibility—could be jeopardized.

A April 2000 email exchange between EPA staff members John Savich and Martha Choe provides an update on the status of a Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality permit for a Port of Seattle runway project. The main sticking point is stormwater storage management, with the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) targeting a mid-July decision after King County completed a review that identified serious shortcomings in the port's consultant work. Both the optimistic and realistic port timelines require DOE action on the 401 permit by July 21, meaning the port had already abandoned any hope of beginning construction that season.

Draft memorandum dated April 10, 2000 from Douglas Lindquist, Barry Chen P.E., and Mike Bailey P.E. of Hart Crowser, Inc. to Jim Thomson P.E. at HNTB regarding seismic basis of design for the Third Runway Project (J-4978-14) at Sea-Tac Airport for the Port of Seattle. Compares 475-year return period (0.36g peak acceleration, 10% probability of

Draft Subsurface Conditions Data Report prepared by Hart Crowser for Port Of Seattle and HNTB, project number J-4978-23, dated April 7, 2000. Covers geologic and subsurface soil conditions, hydrogeologic conditions, auger borings, Standard Penetration Test (SPT) procedures, test pit excavations, and monitoring well installation for the South MSE (Mechanically Stabilized Earth) Wall and Adjacent Embankment

A April 2000 memo from engineering firm Parametrix, Inc. evaluates roofing options to prevent zinc leaching from galvanized steel roofs on two Port of Seattle warehouses at Sea-Tac Airport. The study compared paint systems (ranging from $21,000–$240,000 for both buildings) against synthetic coverings such as spray-on elastomers and single-ply membranes ($60,000–$330,000), finding that painting is cheaper but requires more frequent maintenance while synthetic coverings last longer but cost more upfront. The memo recommends that any chosen material be evaluated to ensure it does not release metals or other pollutants into stormwater runoff.

Email chain dated March 28, 2000 among Kevin Fitzpatrick (Ecology NWRO Industrial Permit Unit), Tom Luster, Pat Svoboda, Erik Stockdale, and Greg Wingard regarding groundwater and surface water issues related to the proposed Sea-Tac Airport Third Runway. Fitzpatrick disputes Greg Wingard’s claim that Ecology’s NWRO admitted the third lagoon expansion of the Industrial Waste System

Hart Crowser draft subsurface conditions data report (project J-4978-18) prepared for Port Of Seattle and HNTB, dated March 20, 2000, covering the North Safety Area Third Runway Embankment at Sea-Tac International Airport. Report includes generalized geologic description, subsurface soil conditions, hydrogeologic conditions, laboratory test results (consolidation, CU triaxial, UU triaxial, direct shear tests), hydraulic conductivity

A March 2000 Parametrix memorandum reports the results of pesticide and herbicide soil testing at the Vacca Farm site, part of the Port of Seattle's Third Runway Project. Of 59 compounds tested, only 12 were detected, primarily organochlorine pesticides, with Dieldrin slightly exceeding cleanup levels in shallow soil samples at two locations in the proposed floodplain area. The memo recommends removing the upper six inches of soil from the floodplain area for offsite disposal, while concluding that the proposed Miller Creek relocation corridor does not pose unacceptable risks to human health.

SEPA Addendum (April 27, 2000) prepared by Port Of Seattle and FAA as addendum to the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Master Plan Update Development Actions at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (STIA), and to the SEPA Environmental Checklist for the Auburn Wetland Mitigation Project (August 1998). Documents modification to Master Plan Update wetland

A February 2000 draft memo from environmental consultants Parametrix summarizes testing and monitoring data concluding that stormwater runoff from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (STIA) does not harm aquatic life in nearby Miller and Des Moines Creeks. Three lines of evidence are presented: whole effluent toxicity tests showing most outfalls are non-toxic, water effect ratio studies demonstrating that creek water significantly reduces copper toxicity, and metals monitoring confirming that copper concentrations in the creeks fell below water quality standards. The one outfall found to be toxic (SDN1) was traced to zinc leaching from galvanized rooftops, with the Port of Seattle pursuing corrective measures.