TagThird Runway(1084)

This August 1998 email exchange between Ken Ludwa and Doug Henderson of Parametrix, Inc. discusses technical procedures for collecting stormwater samples at the Port of Seattle for metals and toxicity testing. Ludwa asks about required sample volumes, filtration timing, bottle preparation, and transfer procedures when using an autosampler during a storm event. Henderson advises that bioassays require 1 gallon and metals testing requires 2 liters, and provides guidance on sample chilling, glassware cleaning, and handling precautions.

A 1998 internal email from Ken Ludwa to Sabina Renn requests a literature search on best management practices (BMPs) for removing copper from stormwater, associated with a Port of Seattle project. The email provides an extensive list of search keywords covering filtration, chemical treatment, and various water-treatment technologies such as ion exchange, electrodialysis, and reverse osmosis. It also asks the library to locate two EPA publications on drinking water treatment for small communities.

In July 1998, the Washington State Department of Ecology issued a Water Quality Certification and Coastal Zone Consistency Determination (Order #96-4-02325) to the Port of Seattle for construction of a third runway and other improvements at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The project would impact between 8 and 12 acres of wetlands, 980 linear feet of Miller Creek, and 2,280 linear feet of unnamed tributaries, requiring mitigation measures including stormwater management enhancements, stream restoration, floodplain improvements, and construction of 16 to 24 acres of replacement wetlands in Auburn, Washington. The certification was granted with specific conditions and penalties for non-compliance, reflecting concerns about environmental damage to local waterways.

Order #96-4-02325 dated July 20, 1998, from Washington State Department of Ecology (Gordon White, Program Manager, Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program) to Barbara Hinkle (Port Of Seattle) and Tom Mueller (Corps of Engineers Regulatory Branch). Ecology certifies that proposed work in and adjacent to Miller Creek and Des Moines Creek at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport complies

A July 1998 draft report prepared by Parametrix, Inc. for the Port of Seattle outlines a Stormwater Quality Management Plan for Sea-Tac International Airport's Master Plan improvements, including the proposed Third Runway. The plan documents why the Port chose bioswales over other Best Management Practice (BMP) alternatives, such as underground vaults, for managing stormwater runoff quality. The document was shared internally via email between Parametrix engineer Ken Ludwa and Jim Thomson for review and comment.

A 1998 internal email exchange between Ken Ludwa and Kerry Ritland discusses edits to Section 4.3 of a stormwater management report related to Sea-Tac Airport. The section covers water quality facilities, explaining that new stormwater detention facilities would follow state Ecology guidelines using biofiltration and permanent water quality storage, while also complying with the Port's NPDES permit and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). Ken Ludwa agreed to edit the section to reference Appendix F – Water Quality BMP Analysis once that appendix was further developed.

A July 1, 1998 memorandum from Parametrix, Inc. summarizes the results of a Reasonable Potential Analysis (RPA) conducted for the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (STIA) Third Runway project, assessing stormwater runoff quality against water quality criteria for Miller Creek and Des Moines Creek. The analysis found that most pollutant concentrations after treatment with best management practices (BMPs) such as bioswales, sand filters, and wet ponds would meet criteria, with the exception of copper, which remained above acceptable levels. The memo also notes that during storms, pollutant concentrations already present in the receiving waters exceeded criteria and were higher than those predicted from Third Runway stormwater runoff.

A July 1, 1998 internal email from Ken Ludwa to Paul Fendt outlines preliminary cost estimates for a StormFilter stormwater treatment system, based on a discussion with a VP of Stormwater Management. A 100 cfs system handling approximately 4,700 cartridges would cost roughly $2.3 million to design and build, while an 80 cfs system would cost approximately $1.8 million to build with $150,000 annually for cartridge replacement. Cartridge costs vary depending on total suspended solids (TSS) levels and rainfall, as cartridges are replaced on an as-needed basis.

Memorandum from Ken Ludwa (Parametrix, Inc.) to Paul Fendt dated July 1, 1998, project number 55-2912-01, describing results of a Reasonable Potential Analysis (RPA) for the STIA Third Runway area stormwater runoff. Analysis conducted at a working meeting with Lisa Zinner (Ecology), Lori Terry (Preston, Gates, and Ellis), Tom Hubbard (POS), John Rogers (CH2M Hill),

A 1998 internal memo from Parametrix, Inc. summarizes the results of a Reasonable Potential Analysis (RPA) conducted for the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (STIA) Third Runway project, assessing whether stormwater runoff from the new runway could exceed water quality criteria in Miller Creek and Des Moines Creek. The analysis found that most pollutant concentrations after treatment with best management practices (BMPs) such as bioswales, sand filters, and wet ponds would meet criteria, with the exception of copper, which remained above acceptable levels. The memo also notes that existing pollutant concentrations in the receiving waterways during storms already exceeded criteria, even before accounting for Third Runway runoff.