TagVashon Island Fair Skies(21)

The Federal Aviation Administration filed an amended certified index to the administrative record in two Ninth Circuit cases challenging the FAA's September 24, 2025, Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for near-term construction projects at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The cases were brought by Vashon Island Fair Skies and the City of Burien, among others, who are contesting the agency's environmental review of the airport expansion plans. The full administrative record was made available to petitioners via a secure file-sharing link in May 2026.

The Federal Aviation Administration filed an amended certified index to the administrative record in two Ninth Circuit cases challenging the FAA's September 24, 2025, Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for near-term construction projects at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The cases were brought by Vashon Island Fair Skies and the City of Burien, among others, who are contesting the agency's environmental review of the airport expansion plans. The full administrative record was made available to petitioners electronically on May 8, 2026.

The Federal Aviation Administration filed a certified index to the administrative record in two Ninth Circuit cases challenging the FAA's September 24, 2025, Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for near-term construction projects at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The petitioners—Vashon Island Fair Skies and the City of Burien—are contesting the FAA's environmental review of the airport's Sustainable Airport Master Plan. The full administrative record was made available to petitioners' counsel via a secure file-sharing link on March 19, 2026.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a procedural order on February 5, 2026, in two consolidated cases where Vashon Island Fair Skies and the City of Burien are challenging Federal Aviation Administration decisions, with the Port of Seattle as an intervenor. The court denied a request by petitioners to file separate opening briefs, and also denied—without prejudice—their request to file an oversized consolidated brief, requiring them to resubmit that request with a copy of the proposed brief attached. Key upcoming deadlines set by the court include the consolidated opening brief due March 30, 2026, the answering brief due April 29, 2026, and the Port of Seattle's intervenor brief due May 13, 2026.

The City of SeaTac responded to a public records request (PRR25-593) from Paula Rodriguez, fulfilling her December 9, 2025 request for all communications mentioning 'Vashon Island Fair Skies' or 'David Goebel' between July 1 and November 30, 2025. The city released 2,528 pages of records, noting that many documents are duplicated due to emails sent to multiple recipients. The request has been closed, with Rodriguez retaining the right to seek judicial review within one year under RCW 42.56.550(6).

The City of SeaTac acknowledged a public records request (PRR25-593) from Paula Rodriguez, filed December 9, 2025, seeking all communications and documents referencing 'Vashon Island Fair Skies' or 'David Goebel' between July 1 and November 30, 2025. The city confirmed the request was forwarded to relevant departments and anticipated fulfilling it by December 26, 2025. This request appears related to community advocacy efforts concerning aircraft noise and air quality around Sea-Tac Airport.

City of SeaTac officials exchanged emails in November 2025 regarding a Petition for Review filed to appeal the FAA's NEPA Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Record of Decision, coordinated under an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with the cities of Burien and Des Moines. A council member raised concern about the petition listing 'Attorneys for Vashon Island Fair Skies' rather than the three cities, to which Director Evan Maxim clarified that outside legal counsel Mr. Taber also represents other parties including Vashon Island in a related SAMP appeal, and that the reference was likely included by mistake. SeaTac is identified as the primary party in the event of any conflict of interest among the represented parties.

Vashon Island Fair Skies, a Washington nonprofit corporation, has filed a petition for review against the Federal Aviation Administration in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (Case No. 25-7373), docketed on November 24, 2025. The case challenges an FAA decision and is represented on the petitioner's side by attorney Steven M. Taber of Leech Tishman Nelson Hardiman, with the FAA and U.S. Department of Justice defending the agency's position. This case likely relates to aircraft noise or airspace management issues affecting Vashon Island, located near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Law firm Leech Tishman Nelson Hardiman, Inc. sent this November 2025 letter to the cities of Burien, Des Moines, and SeaTac, Washington, along with Vashon Island Fair Skies, Inc., requesting their consent to be represented together in legal challenges against the FAA's environmental approval of near-term construction projects at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The firm explains that while a potential conflict of interest exists in representing multiple clients simultaneously, all parties currently share a common goal of contesting the FAA's Finding of No Significant Impact related to increased aviation noise. The letter outlines the conditions of the joint representation, including fee-sharing arrangements, attorney-client privilege limitations, and procedures the firm will follow if the clients' interests diverge.