TagWater Quality(478)

This September 2001 Work Plan Attachment describes the fill suitability testing procedures required for the Port of Seattle's third runway embankment construction at Sea-Tac Airport, outlining how soil and fill materials must meet Washington State and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service environmental standards. It explains the Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure (SPLP), a laboratory test used to determine whether fill materials could release harmful metals or chemicals into groundwater. Materials failing the screening criteria must be rejected or undergo additional testing before being approved for use in the embankment.

Researchers tested several filtration media, including leaf compost (CSF®) and soybean hulls, for their ability to remove zinc and reduce toxicity from stormwater runoff at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The study was prompted by prior water quality monitoring that linked stormwater toxicity to zinc from building materials in certain airport drainage areas. Results from these controlled laboratory tests were used to select the best-performing media for future on-site stormwater treatment trials at the airport.

In a September 21, 2001 fax to John Drabek, Permit Manager at the Washington State Department of Ecology's Northwest Regional Office, Greg Wingard of Smith & Lowney followed up on a delayed State Public Disclosure Request concerning environmental monitoring data from construction activities at the airport. The letter clarifies that documents requested as far back as June 5, 2001—including upstream/downstream construction monitoring records and turbidity discharge data—had not yet been produced, despite being roughly three months overdue. Wingard requested that the documents be made available no later than September 25, 2001, and offered to pick them up in person to avoid further delay.

Conference paper submitted September 21, 2001 to Water Environment Federation for Watershed 2002 conference, authored on behalf of the Port Of Seattle regarding Sea-Tac Airport stormwater best management practice (BMP) screening. Tests filtration media — deciduous leaf compost (CSF®), soybean hulls (SBH), extra fine deciduous leaf compost (XFCSF), commercial inorganic polyamine sponge, and zeolite/perlite (ZP)

Washington State Department of Ecology Water Quality Certification Order #1996-4-02325 (Amended-1), dated September 21, 2001, issued to Port Of Seattle (attention Elizabeth Leavitt) for construction of a third runway and related projects at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (STIA). Certifies compliance with Clean Water Act Sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307, RCW 90.48.260, and WAC 173-201A.

ACC (Airport Communities Coalition, comprising Cities of Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Normandy Park, Tukwila, and Highline School District) files memorandum before Washington Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB), Case No. 01-133, seeking a stay of Department of Ecology Section 401 Certification No. 1996-4-02325 issued August 10, 2001 for the Sea-Tac Third Runway and related projects.

Declaration by Dr. Peter Willing, Principal of Water Resources Consulting LLC (Bellingham), filed in Pollution Control Hearings Board Case No. 01-133, Airport Communities Coalition v. State of Washington Department of Ecology and Port Of Seattle. Supports ACC’s motion for stay of Ecology’s Section 401 Water Quality Certification No. 1996-4-02325 and CZMA concurrency statement issued August

ACC (Airport Communities Coalition, comprising Cities of Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Normandy Park, Tukwila, and Highline School District) files memorandum before the Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB), Case No. 01-133, seeking a stay of Department of Ecology Section 401 Certification No. 1996-4-02325, issued August 10, 2001, for Sea-Tac Third Runway and related projects. Motion

Declaration by Dr. John Strand, Principal Biologist for Columbia Biological Assessments, filed in support of ACC’s motion for stay before the Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB No. 01-133). Challenges Ecology’s Section 401 Water Quality Certification (Order #1996-4-02325) issued August 10, 2001, for Port Of Seattle’s Master Plan Update Improvements at STIA (Seattle-Tacoma International Airport). Strand

In September 2001, attorneys for the Port of Seattle filed an appeal of Water Quality Certification #1996-4-02325, issued by the Washington State Department of Ecology for improvements at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, including construction of a third runway. Simultaneously, the Port and the Department of Ecology filed a Stipulated Agreement and Agreed Order of Dismissal, resolving the Port's appeal by agreeing to amend the water quality certification. The Port requested that the Pollution Control Hearings Board accept the stipulation, dismiss the Port's appeal, and allow the separate Airport Communities Coalition appeal to proceed using the revised certification.