TagWater Quality(475)

Draft memorandum dated 8/6/01 from Ray Hellwig, Director, Washington State Department of Ecology, to Tom Fitzsimmons, Director, recommending approval of a 401 Water Quality Certification for the Port Of Seattle’s Sea-Tac International Airport Third Runway project. Document covers 8,500-foot parallel third runway, Runway Safety Areas (RSAs), South Aviation Support Area (SASA), impacts to approximately 700

A biological scientist hired by the Airport Communities Coalition reviewed the Port of Seattle's plan to store airport stormwater in detention vaults and release it into Miller, Walker, and Des Moines Creeks during summer low-flow periods. The review found that the plan could worsen water quality in those creeks, because stored sediments may release toxic levels of copper and zinc, and potentially harbor human pathogens from airplane wastewater. The scientist concluded that regulators lacked sufficient information to approve the proposal without further testing, modeling, and independent scientific review.

Email from Ann Kenny (Washington State Department of Ecology) dated August 5, 2001, distributing a revised Draft 401 Water Quality Certification for the construction of a Third Runway and related projects at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (STIA) in the Miller, Walker, and Des Moines Creek watersheds and wetlands in SeaTac and Auburn, King County, Washington. The

Email from Ann Kenny (Washington State Department of Ecology) dated August 5, 2001, circulating a revised Draft 401 Water Quality Certification for the Port Of Seattle’s Third Runway construction at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (STIA). Recipients include Gordon White, Raymond Hellwig, Erik Stockdale, Kevin Fitzpatrick, John Drabek, Dave Garland, Ching-Pi Wang, Katie Walter, Kelly Whiting, Joan

Deliberative memorandum dated August 3, 2001 from Katie Walter (Shannon & Wilson, Inc.) to Ann Kenny (Washington State Department of Ecology), transmitting revised draft 401 conditions for the Port Of Seattle Natural Resources Mitigation Plan (NRMP) Auburn Mitigation Site. Document 21-1-12020-001-M1 REVISED.doc covers Auburn Mitigation Site revisions including culvert placement issues on June 28, 2001

Email dated August 3, 2001 from Katie Walter (Shannon & Wilson, KLW@shanwil.com) to Ann Kenny, cc Erik Stockdale, subject fish/stream monitoring. References Richard Brocksmith (fish biologist) and IBI (Index of Biotic Integrity) methodology for stream health monitoring. Proposes monitoring condition language for Port Of Seattle requiring monitoring plan covering temperature, turbidity, channel morphology, substrate quality,

Email dated August 3, 2001 from Katie Walter (KLW@shanwil.com) to Ann Kenny, cc Erik Stockdale, regarding fish and stream monitoring recommendations for Port Of Seattle mitigation area. Discusses IBI (Index of Biotic Integrity) methodology limitations and augmentation with monitoring of temperature, turbidity, channel morphology, substrate quality, large woody debris, riparian canopy cover, and fish use.

Email chain between John Drabek and Ann Kenny (Washington State Department of Ecology) dated August 3, 2001, regarding a preliminary deliberative draft Section 401 Water Quality Certification (WQC) for the Sea-Tac Airport Third Runway. Drabek raises question about RCW 90.48 required AKART implementation in NPDES permit reissuances and integration with the 401. Kenny’s original email

This August 2001 draft document outlines Water Quality Certification conditions for Sea-Tac International Airport (STIA), requiring the Port of Seattle to implement a Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan covering treatment, flow control, and retrofitting of stormwater facilities. Key requirements include obtaining Ecology approval before discharging operational stormwater to state waters, conducting a Water Effects Ratio Study, and ensuring all runoff from impervious surfaces is treated using all known available and reasonable treatment methods. The Port must also retrofit existing stormwater facilities at a rate proportional to new impervious surface construction, with progress documented in quarterly reports.

This August 2001 draft document outlines Water Quality Certification conditions (#1996-4-02325) governing stormwater management at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac). It sets requirements for the Port of Seattle to implement and maintain a Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan, including retrofitting existing impervious surfaces, meeting state water quality standards, and obtaining Ecology approval before discharging stormwater to receiving waters. The document also addresses scheduling, flow control benchmarks, and the use of all known available and reasonable treatment methods (AKART) for runoff from impervious surfaces.