A 2001 community newsletter documenting widespread opposition to Sea-Tac Airport's proposed third runway construction, which required destroying 18 acres of wetlands. Residents, local elected officials, and independent experts raised serious concerns about earthquake safety, environmental damage to local streams and salmon habitat, and the structural integrity of four unprecedented earthen retaining walls planned for the project. The Port of Seattle's applications were repeatedly challenged and withdrawn due to fatal flaws in environmental planning and seismic risk analysis.Open full document
Notes
This newsletter from the Regional Commission on Airport Affairs covers the third wetlands hearings regarding Sea-Tac Airport’s third-runway construction project, highlighting community opposition, environmental concerns, and expert criticism of the mechanically stabilized earth walls. It also addresses earthquake safety issues raised by the February 2001 Puget Sound earthquake, which caused damage at Boeing Field and Sea-Tac’s control tower, and examines the seismic risks posed by the proposed runway embankment.