Next Noise Workshop Scheduled for 27 October

The study team for the Sea-Tac noise study has announced that the next public workshop will be held on Wednesday, 27 October, at Mt Rainier High School, in Des Moines.  See below for details.

Since the last workshop (9 June), the study team has prepared air-traffic forecasts for the Airport (with no public input or participation).  The traffic forecasts have been used to prepare noise-exposure maps (with no public input or participation).  The study team is also preparing maps to show noise-sensitive areas & facilities (again with no public input or participation).  All these maps will presumably be available at the workshop.  

The study team has, so far, rejected requests to extend the noise mapping out to the 55 YDNL contour.  The work is restricted to the small area within the 65 YDNL contour.  The study team calculates that there are 6.30 square miles within that contour.  Almost half (2.96 square miles) is within the Airport itself.  The study team has strongly indicated that it will not propose any mitigation or noise-relieving measures for non-Airport areas outside the 65 YDNL contour.  In other words, mitigation & noise relief is under consideration for only 3.34 square miles very close to the Airport.  Too bad about the noise in Federal Way, in the Shorewood neighborhood of Burien, in other parts of the greater Highline area, & in Beacon Hill & Rainier Valley in Seattle, & points north & south.

The text of the announcement follows:

Third Part 150 Study Public Workshop Set for October 27th Part 150 Study also an Agenda Item at September 22nd Highline Forum

 

The community is invited to attend the third in a series of public workshops for Sea-Tac Airport's Part 150 Noise Study on October 27th at Mount Rainier High School (22450 19th Ave. S.) in Des Moines.  The program is from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.   At the workshop, the new airport-area noise exposure "contour" maps showing neighborhoods currently affected by noise and those that will be affected by noise in the future will be unveiled and discussed.  As with the last two workshops, small group working sessions will be utilized to foster conversation and actively develop solutions to reducing airport noise.   On September 22nd, the members of the Highline Forum will also discuss the Part 150 Noise Study at the City of Des Moines Activity Center - 2045 South 216th Street, Des Moines.  The meeting begins at 2:30 and the public is invited to observe.  The Highline Forum includes the southwest King County communities of Des Moines, Burien, Normandy Park, SeaTac, Tukwila and Federal Way and the Highline School District and Port of Seattle. Please visit the dedicated Part 150 Study website for all documentation and reports connected to the study including the comprehensive summary from the June 9th public workshop.

 

 

Sea-Tac Airport Can't But Boeing Can

Since the start of the noise study at Sea-Tac Airport, our organization has asked for air-traffic forecasts for the Airport for the next 20 years.  We've been told by the study team (led by the consultancy Landrum & Brown) that such forecasts are next to impossible.   Never mind that for purposes of justifying Sea-Tac expansion the same consultants (& the Airport) were able to make 20-year forecasts. For purposes of mitigation, it's just too hard to figure what air travel will do in 20 years.

Well, as it turns out, the Boeing Company has a different view.  The news item below, found in a recent issue of the on-line aviation daily news service, "Airwise", tells us all that Boeing feels quite confident that they can predict the general direction for 20 years to the point that they are willing to go public with estimates of how many passenger aircraft will be needed to meet travel demand. 

Here's something that might help Landrum & Brown to figure it all out -- the main phone number for Boeing's commercial-aircraft division:  206-655-1131.

Now the news item:

------------------------------------------------------ Boeing Sees USD$700 Bln Market In North America ------------------------------------------------------ September 3, 2010 Boeing has reiterated that it expects North American airlines
to take delivery of about 7,200 new planes over the next 20 years
at a value of about USD$700 billion. Details: http://news.airwise.com/story/view/1283497136.html 

Who gets the credit, really?

Those of you fortunate enough to receive news releases from the Port of Seattle will want to take a look at today's story about the Airport winning an award for its environmental program, oh boy!

It would be interesting to have an accurate accounting from the Port, detailing how many tens of  millions the Port spent fighting against the environmental requirements that it now boasts about.  Legal fees, consultants' fees, staff time ... all paid for with public money, too.   The story is far too long to tell in a blog posting.  But for sheer stubbornness in defying environmental law, THAT'S the award the Port should have received.

Will Port spend own money for noise relief?

Does the Port of Seattle have $73 million in Airport money that could be used for noise relief?

When dealing with the Port of Seattle about Airport-related noise, the Port's consistent message has been that it will not, cannot, or is not allowed to spend its own money.  We recall former Commissioner Paige Miller insisting (for years) that no Port money could be used to help with the noise in the buildings of the Highline School District.  FAA money or nothing.  In the end, the Port agreed to provide $50 million for school insulation & rebuilding from tax revenues.

There is, of course, no general legal barrier to the Port District spending its own money (tax revenue, net profits from its various lines of business) for such things as property buy-outs, insulation of noise-affected homes & schools, investment in real estate, buying abandoned railway right-of-way, helping to fund a new South Park bridge, &c.  There are some restrictions on use of money from direct operation of the Airport.  But it is our understanding that what are called "non-aero" profits are free of FAA-imposed constraints (as are general revenue from property taxes).

So the "Miller Doctrine" (FAA money or nothing) was not based on legalities. Maybe it was nothing but stinginess.

A staff briefing to the Port Commission on 17 August revealed that the Airport expects to make net operating income (profits) on "non-aero" business of $73 million this year (2010).  The Port District needs to be very clear & straightforward with the community about how this money can be used.  If it is legally not available for noise relief, let's see an understandable explanation (not the "Miller Doctrine" re-stated).  Otherwise, the study team for the Part 150 noise study, & the interested public should feel free to make recommendations for noise relief actually paid for by the Port.

+ + +

The staff briefing (in 36 Powerpoint slides) can be downloaded from the Port's website.  The "non-aero NOI" is discussed on Slide 8.  Go to 

http://www.portseattle.org/about/organization/commission/meetingagenda.shtml

Then click on the agenda for 17 August, & then find agenda item 7 b & click on PowerPoint. That will give you the slideshow.

II-010-008-D

Dioxin study at Lora Lake Apartments

The Department of Ecology has just released its reply to public comments about the study of contamination at the site of the former Lora Lake Apartments in Burien.  This document (known as a "Responsiveness Summary") may be borrowed by interested parties from the Regional Commission on Airport Affairs. The summary will give readers a  lot of background on the environmental issues, & on the studies that are planned to resolve (one hopes) the complex problem of chemical contamination at the site.  

The Port of Seattle acquired the property as part of the third-runway project.  The apartments were felt to be unacceptably close to the third runway & its noise. So, the Port bought the facility & closed it.  In acquiring the land, the Port also acquired legal responsibility for pre-existing contamination, which dates back to a time before the apartments were built.  The site has been described as having the worst dioxin-contamination problem of any place in the State.   There is fear that the contamination on site may have migrated toward or into Lora Lake itself.  The lake is a source for Miller Creek.

E-mail RCAA at to arrange to borrow the report.

Job numbers revisited

Earlier today, we posted a sarcastic comment about the number of jobs (3,000) that, according to the Port of Seattle, have been created by construction of the Rental Car Facility at Sea-Tac Airport.   Readers should be aware that the Port now advises us that the 3,000 jobs are actually construction & construction-related "jobs".  

When the facility is completed, in a few months,  we have no doubt that those "jobs" will be gone.

The Port further advises that the new facility will have between 300 & 400 permanent employess -- not of the Port but of tenant companies.  For further information, visit

http://www.portseattle.org/seatac/construction/rentalcar.shtml

Noise-measurement workshop, 29 July

Landrum & Brown, lead consultants for the noise study at Sea-Tac Airport, have announced  that a "Technical Noise Workshop", featuring Vince Mestre, PE, will be held on Thursday, 29 July at the Beijing Room in the main terminal at the Airport, from 12.30 to 1.30 pm..  

After the formal session of the 9 June noise-study workshop, Mr Mestre met briefly with some of the attendees (including Normandy Park Mayor George Hadley & Burien Councilwoman Rose Clark), to discuss in more depth the noise-modelling & noise-measurement issues that are involved in the study.  This unplanned seminar (if we may call it that) was so informative that Clark & Hadley immediately suggested that Mr Mestre come back to the area for an extended discussion of these issues for the benefit of people interested in the technical details.  Although the request was for an evening meeting on a Wednesday (to accommodate city electeds & senior staff), the study team has chosen a shorter session in the middle of the work day.  

Mayor Hadley has circulated a group of questions that he would like to see addressed -- too extensive for a 'blog' post.  Contact RCAA or Mayor Hadley for a copy.

Inefficient new parking structure at Sea-Tac

According to a recent news release from the Port of Seattle about the new parking structure at Sea-Tac Airport, some 3,000 people will be required to operate it !  Rather inefficient.  Here's the lead sentence from the news release.

(Seattle - July 14, 2010) - Only one year after re-starting the project due to the bad economy, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's new Rental Car Facility celebrated it's [sic] topping off today with the help of one of the four tower cranes on-site to signal the halfway point of a project creating an estimated 3,000 jobs. 

The new garage will have about 3,200 spaces, according to the Port's news release.  So this works out to almost one employee per space.  Wow, what service !  Why don't we believe any of this?

Sea-Tac Part 150 study behind schedule

The following statement on the Sea-Tac Part 150 noise study has been submitted to the Port Commission by RCAA.

The Part 150 noise study has fallen far behind the published schedule.  Public-participation is suffering as a result.  We fear that the consultants will make major decisions outside of public view, in order to catch up. 

Let’s review:  In order to do meaningful noises reduction, you have to understand where the noise comes from.  That requires that you have good data on certain key elements --

            *  the fleet mix &

            *  flight operations, present & future

In order to predict future flight operations in detail, you need to know how the various runways will be used:  you need a runway-usage plan.  You also need aviation forecasts, estimates of future travel for the whole airport. 

From all of this information, you can prepare noise exposure maps to tell you where noise is being experienced, & you can then propose methods to reduce the noise.  And the point of this exercise is to reduce the noise.  Reduction is cheaper than mitigation.  

Aviation forecasts for the Airport were scheduled for completion in early May, but so far the consultants have released no information about that key element.  

Nothing in the way of a runway usage plan has even been discussed with the public.  It is true that in the end the actual runway usage plan will come from the FAA, but the consultants cannot wait for the FAA to make a proposal.  In a Part 150 study, proposals come from the airport operator (that’s the Commission), & the airport operator hires a consultant to make proposals.  

Noise-exposure maps as of the present are due out next month.  The public does not know what will be mapped or how.  

The schedule calls for the consultants to produce their analysis of future noise exposure in September.  This work will apparently be completed before the next opportunity for public input, which is the workshop planned for October. 

No runway-usage plan, no traffic forecasts, & no current noise data.  All these key elements are to be dealt with in the Summer and Fall, with no public involvement, to be followed by publication of maps of future noise exposure, again with no public involvement till after the decisions are made. 

If you have the key elements, you can know where the noise is.  If you develop the data for these key elements with no significant public involvement, then you do not have meaningful public participation, no matter how many workshops are held, no matter how many slides there are in your Powerpoint presentations.  And as you move to the stage of proposing noise remedies, you will NOT have consensus on the underlying data.  And you will not have much public acceptance of the final results of the study. 

 

Amazing news

Amazing news about our largest local airport!  

According to a news release just received from the Port of Seattle, "Sea-Tac generates more than 161,000 jobs (89,902 direct jobs)"

Does this mean what it seems to say?  That the Port of Seattle employs 89,902 people at the Airport?  Full-time?  No wonder that it's sometimes hard to find parking.  

What do all those Sea-Tac employees do, & where do they do it?  The FAA runs the tower.  The airlines fly the aircraft & handle all the ticketing.  The Feds are in charge of most of the security. Concessionaires staff the shops, coffee bars, &c.  Sub-subcontractors do the fueling & all of that work out by the gates.  

Perhaps the Port needs to hire a systems engineer (efficiency expert) to find ways of running the Airport with fewer personnel -- about 89,000 fewer, if we may offer a suggestion.