Residents in Burien, Des Moines and SeaTac who live under the Sea-Tac flight path will get their say next Tuesday, when the three cities host the Port of Seattle for a joint community session on its Sustainable Airport Master Plan. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at Burien City Hall and lands in the middle of the Port's formal review window, which is open through next Wednesday, as local leaders press their concerns about noise, air quality and traffic impacts.
The Port of Seattle released the SEPA draft environmental review for SAMP on May 22 and opened a 60-day public comment period, according to the Port of Seattle. The agency set up a series of in-person open houses across South King County and said printed copies of the draft are available at local libraries and at the SEA Conference Center. The Port also detailed how residents can submit written comments online, by mail or in person at public meetings.
City officials in the three Highline communities say that schedule is too tight. Burien, Des Moines and SeaTac formally asked the Port on May 18 to extend the review period to 90 days, a request the Port turned down on May 21, the City of Burien says. The cities argue they need more time to coordinate technical reviews, consult with legal counsel and gather community input before any decisions are made that could affect air quality, land use and neighborhood quality of life.
What The Meeting Will Cover
The joint session hosted by Burien and Des Moines will walk residents through the near-term projects proposed in the SAMP, outline key environmental findings and offer time for questions and feedback, the City of Des Moines says. The event is part of a broader interlocal coordination effort among Highline communities that have been working together on shared concerns about airport impacts.
How To Weigh In
Residents who cannot make the Burien meeting still have options to comment. The SAMP public comment portal and document center are available at the project website, SAMP website, and officials say written comments are being accepted through next Wednesday. The Port has also noted that language translation assistance and childcare will be available at in-person sessions, according to the Port of Seattle. Residents can also deliver oral testimony at public meetings or send a written letter to the Port's aviation environment team.
Legal Background
The three cities have already taken their concerns into federal court. They filed a joint petition challenging an earlier FAA decision and are working under an interlocal agreement to coordinate their review and legal strategy, the City of Burien says. That petition was filed in late November, and the cities have retained counsel to argue that previous environmental findings did not fully address local impacts.
Given the compressed timeline and the possibility of near-term construction at SEA, city officials are expecting a solid turnout from residents and local leaders. Input from the joint session at Burien City Hall, along with comments submitted through the project website, will help shape the SEPA record that decision-makers rely on to determine which projects advance and how their impacts are mitigated. City communications pages list contacts for anyone seeking more information or accommodations.
