PORT OF SEATTLE
MEMORANDUM
COMMISSION AGENDA
Item No.
6a
Date of Meeting
July 28, 2009
DATE: May 28, 2009
TO: Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer
FROM: Elizabeth Leavitt, Manager, Aviation Environmental Department
Robert F. Riley, Director, Aviation Capital Improvement Program
SUBJECT: Miller Creek Relocation Revisions and 160th Street Culvert Removal, Third
Runway Environmental Mitigation at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
ACTION REQUESTED
Request authorization for the Chief Executive Officer to prepare the design for the Miller Creek
Relocation Revisions and 160th Street Culvert Removal, Third Runway Environmental
Mitigation at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport including procuring and executing service
agreements with consultants to perform design and construction support services and prepare
contract documents.
SYNOPSIS
This memorandum requests authorization for design and associated Port staff costs for the Miller
Creek Relocation Revisions and 160th Street Culvert Removal project which is part of the
overall environmental mitigation for the Third Runway. This project is required by regulatory
agencies and will provide compensation for mitigation functions not provided by the original
Miller Creek Relocation project that was completed in September 2004. The Commission
previously authorized the budget for these projects. This authorization request will not increase
the budget for the Third Runway project and will not increase the airport’s forecasted cost per
enplanement.
BACKGROUND
Major construction of the Miller Creek Relocation project was completed in September 2004.
During the September 2004 to August 2006 period, landscaping and other minor construction
were completed. In December 2006, an “as-built” report was submitted to the US Army Corps
of Engineers (Corps), Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) and Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife (Fish and Wildlife). Agency “as-built” mitigation approval is a
requirement of the §404 and §401 environmental permits for the Third Runway.
COMMISSION AGENDA
T. Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer
May 28, 2009
Page 2 of 5
The Miller Creek Relocation was to be designed in a manner that maintained stream velocities
throughout the year such that the creek would provide cutthroat trout spawning habitat. Upon
completion of the project, it was determined that actual elevation grades were not sufficient to
maintain the desired minimum velocity.
Although the spawning habitat function was not provided, Port studies have shown that the new
channel does provide winter rearing habitat for cutthroat trout and coho. The agencies
recognized the importance of winter rearing habitat in the Miller Creek system, but required
compensatory measures be provided to make up for low velocities and associated lack of
spawning habitat. After extensive discussions with Port staff, the agencies agreed that removal
of a box culvert under 160
th
Street would compensate for the spawning habitat function not
provided by the relocated channel. The 160
th
Street box culvert is located on Airport property
approximately 2,000 feet downstream of the relocated channel and currently limits fish
migration.
In addition to the 160
th
Street box culvert, the agencies have required the Port to modify the
relocated channel by the addition of gravel on the sides of the creek to improve stream flow
characteristics and water quality.
The Commission fully authorized the Third Runway project which included the scopes of work
for the Miller Creek relocation and environmental mitigation requirements of the §404 and §401
environmental permits for the Third Runway. The Third Runway was opened on November 20,
2008.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION/SCOPE OF WORK
Project Statement:
Remove the 160
th
Street Box Culvert as compensation for the inability of the Miller Creek
Relocation Channel to meet a minimum velocity requirement and add gravel to the relocated
channel to improve stream flow characteristics and water quality.
Project Objectives:
Complete compensatory mitigation associated with the Miller Creek Relocation project to fulfill
permit obligations for the Third Runway.
Scope of Work:
Remove the concrete box culvert and the 160
th
Street bridge
Restore the Miller Creek channel in the culvert/bridge removal area
Enhance the relocated section of Miller Creek with additional gravel and woody
vegetation
COMMISSION AGENDA
T. Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer
May 28, 2009
Page 3 of 5
Remove riprap from the Miller Creek channel
Relocate the existing 160
th
Street Air Operations Area (AOA) gate to 157
th
Street and
provide for emergency vehicle access into the AOA.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
This request supports the Port’s Strategic Objective to Exhibit Environmental Stewardship by
meeting required environmental mitigation obligations.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Budget/Authorization Summary
Original Budget
$587,362,000
Budget additions
Total Budget
Returned Savings
$541,594,000
1,128,956,000
-$115,000,000
Revised Budget
$1,013,956,000
Previous authorizations
$1,128,956,000
Current request for authorization
$0
Total authorizations, including this request
$1,128,956,000
Remaining budget to be authorized
$0
PROJECT COST BREAKDOWN
$1,112,000
$106,000
$150,000
$184,000
$1,552,000
COMMISSION AGENDA
T. Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer
May 28, 2009
Page 4 of 5
SOURCE OF FUNDS
This project is included in the 2009-13 capital budget and plan of finance within the Third
Runway program. The funding source will be existing bond proceeds. These estimated costs
will not cause the total projected costs to exceed the revised budget, and will not affect cost per
enplanement (CPE) as these projects were already included in the CPE forecast.
ECONOMIC IMPACTS
The Runway project will have generated an estimated 900 jobs over the life of the construction.
The Runway indirectly supports the passenger and cargo airline industry and related businesses
in the region.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY/COMMUNITY BENEFITS
As a condition of the permits the overall project includes the restoration of 119 acres of land in
the Miller Creek and Des Moines Creek basins to pre-developed conditions and construction of
68 acres of wetland habitat in Auburn. This action allows for the completion of the mitigation
required under the permit.
TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE SUMMARY
This action advances the Runway project, which was developed in an environmentally
responsible way and overall is a vital regional transportation facility that supports economic
growth in many ways.
PROJECT SCHEDULE
Complete Design: 4
th
Quarter 2009
Start Construction: 2
nd
Quarter 2010
In-use Date: 4
th
Quarter 2010
Project Completion date: 4
th
Quarter 2010
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTION
On August 1, 1996, the Commission adopted Port Resolution No. 3212, as Amended, approving
the Master Plan Update for Airport, including development of a new dependent air carrier
runway, and authorizing initial development work for the Runway project.
On May 27, 1997, the Commission authorized $587,362,000 for completion of the Runway
project to be completed by 2004.
COMMISSION AGENDA
T. Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer
May 28, 2009
Page 5 of 5
On June 22, 1999, the Commission authorized an additional $186,000,000, increasing the total
authorization to $773,362,000. At that time, it was estimated permitting would be finalized by
December 1999 and the Runway project would be complete by fall 2006.
On June 24, 2003, the Commission was briefed on additional costs from delays, permit
conditions, market conditions, scope of project, and FAA requirements. At that time, the
Runway project was scheduled to be completed at the end of 2008.
On October 11, 2005, the Commission authorized an additional $125,000,000 increasing the total
authorization to $898,362,000.
On September 26, 2006, the Commission authorized an additional $219,594,000 increasing the
total authorization to $1,128,956,000.
On April 21, 2009, the Commission authorized advertisement and construction for the Lora Lake
Demolition, Des Moines Nursery Mitigation and Third Runway Stormwater Pond Projects.