Template revised September 22, 2016.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
7a
BRIEFING ITEM
Date of Meeting
May 8, 2018
DATE: May 1, 2018
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Jeffrey Brown, Director of Aviation Facilities and Capital Programs
Arlyn Purcell, Director Aviation Environment and Sustainability
SUBJECT: Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Planning and Environmental Update
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This briefing provides an update on the status of Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP)
planning and the start of the environmental review of the SAMP.
The Port initiated the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) in 2013 and the planning work is
substantially complete, with agency and public scoping for environmental review anticipated to
begin in Q2 of 2018. A public open house is planned for May 30, 2018 to engage the public on
the final results of SAMP planning prior to initiating agency and public scoping for
environmental review.
On February 27, 2018, Commission authorized additional funds for staff to complete the SAMP
planning documentation and provide planning support to environmental review of the Near-
Term projects for the duration of that process. Port staff has since worked with the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) to gain consensus on a package of Near-Term projects and
direction to begin the federal environmental review process (i.e., National Environmental Policy
Act or NEPA). The Port of Seattle will also concurrently begin its environmental review process
(i.e., State Environmental Policy Act or SEPA) with the intention of conducting it jointly with the
NEPA process.
Prior SAMP planning updates to Commission have focused solely on major improvements on or
adjacent to the existing airfield. Included in this briefing are all of the Near-Term projects,
including six proposed projects on Port property north of the airfield. These projects include:
cargo warehousing, a ground transportation holding lot, additional employee parking (surface
lot and parking garage) and a Centralized Receiving and Distribution Center for concessions.
The environmental review will be led by Landrum & Brown, a consultancy firm specializing in
aviation environmental review processes. Landrum & Brown will be supported by a variety of
local experts to assist in the environmental review process. The Port of Seattle is currently
coordinating with the FAA in preparation for agency and public environmental scoping of the
Near-Term projects identified in the SAMP.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 7a Page 2 of 3
Meeting Date: May 8, 2018
Template revised September 22, 2016.
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND
The primary purpose of the SAMP is to identify facility improvements required to satisfy
demand over the 20-year planning horizon and to balance capacity in all key functional areas to
the fixed capacity of the airfield. To that end, the SAMP started with a 20-year, market demand
of cargo and passenger activity which was used to determine peak hour facility requirements
based on demand derived from the movement of aircraft, passengers, bags, vehicles and
freight. Alternatives for facilities development to satisfy demand were then developed and
assessed, resulting in a phased capital program to deliver needed capacity through the 20-year
planning horizon.
For planning purposes, the SAMP assumes the airport’s current three-runway system and close-
in airspace configuration will remain in place. With the airport’s small footprint and significant
physical constraints, redevelopment at Sea-Tac requires expensive relocation of existing
facilities and limited options for expansion.
Work to evaluate alternatives for project phasing and to assess airside capacity has included
extensive airside modeling in consultation with FAA specialists and has determined that existing
constraints require a two-step approach to advance the SAMP.
The first step was to identify a package of near-term projects to be assessed through
environmental review. Airside modeling of these Near-Term projects (including 19 gates
connected to a second terminal, north of the existing terminal complex) has confirmed that
they will deliver needed capacity through 2027 and balance capacity in all key functional areas
to the fixed capacity of the airfield and existing airspace. Staff has also concluded that with
sound financial planning, the package of near-term projects is affordable.
The second step is to better understand the constraints for airside facilities at Sea-Tac, which
include runway and taxiway utilization, gate availability, airspace management as conducted by
FAA, and affordability. The Port will work with the FAA to conduct an airfield/airspace study
which will determine the long-term capacity of the airfield and inform or reaffirm the SAMP
long-term vision.
Following the completion of the SAMP Planning Phase 1 process and the identification of the
Near-Term projects, the FAA and the Port of Seattle are required to evaluate the potential
impacts of the identified projects under NEPA and SEPA. The environmental review process is
expected to take 12 – 18 months. The environmental review process will include coordination
with the FAA, agency and public environmental scoping, a robust environmental evaluation
identifying potential environmental impacts, an agency and public comment process associated
with the findings of the environmental evaluation, and an approval of the environmental
document by the FAA and the Port of Seattle.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 7a Page 3 of 3
Meeting Date: May 8, 2018
Template revised September 22, 2016.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING
(1) Presentation slides
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
• February 27, 2018 – Commission Action: “Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP)
Request for Additional Funds”
• February 13, 2018 - Commission Briefing: "Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP)
Planning Update"
• August 23, 2016 - Commission Briefing: "Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP)
Planning Update"
• July 12, 2016 - Commission Briefing: "Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Planning
Update"
• April 12, 2016 - Commission Briefing: "Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Planning
Update"
• January 26, 2016 - Commission Briefing: "Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP)
Planning Update"
• September 8, 2015 - Commission Briefing: "Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP)
Planning Update"
• April 28, 2015 - Commission Briefing: "Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Planning
Update"
• March 24, 2015 - Commission Briefing: "Briefing on Sea-Tac Cargo as part of the
Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP)"
• January 27, 2015 - Commission Briefing: "Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP)
Planning Update"
• October 7, 2014 - Commission Briefing: "Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP)
Forecast and Facilities Challenges"
• March 11, 2014 - Commission authorization to amend the existing Sustainable Airport
Master Plan (SAMP) service agreement with Leigh Fisher Associates for IAF-related
planning tasks for an increase of $3,650,000 and a new total contract amount of
$9,650,000
• September 5, 2012 - Commission authorization for SAMP development and to advertise
and execute a contract for consulting services for the SAMP, with a total estimated
value of $6 million
• August 14, 2012 - Commission deferred consideration of a request to approve funding
for the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP)
• June 27, 2012 - Commission Briefing: "Terminal Development Challenges"
