Template revised April 12, 2018.

COMMISSION

AGENDA MEMORANDUM

Item No.

7a

BRIEFING ITEM

Date of Meeting

February 25, 2020

DATE: February 18, 2020

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This briefing is intended to inform the Commission about (1) the ongoing airport sound

insulation and other noise programs and (2) the concept of accelerating sound insulation not

currently in the 5-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) but approved through the 2014 Part

150 Study update. Acceleration would provide the community with noise reduction benefits

sooner than current funding and staffing rates allow but would require funding without a

guarantee of federal reimbursement. If the Commission decides to move forward with

acceleration, the work already planned for 2020 would continue, and staff would also start

acceleration planning including identifying staff organization and program structure and

developing cost estimates. These early tasks would require consultant assistance. In 2020 there

Planning. Part 150 describes the processes by which airports identify and reduce exposure of

communities to airport noise. The completion of a Part 150 study and FAA approval of the

Noise Compatibility Program qualify noise mitigation measures, including sound insulation, for

federal funding.

The Port Commission established Sea-Tac Airport’s Part 150 noise mitigation program in 1985

as one of the first voluntary airport noise mitigation programs in the country. The original

sound insulation program was based on an estimate of the year 2000 noise impacts and

included approximately 10,000 homes as potentially eligible.

Template revised September 22, 2016.

from approximately 1,828 homes for noise and 3

rd

of $100 million.

In 2014, the FAA approved the most recent Part 150 update, which was a culmination of several

years of land use studies and public involvement. The Part 150 evaluated the current noise

impacts on the community and concluded that the contours showing average cumulative noise

levels had decreased from previous years, based primarily on the utilization of predominantly

newer, quieter aircraft within the fleet mix. Due to the reduction in noise, the FAA required

that Sea-Tac Airport redraw its noise remedy boundary to reflect the smaller noise footprint.

eligible.

Due to current FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant funding limitations, Port staffing

resources, and airport business priorities, the airport has made progress on implementation of

the Part 150 approved mitigation measures, but many residences remain to be treated.

Remaining sound insulation and acquisition projects include:

acceleration of the remaining proposed work that is not in the Port’s 5-year CIP or the FAA’s

Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant funding plan. The estimated costs of sound insulation

under current practice range from $150 million to $259 million; the estimated costs of an

accelerated program range from $132 million to $227 million. The cost estimate ranges are

wide because the program is at the concept stage. Acceleration would provide benefits to the

Port including: reducing community noise impacts sooner at a potential lower overall cost

savings to the Port by completing projects in less time. The challenges of accelerating include:

staffing, logistic resources, and project funding. It is unlikely that the FAA could fully fund the

accelerated program based on nationwide availability of discretionary AIP noise funding. Sound

insulation and acquisition projects are typically eligible for FAA reimbursement at later dates if

Template revised September 22, 2016.

upfront at risk of not receiving FAA AIP grants.

Noise program costs are incorporated into the airfield movement area cost center and

recovered from the airlines through landing fees. Capital costs paid by AIP grants (and

Passenger Facility Charges) are excluded from the airline rate base. Under the terms of the

airline lease agreement, capital projects with rate base capital costs of $10 million or more are

subject to airline disapproval through the majority-in-interest (MII) provisions. In prior years,

the Port’s approach has been to proceed with Noise program projects to the extent AIP grants

are available. The airlines have generally been supportive of this approach. Even though

accelerating the program may result in lower total construction costs, if the Port receives less

AIP grant funding, the airline rate base costs could be higher. The Noise program projects

discussed above, will likely be subject to airline review through a MII vote.

ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING

PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS

Template revised September 22, 2016.

Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibility Study Update for

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

April 23, 2013 – The Commission authorized contracting for Sound Insulation Consulting

Services and Job Order Contracting (JOC) for Single-Family Homes.