Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
10a
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
July 26, 2022
DATE: July 15, 2022
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Laurel Dunphy, Director, Airport Operations
Eileen Francisco, Director, Aviation Project Management
Clare Gallagher, Director, Capital Project Delivery/External Relations
SUBJECT: Flight Corridor Safety Program 2024
Amount of this request:
$500,000
Total estimated project cost:
$9,700,000
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to (1) advertise and execute a
Flight Corridor Safety Program 2024 professional Service Agreement for technical expertise and
support; (2) complete aerial obstruction data collection, field verification, and obstruction data
analysis to identify obstructions at and around Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Airport)
for program scope refinement; (3) conduct environmental review, and (4) execute agreements
with public agencies as needed for purposes of obstruction management. The estimated cost of
this program planning, data collection work and environmental review is $500,000.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Flight Corridor Safety Program 2024 is intended to identify and, remove existing and anticipated
obstructions consisting of trees around the Airport; replant trees of compatible species, in
appropriate locations; acquire property rights as needed to perform obstruction management
and prevent establishment of future obstructions. This program is on-going, necessary to
ensure the airport’s compliance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations, state laws
regarding prevention of hazards to navigable airspace, and the airport’s operating certificate
requiring airport operators to protect safe flight operations into and out of the airport.
Successful program completion requires a high level of technical expertise and support in the
following areas: aerial obstruction data collection, flight surfaces analysis and data analysis,
field verification, real estate/properties appraisal and identification, permitting, design and
specifications, and forestry sciences.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. _10a___ Page 2 of 6
Meeting Date: July 26, 2022
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Aerial obstruction data collection will be conducted in 2023. Data analysis and field verification
will follow. The environmental review process (e.g. State Environmental Policy Act [SEPA]) will
begin once the obstructions are identified. Program staff plans to return to Commission in 2024
to share the data collection and request authorization for the development of environmental,
design and contract documents; advertisement and execution of construction contracts;
payment to public agencies for them to perform replanting for certain obstructions removed
from their properties; and acquisition of those property rights reasonably necessary for
obstruction management and preventing future creation or establishment of airport hazards.
JUSTIFICATION
There are several federal and state regulations and requirements that provide justification for
obstruction removal. These regulations and requirements include the following:
1. Federal Requirements for Airport Operators to Control Obstructions
a. Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 77, “Safe, Efficient Use, and Preservation of
the Navigable Airspace”
b. FAR Part 139, “Certification of Airports”
c. Advisory Circular (AC) AC 150/5300.13B, “Object Clearing”.
d. Grant Assurance 20, “Hazard Removal and Mitigation”
e. Grant Assurance 21, “Compatible Land Use”
2. State Requirements for Airport Operators to Control Obstructions
a. RCW 14.12.020, “Airport hazards contrary to public interest”
b. RCW 14.08.030, “Acquisition of property and easements—Eminent domain—
Encroachments prohibited”
Diversity in Contracting
Program staff will coordinate with the Diversity in Contracting Department to identify
appropriate women- and minority-owned business enterprise (WMBE) aspirational goals during
procurement development for the program specific professional service.
BACKGROUND
Flight Corridor Safety Program is a continuous program that, approximately every five years,
evaluates and mitigates obstructions in the vicinity of the airport. This program commenced in
2014 with a Port-commissioned aerial obstruction analysis to compare tree heights to surfaces
commonly used by the FAA to determine obstructions to navigation. The Port completed a
follow-up aerial obstruction analysis in 2018 to update the number of obstructions. In response
to community feedback, Commission guidance and in consultation with the FAA, the Port used
revised criteria in 2018 to identify obstructions that had the most direct impacts to safe and
efficient aircraft operations. Once all obstructions were verified by site visits, the removal and
replanting work began in 2020. All removal work was completed in Quarter 1, 2022. Replanting
work is ongoing.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. _10a___ Page 3 of 6
Meeting Date: July 26, 2022
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
In total, 978 trees were removed. The majority were on Port property (789) with the remaining
on Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) right-of-way (102), other public
properties (47) and private properties (40).
On Port property, the Port revegetated all sites where trees were removed with native shrubs
and trees at a four to one ratio. For other public properties, the Port contributed to each
entity’s tree replanting fund at the ratio specified by the entity. For private properties, the Port
offered to replant onsite or replant on Port property up to a four to one ratio. Approximately
12,148 trees have been or will be planted to compensate for the 978 trees that were removed.
The Port coordinated directly with all public and private property owners on scopes of work
specific to their properties and on permanent easements on the properties where there is
potential that additional trees may require removal in the future. The value of each easement
or property interest was site specific, as determined by an appraiser in accordance with
applicable standards for determining fair market value.
Environmental best management practices are an integral part of the Flight Safety Corridor
Program’s overall design and included avoiding tree removal work during the bird nesting
period, leaving vegetation barriers near building and streets, planting low-growing native
varietals that won’t become future obstructions, removing and controlling invasive species
onsite and, specific to Port property, planting a tall-growing native forest on off-site Port
property to compensate for the mature native trees that were removed.
The Port developed and implemented a comprehensive outreach and communication plan. The
plan includes targeted communication and collaboration with the cities of SeaTac, Burien, and
Des Moines; Highline Public Schools; WSDOT; and individual outreach to affected property
owners. The outreach efforts also included coordination meetings with public agencies,
community input sessions, information in the Port’s community newsletter, door to door
neighborhood canvassing, a project-specific online open house and regular email
communications to relevant port listservs.
The Flight Corridor Safety Program is an on-going program. Staff expects to conduct obstruction
surveys approximately every five years to ensure flight safety and to meet federal and state
regulations and requirements. The next obstruction survey will take place in 2023. The
structure and design of the work that began in 2014 will serve as the basis for the program
going forward.
Scope of Work
Scope of work for this authorization includes:
(1) advertisement and execution of a program specific professional Service Agreement for
technical expertise and support;
(2) aerial obstruction data collection, field verification, and obstruction data analysis to identify
obstructions;
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. _10a___ Page 4 of 6
Meeting Date: July 26, 2022
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
(3) environmental review;
(4) execute agreements with public agencies as needed for purposes of obstruction
management.
Following the above planning scope, Program staff plans to return to Commission to request
authorization for the design and contract documents in 2024. The full Flight Corridor Safety
Program 2024 scope of work includes removing trees identified as obstructions on Port, other
public agency, and private properties, and replanting trees in appropriate locations. This scope
also includes payment to public agencies for them to perform replanting for certain
obstructions removed from their properties, executing agreements with private property
owners as needed to perform obstruction management and obtaining easements or similar
property interests as the permanent approach for obstruction management.
Schedule
Activity
2022 Quarter 3
2023 Quarter 3
2024 Quarter 3
2024 Quarter 3
2024 Quarter 4
2025 Quarter 4 to 2026 Quarter 4
Cost Breakdown
This Request
Total Project
Planning
$500,000
$600,000
Design
0
$2,620,000
Construction
0
6,480,000
Total
$500,000
$9,700,000
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
Alternative 1 – Do not authorize funds for program planning, data collection work and
environmental review.
Cost Implications: $0
Pros:
(1) No expenditure required
Cons:
(1) FAA could consider the Airport to be non-compliant with Federal rules and
regulations.
(2) Does not follow the state laws regarding prevention of airport hazards.
(3) Does not meet the Airport’s operating certificate requirements for airport operators
to protect safe flight operations into and out of the airport.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. _10a___ Page 5 of 6
Meeting Date: July 26, 2022
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
(4) Does not meet the Airport’s strategic goals and objectives, such as improving the
operational efficiency and customer experience at SEA.
This is not the recommended alternative.
Alternative 2 – Authorization to complete program planning, data collection work and conduct
environmental review.
Cost Implications: $500,000
Pros:
(1) Complies with FAA and State regulations to manage identified obstructions in a timely
manner.
(2) Meet the Airport’s operating certificate requirements for airport operators to protect
safe flight operations into and out of the airport.
(3) Meets the Airport’s strategic goals and objectives, such as improving the operational
efficiency and customer experience at SEA.
(4) Provides time for public engagement and outreach with the local communities.
(5) Provides a manageable program to meet the FAA and state regulations to remove
identified obstructions. The FAA concurs with this approach.
Cons:
(1) Expenditure in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
This is the recommended alternative.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Cost Estimate/Authorization Summary
Total
COST ESTIMATE
Original estimate
$9,700,000
AUTHORIZATION
Previous authorizations
100,000
Current request for authorization
500,000
Total authorizations, including this request
600,000
Remaining amount to be authorized
$9,100,000
Annual Budget Status and Source of Funds
The expenditures will be included in the division’s annual operating budget. The cost for
removal and replanting on Port property is an operating expense and the expenditures on non-
Port property is categorized as non-operating Public Expense. The 2022 operating budget
includes $60,000. The funding source will be Airport Development Fund (ADF).
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. _10a___ Page 6 of 6
Meeting Date: July 26, 2022
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Financial Analysis and Summary
Project cost for analysis
$9,700,000
Business Unit (BU)
Airfield Movement Area
Effect on business performance
(NOI after depreciation)
NOI after depreciation will increase due to inclusion of
capital (and operating) costs in airline rate base
IRR/NPV (if relevant)
N/A
CPE Impact
$.01 in 2022-2023, $.05 in 2024, $.17 in 2025, $.10 in
2026
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
(1) Presentation slides
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
April 29, 2022 – The Commission Aviation Committee was briefed on the Flight Corridor
Safety Program Overview; 2019 program accomplishments and status; and upcoming
request for Commission authorization for 2024 program in June 2022.