Template revised April 12, 2018.

COMMISSION

AGENDA MEMORANDUM

Item No.

11a

BRIEFING ITEM

Date of Meeting

March 28, 2023

DATE: March 8, 2023

TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director

FROM: Lance Lyttle, Managing Director, Aviation Division

Marco Milanese, Senior Community Engagement Manager, External Relations

Eric Schinfeld, Senior Federal and International Government Relations Manager,

External Relations

SUBJECT: SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART) 2022 Annual Report

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In 2018, the Port of Seattle launched the SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART) in

partnership with the Highline Forum-member cities and other representational entities to

enhance cooperation between the Port and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s (SEA’s)

neighboring communities.

StART provides the Port of Seattle with a dedicated forum intended specifically for discussing and

tackling airport and aviation industry impacts on the neighboring Highline Forum-member cities.

With the Port, the FAA, the primary air carriers, and the airport’s neighboring cities all

represented around the table, StART brings together all the relevant parties with a common

purpose to share information, collaborate and achieve results.

StART’s major accomplishments are primarily the result of efforts initiated by its two working

groups: the Aviation Noise Working Group and the Federal Policy Working Group.

StART OVERVIEW

Cognizant of SEA’s growth and the ramifications of that growth on neighboring residents, the

Port of Seattle is committed to building open relationships with the community and local

jurisdictions that foster trust, accountability and collaboration. An important component of that

commitment was the creation of StART in early 2018.

The Port of Seattle developed StART to enhance cooperation between the Port and the Highline

Forum-member cities of SeaTac, Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, Tukwila and Federal

Way. This voluntary, non-governing, regional roundtable is convened by the Aviation Managing

Director and was developed in partnership with the leadership from the Highline Forum-member

cities and other representational entities.

StART provides all parties with the opportunity to:

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• Support meaningful and collaborative public dialogue and engagement on airport-related

operations, planning and development;

• Provide an opportunity for the Highline Forum-member cities to inform the airport-

related decision-making of the Port of Seattle and other jurisdictions/organizations;

• Raise public knowledge about the airport, its impacts; and

• Most significantly, focus on practical solutions to reduce the impact of the airport and

aviation operations on Highline Forum-member cities.

Each of the neighboring cities designates three members to serve on StART who are joined by

representatives from Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines, an air cargo representative (currently

vacant) and Port staff. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provides agency expertise.

Meetings, in 2022, were facilitated by Brian Scott, BDS Planning & Urban Design with assistance

from Dori Krupanics, BDS Planning & Urban Design.

StART created two working groups to empower StART’s members to work on identified priorities

between StART meetings: the Aviation Noise (AN) Working Group in late 2018 and the Federal

Policy (FP) Working Group in early 2019.

In 2022, the AN Working Group – with a mission to prioritize and explore potential near-term

actions to reduce and prevent aviation noise – continued to focus its efforts on its Aviation Near-

term Noise Action Agenda. This included reviewing and refining work associated with several of

the agenda’s initiatives and exploring new potential initiatives to include within the agenda.

In 2022, the FP Working Group – with a mission to change federal policies and regulations that

can give the FAA, the Port and the communities more tools, resources and flexibilities to address

aircraft noise and emissions concerns – has developed and continues to implement a shared Port-

Cities Federal Policy Priorities agenda. Last year, the FP Working Group prioritized advocacy

surrounding the Inflation Reduction Act, the 2023 FAA Reauthorization Act and several agency

rulemakings related to aircraft emissions standards.

AVIATION NOISE WORKING GROUP

The AN Working Group is comprised of a subset of StART members, Port staff and additional staff

from the Highline Forum-member cities and other representational entities along with a noise

consultant to provide expert advice. Its assignment is to prioritize and explore potential near-

term actions to reduce and prevent aviation noise.

Aviation Near-term Noise Action Agenda – 2022 Highlights

In 2022, the AN Working Group focused on reviewing and refining work associated with several

of the agenda’s initiatives and exploring new potential initiatives to include within the agenda.

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The highlights in 2022 include:

(1) Ground Noise Study – The study, which analyzed airfield ground noise sources

and identified potential mitigation measures, was completed in the spring. Airfield ground noise

sources identified in the study by the consultants included stop and go aircraft queuing,

traditional takeoffs, reverse thrust, auxiliary power unit (APU) use, engine maintenance run-ups

and dual engine taxiing. The AN Working Group, since the study’s completion, has been

reviewing each of the potential mitigation measures to determine feasibility and if there’s

agreement, the steps to implementation.

(2) Discouraging Reverse Thrust – Identified as a noise source in the Ground Noise

Study, reverse thrust is used by pilots to deaccelerate aircraft upon landing. In coordination with

the FAA, Alaska Airlines, Delta Airlines and the members of the AN Working Group, updated

language was developed that discourages the use of reverse thrust at SEA at all times of the day

and beyond what is necessary. The updated, voluntary SEA language was implemented in

January 2023 and will be followed by an air carrier awareness campaign in mid-2023.

(3) Encouraging Rolling Takeoffs – Identified as a noise source in the Ground Noise

Study, rolling takeoffs have less of a noise footprint than traditional takeoffs that require aircraft

to power up after coming to a complete stop. Noise monitoring conducted by Port staff over the

summer to evaluate rolling takeoffs didn’t produce usable data. However, based upon past

results at a comparable airport, implementation of voluntary SEA language identifying rolling

takeoffs as having a noise benefit was pursued. In coordination with the FAA, Alaska Airlines,

Delta Airlines and the members of the AN Working Group, new, voluntary SEA language

promoting rolling takeoffs is in development. If enacted, the language will be followed by an air

carrier awareness campaign in 2023.

Aviation Near-term Noise Action Agenda – Earlier Achievements

(1) Late Night Noise Limitation Program – Voluntary measure to reduce late night

noise by incentivizing air carriers to fly at less noise sensitive hours or transition to quieter

aircraft. Program commenced in July 2019 with regular reporting each quarter to StART, air

carriers and other external audiences.

(2) Runway Use Plan – Informal Runway Use Plan, implemented in late 2019, to

minimize use of the Third Runway during the late-night hours (12:00 AM to 5:00 AM). Late night

operations on the Third Runway have dropped dramatically since implementation of the Runway

Use Plan.

(3) Glide Slope Adjustment – Raise Runway 34R’s glideslope to lessen aircraft

approach noise. Implementation is contingent on the Sustainable Airport Master Plan’s (SAMP)

finalization and FAA approval.

(4) Monthly Noise Comment Reporting – Provide up-to-date, accessible information

on noise complaints and comments submitted by the public. Online monthly reporting began

with June 2020.

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FEDERAL POLICY WORKING GROUP

Because the Port of Seattle is extremely limited in its authority to address some of the core issues

that local residents have expressed about aviation, StART formed a FP Working Group as a way

to identify areas of consensus and collaboration between the Port and the Highline Forum-

member cities on new tools, new authorities, new resources, new approaches and new

engagement from the federal government, and to engage Members of Congress in pushing for

these shared priorities.

Over a year-long period, the Port and the airport cities successfully identified a significant number

of shared federal policy priorities for proposed inclusion in the 2023 FAA Reauthorization Act.

They are as follows:

1) Reducing the impact of overflight noise on near-airport communities by:

a. Advocating for US Representative Smith’s legislation to allow for homes located

within the airport’s current FAA-recognized noise contours that meet broader

criteria for “failed” insulation to be eligible for secondary investments –

particularly those homes where the warranty has expired, or the product

manufacturer is out-of-business and therefore unavailable to honor warranties.

b. Advocating for US Representative Smith’s Aviation Noise and Emissions Mitigation

Act, which would empower the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to

play a productive role in addressing community concerns about aircraft noise and

emissions. This legislation would support the collection of data and then fund

initiatives to mitigate aircraft noise and emissions. These new tools could make a

significant difference, particularly in terms of environmental justice.

c. Instituting a deadline for action on the FAA Neighborhood Environmental Survey

(NES). Without a clear timeline and deadline for whether and how FAA may act on

the results of the NES, airports and communities are stuck in a frustrating limbo

of uncertainty. The FP Working Group also believes that FAA could use a wider

range of input on this challenging and complicated topic.

2) Reducing aircraft emissions through:

a. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) incentives and investments including those

contained in the Inflation Reduction Act. The FP Working Group urges the 2023

FAA Reauthorization to direct the FAA to do everything possible to successfully

implement these policies in ways that move the United States toward the Biden-

Harris’ Administration’s SAF Grand Challenge goal of producing at least three

billion gallons per year of SAF by 2030. Similarly, the FP Working Group supports

additional, complementary programs, policies, and investments that the FAA can

undertake to facilitate progress – including but not limited to collaboration with

other federal agencies such as the US Departments of Energy, Agriculture and

Defense.

b. Continuing the Environmental Mitigation Pilot Program contained in Section 190

of the 2018 FAA Reauthorization. The FP Working Group supports the permanent

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authorization of this program at six million dollars per year, because of its

potential to support innovative technology solutions to reduce aircraft noise and

emissions issues.

c. Advocating for US Representative Smith’s Protecting Airport Communities from

Particle Emissions Act which would bring more federal attention and engagement

on the sources, characteristics, dispersion, and potential health effects of ultrafine

particulates from aircraft engines.

3) Addressing regional airport capacity needs by ensuring FAA support for new regional

airport capacity. In particular, the FP Working Group would like to see policy language in

the FAA Reauthorization legislation that accomplishes three goals: 1) clarifies the process

for FAA regulatory review and agency collaboration with cities and states in high air travel

demand regions looking to invest in new airport capacity; 2) dedicates funding for new

airport capacity in high demand regions; and 3) provides additional FAA guidance on

necessary steps to implement any final decisions from the Commercial Aviation

Coordinating Commission.

In 2023, expect the AN Working Group to continue to prioritize efforts that fit within its Aviation

Near-term Noise Action Agenda. For the FP Working Group, expect a continued focus on

advocating for the inclusion of shared federal priorities in the 2023 FAA Reauthorization Act –