The Policy Working Group is tasked with advocating for policies that create new aircraft noise and
emissions reduction and mitigation tools, authorities, resources and approaches at the federal and state
levels. The working group, comprised of a subset of StART members, Port staff, and additional staff from
the
Highline
Forum-member
cities
and
other
representational
entities,
typically
meets
every
other
month
and
focuses on two major efforts: 1) tracking and advancing their shared policy priorities through the 2024
FAA Reauthorization Act, and 2) developing and advocating for a shared State Legislative policy agenda.
Federal
Policy
Priorities
Through unprecedented coordination and joint advocacy, the Port and the six airport-area cities celebrated
the inclusion of four of their seven shared federal policy priorities in the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act,
which was signed into law in May 2024. Those policies were as follows:
1.
Implementation of a Deadline for Action and a Stakeholder Advisory Group for the FAA’s Noise Policy
Review
2.
Renewal
of
the
FAA’s
Environmental
Mitigation
Grant
Program
3.
Requirement
of
a
Federal
Study
of
Ultrafine
Particle
Emissions
from
Aircraft
Engines
4.
Requirement
of
a
FAA
report
on
policies
and
funding
related
to
the
development
of
new
regional
airport capacity
The Policy Working Group continues to track the implementation of these new policies and looks for other
ways to advance StART’s remaining federal priorities.
State
Legislative
Agenda
The Policy Working Group also successfully crafted the first-ever Port and airport-area cities’ shared state
policy agenda and has been advocating for the passage of these priorities during the 2025 State
Legislative Session. Those policies are as follows:
1.
Effectively
implement
the
Noise
Insulation
Repair
and
Replacement
Program
2.
Make
tangible
progress
toward
identifying
locations
for
additional
regional
airport
capacity
in
the
next three years
3.
Sustain
existing
State
programs
to
enhance
air
quality
4.
Maintain and expand Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production and use in Washington
5.
Decarbonize
ground
transportation,
reduce
transportation
emissions,
and
promote
electrification
2024/25 Annual Report
Item No. 11b_Attachment_3
Meeting Date: May 27, 2025
