Port to Appeal Pollution Board Conditions on Runway Permit

The Port of Seattle today filed an appeal of last month's ruling by the Washington State Pollution Control Hearings Board granting the Port a state water quality certification for airport construction but imposing a number of conditions on the certification. The certification covers all master plan construction projects at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, but most directly affects the airport's planned third runway.

The appeal, filed in King County Superior Court, contends that in eight of the 16 conditions the board exceeded its authority or made rulings not supported by evidence presented during the Board's review process. The appeal also contends that the board improperly limited which evidence it would hear during the review process.

There is as yet no timetable for when this matter might be heard in Superior Court. It is not yet known how the appeal process will affect the runway construction schedule.

Sea-Tac's third runway is a vital transportation infrastructure project and remains critical to the economic health of the region. The Port of Seattle remains committed to building the third runway and all airport construction projects to the highest environmental standards in the state of Washington.