WASHINGTON SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS THIRD RUNWAY ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN

-Construction to resume this summer, completion set for 2008-

The Washington Supreme Court today ruled in favor of the Port of Seattle's environmental mitigation plan for construction of a third runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The court reviewed a number of conditions that had been placed on construction by the state Pollution Control Hearings Board.

"We are very pleased with the court's ruling," said Linda Strout, the Port's Deputy CEO and General Counsel. "This is the final state court decision on the project and clears a major hurdle to capturing the 2004 construction season."

An important part of the court's decision was ratification of an environmental test that the Port will use for selecting fill dirt to go under the runway. The court found that recent legislation authorizing the use of the test, designed by the federal government and used nationally, was valid.

The court also overturned a Hearings Board requirement that the Port mitigate for environmental impacts beyond those caused by the project, and found that the Port's plan includes sufficient wetland mitigation in the watersheds immediately adjacent to the airport.

"The decision reflects the Port's commitment to protect the environment as we build air capacity," said Port Commission President Paige Miller. "Creating jobs and strengthening economic vitality in the region is very important to us. We want to work positively with all of the communities around Sea-Tac to help bring the economic benefits of the airport to everyone."

The Port is hopeful that the ruling comes early enough to preserve the planned 2004 construction season. Being able to work this year would save about $25 million in possible delay costs on the project, and would better assure that the runway will be done in 2008 as scheduled.