Public Hearing Set for Draft Environmental Assessment of the Airport Comprehensive Development Plan

The Port of Seattle invites the public to attend an Open House and Public Hearing on Thursday, April 26, 2007 between 6:00 and 8:00 PM at SeaTac City Hall to learn more about and comment on the completeness of the Draft Environmental Assessment of the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The draft document analyzes potential environmental impacts of:

Twelve near-term projects that will be in operation or under construction by the year 2010, and

Forty-nine long-term projects that would likely will be initiated as activity reaches 45 million annual passengers.

An Open House where the public can speak with project staff to learn more about the CDP and the environmental review process will be held from 6:00-7:00 PM. A presentation by Port staff starts at 7:00 PM, followed by a formal public comment period. SeaTac City Hall is located at 4800 South 188th Street, SeaTac. Accommodations for people with disabilities or alternative languages provided upon request. Please contact Cynthia Alvarez at (206) 956-4508 or Alvarez.C@portseattle.org at least one week prior.

Comments also may be submitted in writing directly to sepa.p@portseattle.org or to:
David L. McCraney
Health, Environmental & Risk Services
Review & Permitting
Port of Seattle
PO Box 1209
Seattle, WA 98111-1209

Comments must be postmarked by May 11, 2007 and must include your name and address.

The Comprehensive Development Plan for Sea-Tac updates the terminal/landside development program proposed in the 1997 Sea-Tac Airport Master Plan Update. Since 1997, the airport has experienced profound changes as a result of new technology for ticketing, changes in passenger travel behavior, and increased security requirements. These changes in the aviation industry have been addressed in the CDP by maximizing use of existing facilities and reducing the extent and cost of construction that was proposed in the Master Plan Update.

The Port is conducting an environmental review of the CDP under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and intends to adopt the Final Environmental Assessment to meet its responsibilities to conduct environmental review under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). Comments will be addressed in the Final Environmental Assessment, which is anticipated to be completed in summer of 2007.

More information about the project including a complete copy of the Draft Environmental Assessment may be found at the Port of Seattle Environmental web page at www.portseattle.org/community/environment or by contacting Brenda Thomas as 206-728-3382 or sepa.p@portseattle.org.