Early this year, Port staff submitted the draft federal environmental assessment (EA) for the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) to the FAA for its review. The EA’s screening of alternatives included the proposed surface parking lot in North SeaTac Park (L06) and considered alternate ways to meet future employee parking needs. In that draft document set, Port environmental staff made the recommendation that L06 be removed from further consideration and that different alternatives be explored.
The FAA concurred with our analysis and issued a notification today that L06 is removed from further consideration.
Port staff made this recommendation based on:
- environmental concerns identified in public comments submitted during the scoping process in 2018-2019;
- staff’s determination that L06 was not the best path forward from an environmental perspective; and,
- the availability of an environmentally preferable alternative identified when preparing the draft federal EA.
L06 is one of 30 projects being studied during the environmental review for the SAMP. The remainder of the draft EA is still subject to FAA review and public comment.
Projects determined to be suitable to meet SAMP needs by the FAA will still be subject to state environmental review, FAA concurrence, public comment and Port of Seattle Commission authorization. Final approval of specific projects will not be made until all of the environmental review is complete.
We continue to work with FAA to complete the draft federal environmental assessment. Once released, we encourage the community to provide comments on the federal environmental review of all the proposed SAMP projects. The state environmental review will begin shortly after the completion of the federal assessment.
About the Port of Seattle
Founded in 1911 by a vote of the people as a special purpose government, the Port of Seattle’s mission is to promote economic opportunities and quality of life in the region by advancing trade, travel, commerce, and job creation in an equitable, accountable, and environmentally responsible manner.
The Port owns and operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Fishermen’s Terminal — home of the North Pacific fishing fleet — and public marinas. The Port also owns two cruise ship terminals, a grain terminal, real estate assets, and marine cargo terminals through its partnership in the Northwest Seaport Alliance.
Port operations help support nearly 200,000 jobs and $7 billion in wages throughout the region. Over the next 16 years, the Port’s Century Agenda seeks to create an additional 100,000 jobs through economic growth while becoming the nation’s leading green and energy-efficient port.
