SeaTac Airport Noise Study: Kickoff Meetings are June 5, 6 and 8, 2024

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June 5, 2024

"Part 150" process will consider how to mitigate SeaTac Airport noise and its impact on the surrounding community. Public is welcome to attend informational meetings on June 5, 6, 8.

By Stuart Jenner.We recently received an email from the Port of Seattle about the Part 150 process. There are three meetings, all identical, set for the kickoff process. Wednesday June 5 and Thursday June 6 are evening meetings.Saturday June 8 is in the morning.Locations are listed below, and locations and more info, including food and childcare being available, are on the Port’s Part 150 page. Also a presentation given to local officials in Dec 2023 at StART has some helpful info. [caption id="attachment_18466" align="aligncenter" width="514"]

Port of Seattle. Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibility Study[/caption]If you are interested in bringing ideas to the Port of Seattle and FAA about noise, land use and ways of reducing noise impact on the community surrounding the airport, the Part 150 process is a formal opportunity for dialogue and hopefully improvement. That said, don’t get your hopes up that the Port and FAA will do anything radical. As noted on the Part 150 page:The study identifies and evaluates two components, (1) aircraft noise levels and (2) land uses, during two distinct phases of this study:

Noise Exposure Maps (NEM) phase – contour maps are produced showing existing and future aircraft sound levels using the FAA-required 65 DNL noise metric.
Noise Compatibility Program (NCP) phase – measures are recommended that are designed to reduce noise and incompatible land uses within the noise exposure area. These may include noise abatement measures, noise mitigation measures such as sound insulation programs, and/or preventative measures.

The noise contour maps are unfortunately based on averages, not peaks. DNL is a statistical measurement, not a measurement of how many times per day there’s a noise event loud enough to impact your sleep, studies or life. One story from a prior Part 150 noise measurement effort points to the importance of citizen involvement in all steps. The previous consulting company set up noise monitors on Vashon Island. Since noise problems are regional, setting up a monitor on Vashon was a wise idea. However, the consultants, based in Ohio, did not realize that putting a noise monitor next to a roof made of corrugated metal was a foolish idea in the rainy season. Unfortunately a strong early rain resulted in significant background noise, ruining the measurements. There is plenty of blame to go around: one question for the kickoff meetings is “how can citizens give feedback so that the study leads to the most accurate measurements?”The noise abatement measures may have more potential to be directly helpful to area residents, especially with the recent bill passed in the state legislature. Des Moines City Councilmember JC Harris has been very involved with the noise issues over the years. He has commented on the complex interactions of noise studies, noise relief efforts, state funding and other programs. The Part 150 process provides a way to bring issues and possible solutions forward. A site JC runs links to key info from the last Part 150, which concluded in 2013.The process itself will go on for at least a year, likely longer. Hopefully the consulting firm this time will be open to ideas and suggestions, including considerations of when and where to place measurement equipment.