Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP)
Near-Term projects
environmental review
Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP)
Near-Term projects
environmental review
UPDATE AS OF FEBRUARY 2019
Thanks to all who completed agency and public comment submittals during the scoping for the SAMP Near-Term Projects, which closed on September 28, 2018. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Port of Seattle take each comment very seriously and appreciate the efforts each agency and individual took to participate.
The FAA initiated a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental Assessment (EA) and the Port of Seattle (Port) initiated a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate and disclose the potential environmental effects of the Near-Term Projects.
Comments received during scoping were reviewed and will be taken into consideration during the environmental analyses. The Port of Seattle and its consultant, in conjunction with the FAA, are currently conducting the environmental analyses.
The FAA and Port will issue two separate documents, with the FAA’s NEPA EA coming first and subsequent environmental decision; followed by the Port’s SEPA EIS. There will be an agency and public review and comment period for both documents.
As the Port and FAA go through the environmental analyses and better understand the timing of the draft environmental documents, the Port will provide updates on timing and next steps on this website.
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Background
What Is The Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP)?
The Central Puget Sound region is expected to grow by another one million people by 2035. The Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) is the blueprint for changes at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to meet future forecasted demand. On May 30 the Port launched a comprehensive, 16-week public awareness campaign to update the region on the status of the Airport’s SAMP.
The SAMP includes Near-Term Projects for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) that are planned for construction by 2027 that are the focus of this environmental review. The SAMP also includes a Long-Term Vision for Sea-Tac which includes projects that are not ripe for environmental review at this time, as they require further study and are not reasonably foreseeable. Before any of the Long-Term Vision projects are implemented, additional planning studies and the appropriate environmental review process will be conducted.
The Port is now beginning extensive study about potential environmental impacts of SAMP Near-Term Projects, in compliance with State Environmental Protection (SEPA) and the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA). These laws require public involvement. The Port and FAA invite the public to provide input on the scope of issues that will be addressed in the environmental review document, the potential environmental effects of the Near-Term Projects, and reasonable alternatives. A 60-day scoping comment period is now open to provide public and agency stakeholders the earliest possible opportunity to provide input during the environmental review process.
A complete list of the categories can be found by clicking here for SEPA and here for NEPA.
Purpose and Need
The What and the Why
Purpose and Need statements are an essential part of the environment review process. The need defines the issue to be solved. The purpose is the solution to the problem. The purpose and need will be used to guide the development of alternatives to be studied during environmental review.
PURPOSE
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) is an essential transportation resource serving as the primary air transportation facility for the region. The purpose of Near-Term Projects is to improve operational efficiency, accommodate future growth, and to provide more capacity for fuel, including sustainable aviation fuel.
NEED
Five primary needs for the Near-Term Projects have been identified:
- Insufficient passenger terminal capacity to accommodate projected passenger levels efficiently
- Insufficient facilities to accommodate projected cargo levels efficiently
- Non-compliance with Federal Aviation Administration airport design guidelines
- Excessive aircraft delays on the airfield
- Lack of fuel storage to meet projected demand and to meet Port of Seattle’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel initiative
Proposed Action
SAMP Near-Term Projects
The Proposed Action is to implement the Near Term projects identified in the SAMP, which include approximately 30 projects that will improve efficiency, safety, access to the airport, and support facilities for airlines and the airport.
Key elements of the Proposed Action include construction of a second terminal, a centralized maintenance campus, off-airport cargo handling facilities, realignment of airport roadways, and expansion of the fueling facilities.
The Proposed Action would accommodate up to approximately 477,000 annual aircraft operations and 56 million annual passengers.
Near-Term Projects will be complete or under construction by 2027.