Environmental mitigation at its best and worst To build the Third Runway, the Port of Seattle proposed to fill all or parts of some 12 separate wetlands across the Miller Creek, Walker Creek, and Des Moines Creek watersheds–every one of them a class AA water, the highest protection provided by the state. FAA grants are
You can’t follow the game without a program Financing the Third Runway was unlike any other airport expansion–including the SAMP. In order to obtain federal funding, the Port was required to obtain an elaborate set of approvals from a regional agency most people are unfamiliar with–the Puget Sound Regional Council. In the broadest possible strokes,
2026-07-09
Where Did the Term “Highline Communities” Come From? Today, the phrase “Highline Communities” is frequently used to describe the cities and neighborhoods surrounding Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The term appears in airport planning documents, environmental reports, and regional government discussions. But where did it come from? It turns out the name predates Sea-Tac Airport by decades.
2026-04-22
Airport advocacy’s roots in environmentalism When Earth Day began in 1970 the problems of environmental damage were obvious to everyone. There was almost complete bipartisan support for major legislation to improve the quality of life for everyone in America — including airports. Even President Nixon was on board, signing into law every piece of environmental
2026-03-09
March 10, 2026 Written in 2021; updated March 2026 To celebrate Women’s History Month, the Port is highlighting some of the women who have made (and are still making!) history at the Port of Seattle. With these “herstories” the Port is celebrating just a few of those women who made essential contributions to the Port
Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, SeaTac environmental response Although the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) was announced in 2012, it only moved towards public environmental review in 2017. We covered where we’re at now in the SAMP Public Comment Explainer To help them navigate the process, in 2018 four cities (Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park,