The FAA has prepared a Record of Approval (ROA) for the Sea-Tac Part 150 Noise Study that was completed in 2000 and published in the Federal Register on December 10th 2001. The ROA , prepared by the NW Regional FAA Office, and approved by the FAA in Washington D.C., lists sixteen program elements recommended for approval by the Port of Seattle. Of the sixteen, 8 were approved, 2 were approved as voluntary, 1 was partially approved, and 5 were disapproved. The ROA, when published in the Federal Register (pending), allows 60 days for comments or filing an appeal.

The ROA appears to generally approve only those recommendations that are clearly noise mitigation within the 65 DNL contour, and offers no solution to the noise impacts outside that contour. The Part 150 Advisory Committee, which included many members from areas outside the 65 DNL contour, was under the impression that changes could be considered that would reduce the impacts to communities outside the 65 DNL contour. The ROA is therefore a major disappointment to those members and communities that participated in the process for two and a half years.

It is interesting to note that these approved and disapproved recommendations were originated by the Part 150 Advisory Committee, whose membership included FAA officials from the Regional Office.

Below is a summary of the 16 program elements and the ROA decision:

Establish a follow-up Public Committee to monitor programs implemented as a result of the Part 150 Study after completion.
APPROVED

Establish Noise Barriers/Run-up Enclosure.
Noise Barriers DISAPPROVED pending submission of additional data.
Study of Run-up Enclosure APPROVED.

Encourage voluntary phase out of Stage II jets under 75,000 lbs.
DISAPPROVED pending submission of additional data.

Tighten restrictions on Engine Maintenance Run-ups particularly at night and weekends
DISAPPROVED pending submission of additional data.

Preferential runway use during nighttime hours for FMS equipped aircraft (north flow)
APPROVED AS VOLUNTARY

Development/Implementation of Fly Quiet program
APPROVED AS VOLUNTARY

Evaluate increased use of the Duwamish/Elliott Bay Corridor with Flight Management System (FMS)
DISAPPROVED

Evaluate use of FMS procedures over non-populated areas, and to discourage FAA development of new FMS procedures over populated areas.
APPROVED

Use of integrated power and airconditioning in all gates, rather than auxiliary power units, to reduce noise/air pollution.
DISAPPROVED pending submission of additional data.

Raise altitude where aircraft intercept glide slope
DISAPPROVED

Insulation of Schools that are within the 65 DNL contour (1998)
APPROVED

Sound attenuate multi-family (greater than four units) structures within the 65 DNL contour (1998).
APPROVED

Purchase/Relocation of manufactured homes in the 70DNL contour, and financial assistance for those (if any) in the 65-70 DNL contour.
APPROVED

Purchase properties in the Approach Transition Zone experiencing more than 65 DNL
APPROVED

Prepare Cooperative Development Agreements with surrounding jurisdictions
APPROVED

Amend Community Plans and Zoning Ordinances in surrounding jurisdictions that include 65 DNL noise levels.
APPROVED