200 Trees at Risk: Port Plan Faces Sept. 11 Deadline

Citizen comments are due to the Port of Seattle by Thursday, September 11. Critical habitats threatened as Port plans mass tree removal.

Contact: info@defendersofhighlineforest.org

The Port of Seattle plans to cut more than 200 trees in Burien, SeaTac, and Des Moines under its Flight Corridor Safety Program, including 34 trees in designated biodiversity habitat areas. Five legacy Douglas Firs in Burien’s Mathison Park are also at risk. The Port has determined no Environmental Impact Statement is required—despite major community concerns.

Key Concerns

• Loss of over 200 mature trees in frontline neighborhoods already burdened by pollution and heat.
• No replacement plan for up to 49 SeaTac city trees unless a new tree code is passed.
• Impacts on Mathison Park and Des Moines Creek Park, both heavily used by residents.
• Only 15 younger trees will be planted for the 5 large Douglas Firs targeted in Mathison Park.

Deadlines & Actions

• Friday, Sept. 6 – Deadline to sign on to demand King County tree canopy goals for the Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP).
• Monday, Sept. 8, 5:30 PM – Burien City Council meeting, Burien City Hall, 400 SW 152nd St. Speak or submit written comment: council@burienwa.gov.
• Monday, Sept. 8 – Submit comments to King County on SCAP (Tree Canopy Goal and Work Plan).
• Tuesday, Sept. 9, Noon – Port of Seattle Commission meeting. Speak virtually, in-person, or send written comment to commission-public-records@portseattle.org.
• Tuesday, Sept. 9, 6:00 PM – SeaTac City Council meeting. Register by 2:00 PM or comment at publiccomment@seatacwa.gov.
• Thursday, Sept. 11, 4:00 PM – Final deadline to submit written comments to the Port of Seattle on tree removal plan: SEPA@portseattle.org.

How to Comment

Send public comments to:
Rybolt.S@portseattle.org or SEPA@portseattle.org (include mailing address)
Call 206-787-5527
(Steve Rybolt, Port of Seattle Aviation Environment & Sustainability Dept.)

Call to Action

If you live, work, or go to school under the flight path—or care about the health of these communities—now is the time to act. Attend meetings, speak out, and send written comments before Sept. 11 at 4:00 PM.