Editorial Submitted by No Added Harm, regarding the proposed SeaTac Airport Expansion.
Alarmed by the proposed SeaTac Airport expansion, five organizations have united to form the SeaTac Airport Community Coalition for Justice (STACC4J). This coalition advocates for No Added Harm from the SeaTac Airport (SA) Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), which proposes to accommodate 87,000 additional flights annually—a 21% increase over the current 420,000 flights per year.
With a vision of “Healthy airport communities and healthy workers,” we view the environmental, health, and climate harms caused by the airport as pressing racial equity and social justice issues.
SeaTac Airport’s operations impact over 419,760 residents living nearby (Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Normandy Park, Renton, SeaTac, and Tukwila) or under its flight paths (Beacon Hill, Duwamish Valley, Georgetown, and Chinatown-International District).
The impacted residents are predominantly people of color (64%) and include a significant number of immigrants and refugees (29%). These communities are particularly vulnerable to environmental and health harms, as starkly demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Environmental harms: Aircraft takeoffs and landings emit toxic air pollutants that include ultrafine particles (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur oxides (SOx), ozone (O3), and other hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These pollutants directly harm the environment and public health, with no planned mitigation measures for aviation-related air pollution.
Health harms: According to King County Public Health’s “2020 Community Health and Airport Operations Related Noise and Air Pollution Report to the WA Legislature,” air pollution and noise from SeaTac are linked to asthma, cancer, and central nervous system damage. Exposure to ultrafine particles is also associated with low birth weight and can impair lung function and cognitive development in children.
Noise pollution from frequent flights exceeds 65 decibels, far above the World Health Organization’s guidelines of 55 decibels during the day and 45 at night. Despite this, only about 9,400 nearby homes have received noise mitigation measures, while many directly under flight paths remain ineligible. Prolonged noise exposure is linked to heart problems, chronic stress, loss of sleep, and poor academic performance.
Shortened lifespans: Life expectancy decreases by 5 years for those living within 1 mile of SeaTac Airport, by 3.5 years within 5 miles, and by 1.7 years within 10 miles. Residents of the Duwamish Valley and Beacon Hill face even greater health burdens, with the 2013 Cumulative Health Impact Assessment (CHIA) reporting an 8-year reduction in life expectancy. Adding 21% more flights will likely exacerbate these risks, further compromising community health.
Despite these well-documented harms, the Port of Seattle’s environmental assessment for the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) asserts there are “no significant impacts” and does not address the cumulative effects of increased flight volumes. In response, the SeaTac Airport Community Coalition for Justice (STACC4J) requested an extension of the original 45-day public comment period but received only a one-week extension, moving the deadline to December 13, 2024. Additionally, only four public briefings were scheduled, with inadequate language accessibility.
STACC4J calls on SeaTac Airport to:
- Conduct a cumulative environmental, health, and climate impact analysis (EIS).
- Perform a racial and economic impact analysis in accordance with Presidential Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice.
- Provide a contextual analysis linking SAMP’s short-term projects to its long-term plans.
The coalition’s vision of No Added Harm seeks to prioritize healthy people, a thriving planet, an equitable economy, and a sustainable future.
Signed by,
Maria Batayola, Chair, Beacon Hill Council
Estela Ortega, Executive Director, El Centro De La Raza
Velma Veloria, Chair, King County International Airport Community Coalition, Former WA State Representative
Dr. Laura Gibbon, 350 Seattle Aviation Team Volunteer
STACC4J includes Beacon Hill Council, El Centro De La Raza, King County International Airport Community Coalition, Quiet Skies Puget Sound, and 350 Seattle Aviation Team.
For more information, visit NoAddedHarm.org.
This is a sponsored post by NoAddedHarm.org
