Public comment open for flight impacts from new airport construction
Published 3:24 pm Thursday, June 11, 2026
There is a new opportunity for Federal Way community members to share their thoughts on the impacts of air traffic patterns over the city in a public comment period on proposed projects at the SEA Airport that opened on May 22 and will end July 21.
As part of their required planning steps, the Port of Seattle is currently undergoing an environmental review.
The full name of the document that is currently open for review is: “State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Near‑Term Projects (NTPs).”
In other words, this review looks at how some proposed projects at the SEA airport may impact the environment in a variety of categories that include air quality and climate, water resources, biological resources and noise, among others.
“Just as cities undertake planning to look at future needs and goals through your comprehensive plan, the port began developing the airport master plan. This work identifies future needs and proposes airport improvements to address those needs,” said Government Relations Manager for the Port of Seattle Dave Kaplan in a presentation to the Federal Way City Council on June 2.
Air-traffic travel has been increasing for many years and is expected to continue to do so, and the airport is working to make sure their infrastructure keeps up with the demand.
“Without new facilities for future projected demand, people will still travel, but congestion at SEA will increase, causing additional delays crowded facilities and congestion in and around the airport. There are several key factors in our region which drive this continued demand. Business growth, international business, leisure travel, well-paid jobs, companies and schools that are based here who attract residents,” Kaplan said.
SEA has already seen a variety of new projects and expansions, including the recently opened C concourse which added four floors to an area of the aiport.
The environmental review looks at the impacts of both action and no action alternatives. When significant impacts are identified that are expected to exceed regulatory thresholds the environmental review “outlines ways to avoid, minimize, or mitigate these effects, ensuring projects can proceed,” Kaplan said.
Updates in this new review include additional analyses in a few areas in particular.
These focus on more in-depth air pollutant dispersion modeling, human health risk assessment and qualitative reviews of ultrafine particle emissions and the effects of noise on human health.
Other new areas include an analysis of the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions attributable to the proposed projects and the effects of climate change on the airport, including measure focused on resiliency.
The review also includes analysis of environmental justice impacts using tools developed by the Port of Seattle and the Washington Department of Health.
The near term projects (NTPs) being proposed are meant to help the airport accommodate the 56 million passengers projected to use SEA and are planned to include:
• A second terminal and concourse with 19 additional aircraft gates
• An elevated busway linking the rental car facility, new terminal, and main terminal
• Cargo facilities to accommodate air freight operations
• Realignment of airport roadways to connect the two terminals and facilities
• Airfield updates to improve safety and efficiency
• New ground transportation and employee parking facilities
• Additional facilities for sustainable aviation fuel
• New or expanded airport/airline support facilities
Public comments can be submitted online, by email or regular mail, and at any of the public meetings and more information can be accessed at https://sea-samp.com/.
Upcoming public meetings will take place on the following dates:
June 22
6-8 p.m. at Glacier Middle School in the Entrance lobby/commons located at 2450 S. 142nd St. in SeaTac
June 23
6-8 p.m. at the Mount Rainier High School in the Cafeteria space located at 22450 19th Ave. S. in Des Moines
June 25
6-8 p.m. at Wildwood Elementary School in the Multipurpose room located at 2405 S. 300th St. in Federal Way
June 27
10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Gregory Heights Elementary School in the Cafeteria and gym located at 16201 16th Ave. S.W. in Burien
Federal Way impacts
As the Mirror reported previously, noisy skies and pollution from airplane flight paths have been a concern in Federal Way for years.
One change that will impact the city is that Runway 34 right’s descent angle will be changed to 3 degrees from 2.75 degrees, the same higher descent angle as the other two runways. This should reduce noise impacts to the city, which is under the flight path.
During the last review of the SAMP, Media Relations Manager Perry Cooper of the Port of Seattle told the Mirror that within the SAMP draft environmental review, there is nothing specific to Federal Way because Federal Way “is not in the primary study area and no significant impacts were found that far south.”
This time Federal Way is mentioned several times, mostly in the context of the new Federal Way light rail station that opened in December 2025 and connects directly to the SEA airport.
