Port of Seattle’s Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibility Study workshops start Wednesday, June 5

The Port of Seattle will begin a new multi-year Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibility Study update for SEA Airport in 2024, starting with a workshop on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at Gregory Heights Elementary School in Burien.

This free meeting will run from 6–8 p.m.

Two other workshops are scheduled for Thursday June 6 at Mt. Rainier High School, and Saturday, June 8 at Glacier Middle School.

A Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibility Study is a voluntary FAA program that sets guidelines for airport operators to document aircraft noise exposure, and to establish noise abatement and compatible land use programs. These noise abatement procedures and/or mitigation programs must be approved by the FAA in order to qualify for potential federal funding. This will be the fourth Part 150 update undertaken at SEA Airport since the initial study was conducted in 1985.

The study identifies and evaluates two components, (1) aircraft noise levels and (2) land uses, during two distinct phases of this study:

• Noise Exposure Maps (NEM) phase – contour maps are produced showing existing and future aircraft sound levels using the FAA-required 65 DNL noise metric.
• Noise Compatibility Program (NCP) phase – measures are recommended that are designed to reduce noise and incompatible land uses within the noise exposure area.  These may include noise abatement measures, noise mitigation measures such as sound insulation programs, and/or preventative measures.

The Part 150 Noise Study and the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) are separate efforts and will each have their own distinct public process and outcomes. The Port will have public comment later this year related to SAMP. For the latest on SAMP and to sign up for updates, visit the Port’s SAMP page at Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP).

The study will include extensive public engagement throughout the process. To begin these efforts, the Port has scheduled three Study Kickoff Workshops in June. The workshops are in an open-house format with the following dates, times, and locations and anyone is encouraged to attend:

Anyone needing language interpretation, special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, or questions answered, should contact the Noise Programs Office at (206) 787-5393 or P150@portseattle.org.

Snacks and childcare will be provided.

More info here.