MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Burien wins key victory in lawsuit over Sea-Tac Airport noise

Dec 3, 2019, 9:46 AM

Sea-Tac airport Burien plane noise...

A plane departs out of Sea-Tac airport. (KIRO Radio/Tim Haeck)

(KIRO Radio/Tim Haeck)

After years of deliberation, debate, and appeals, Burien won a key victory in an ongoing lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration related to noise from planes flying in and out of Sea-Tac Airport.

FAA claims Paine Field won’t pose noise issues, neighbors disagree

The city first began the process of suing the FAA in 2017, citing a route change known as the “Burien Turn,” where planes turn west upon takeoff from Sea-Tac, and cross over the city’s airspace at low elevations. Officials claim roughly 60 to 70 airplanes fly over the city dozens of times a day.

“The impact from this FAA modification is substantial and ongoing,” said the Quiet Skies Coalition, the group that originally filed the lawsuit before Burien took it over.

The U.S. Court of Appeals in the 9th Circuit ruled on Saturday in favor of a petition filed by Burien, instructing the FAA to “go back to the drawing board and consider the potential cumulative impact of future operations like the Burien Turn.”

That being so, the exact ramifications of that ruling are not immediately clear.

Sea-Tac Airport pushing forward with expansion plans

According to a report from KING 5, lawyers will begin sorting through the decision to figure out next steps. Larry Cripe with the Quiet Skies Coalition noted at a recent council meeting that he expects edits to the “Sustainable Airport Master Plan” could be in order. The master plan — managed by the Port of Seattle — deals in everything from environmental impacts related to flight traffic to community engagement.

“Our hard work is paying off and that our voices are being heard,” Cripe noted.

The Coalition will be releasing a more detailed update sometime in the next few days.

MyNorthwest News

Spanaway woman shot dead...

Kate Stone

Search for shooter continues after woman shot dead while driving in Spanaway

A 47-year-old woman was shot dead in Spanaway, causing her to hit another driver head-on early Wednesday morning.

22 minutes ago

nintendo redmond...

Frank Sumrall

Nintendo to lay off 86 Redmond employees this spring

Nintendo of America is laying off 86 contract workers in Redmond, beginning May 25, due to company reorganization.

1 hour ago

Everett boy missing...

Frank Sumrall

4-year-old Everett boy missing, police worried he’s in danger

Police and Search and Rescue crews are looking for a missing four-year-old boy they suspect could be in danger.

2 hours ago

Image: The awnings of a store advertise the sale of lottery tickets, including Mega Millions and Po...

Steve Coogan

Lottery jackpots update: Powerball prize jumps again after $1.1B Mega Millions win

A lottery jackpots update: The Powerball prize reached an estimated $935 million ahead of Saturday night's drawing.

12 hours ago

Photo: The Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center....

James Lynch

King County’s plan to close youth detention center met with fierce backlash

The King County Law and Justice Committee received a final report on Executive Dow Constantine's plan to close a youth detention center.

14 hours ago

Image: A cargo ship is stuck under the part of the structure of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after ...

Associated Press

Authorities identify 2 bodies recovered at site of Baltimore bridge collapse

A major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, and several vehicles fell into the river below.

15 hours ago

Burien wins key victory in lawsuit over Sea-Tac Airport noise