THE BRIEFING PROJECT - EPISODE 11
HOW MUCH PROOF?

Thank you. I'm Steve Edmiston. In my last two briengs, we established the
numbers that matter to measure impacts from aircraft overflights  the increase of
97,000 overights since 2013, and the proposed additional 80,000 ights. And we
established a first "what did you know and when did you know it" day, with recent
studies showing how overflights associate with loss of sleep, hypertension, heart attack,
strokes, increased risks at night, for the elderly, and for children.

Before reviewing more science, we need to address a question about these
studies: Should the Port ignore them and claim that association to harm is not
causation? That you need more proof?

Two points. First, in claiming that the emerging science doesn't yet provide
enough proof, you would not be alone in terms of strategy  it's line and verse from the
Big Tobacco and climate denial playbooks. To frame it in pop culture terms, the policy
choice you face is the same faced by the mayor in the movie Jaws  do you keep the
beaches open for even more tourism  for your economic growth  or act upon the
evidence you have that there may have been a shark attack?

Second, a claim that the science doesn't yet provide enough proof is a choice
that comes with peril - to the Port. Your first case study is Monsanto, which argued that
studies showed only an association between RoundUp and lymphoma. Didn't work. A
jury in August awarded the very first Monsanto plaintiff $289 million dollars. Now there
are 8,000 more lawsuits. Your second case study might be last year's lead paint case
where paint makers argued children could have become sick from other causes; that
they didn't deliberately sell harmful products; that they complied with regulations. Didn't
work. The court of appeals upheld the $1.1 billion-dollar verdict because the paint
makers had "what did you know and when did you know it" knowledge.

You have the proof you need as policy makers. But you must choose - whether
you will act to first do no harm. Or not act, and keep your beaches open for more
tourism.

Thank you for providing a citizen two-minutes to comment.

THE BRIEFING
THE BRIEFING YOU ASKED FOR BUT DID NOT RECEIVE 
IN TWO MINUTE PUBLIC COMMENTS

PORT OF SEATT_E COMMISSION MEETI'\.G
OCTOBER 9, 2018
STEVE EDMISTON

Episode 11  Proof
1.     Last two episodes:
- The real numbers  97,000 more annual flights in last four years
to reach 413,000 baseline, 80,000 more proposed.
- September 11, 2018, "What Did You Know And When Did You
Know It" day for associations between aircraft noise and stress,
sleep loss, impaired cognition, hypertension, heart disease,
heart attack, strokes, increased risks at night, for elderly and
children.

2.  How much p'oof do you need?

3.  Rejecting associations Big Tobacco, climate denial playbooks

4.  The risky bLsiness of rejec:ing associations  see Monsanto and
Paint Makers

5.  First do no harm or keep :he beaches open