PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 
COMMISSION AGENDA               Item No.      4g 
ACTION ITEM 
Date of Meeting     February 9, 2016 
DATE:    January 28, 2016 
TO:      Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:   Michael Ehl, Director, Airport Operations 
Wayne Grotheer, Director, Aviation Project Management Group 
SUBJECT:  2016 Flight Corridor Safety Obstruction Management Project 
Amount of This Request:         $750,000   Source of Funds:   Airport Development
Fund 
Est. Total Project Cost:           $900,000 

ACTION REQUESTED 
Request a single Commission authorization for the Chief Executive Officer to design, advertise
and execute a major works construction contract for the 2016 Flight Corridor Safety Obstruction
Management Project at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in the amount of $750,000 for a
total estimated project cost of $900,000. 
SYNOPSIS 
This request for authorization is needed to remove obstructions consisting of trees and other
vegetation at and around Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.  Design and construction
authorization for the first phase of the program are being requested simultaneously to facilitate
completion of the first phase of construction in 2016. Removal of the obstructions will ensure
the  Airport complies with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations for airport
operators  to protect flight operations into and out of the airport and assure that objects
obstructing approach and departure areas are removed. 
This project will replace trees and other vegetation with species to prevent future obstructions in
the flight corridor. The Port is required to meet re-vegetation standards set forth by the local
jurisdictions where obstructions are located. The local jurisdictions ' re-vegetation standards
exceed the Commission's guidance to achieve no net loss of trees. R e-vegetation will occur onsite
where existing vegetation is  removed or at off-site properties.  Environmental best
management practices will be implemented to minimize environmental impacts. 
The flight corridor obstruction management costs will be treated as expense costs. The $750,000
amount of this request is included in the 2016 operating budget. This authorization request
completes the authorization for phase one of a three phase program that will be completed by
2018. 

Template revised May 30, 2013.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
January 28, 2016 
Page 2 of 7 

BACKGROUND 
Obstructions are any objects penetrating FAA-designated approach and departure paths at or
around an airport. Obstruction studies and the related publication of obstruction charts were
completed every ten years by the FAA until approximately 1994. In preparing for the activation
of the Third Runway, the FAA performed an obstruction analysis in 2005 that led to the removal
of trees in 2006-2008. An aerial obstruction analysis was conducted by the Port in 2015 that
identified approximately 1,600 obstructions consisting of trees and other vegetation.
The Port has developed a comprehensive Flight Corridor Safety Obstruction Management Plan 
that will address the program for the removal of obstructions in several phases and span multiple
years. An advantage of a phased delivery approach allows the Port to apply lessons learned to
obstruction removal on properties owned by others.  Implementation of the program will be
based on a phased delivery approach that will occur generally in the following sequence: 
Phase I: 2016 - Port-Owned Property including property not on the airfield 
Phase II: 2017 - Publicly-Owned Properties (Burien, Des Moines, SeaTac, Washington State
Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Seattle Public Utilities and Highline Public
Schools) and Commercial Properties 
Phase III: 2018 - Residential Properties 
The Port has initiated the environmental review process for the removal of obstructions, which
includes the opportunity for community input. This environmental review in accordance with
federal, state, and local requirements will ensure that the Port evaluates alternatives and potential 
environmental impacts of the program.  A re-vegetation plan is being developed that will 
minimize future obstructions, identify planting requirements and consider various approaches to
re-planting which may include partnering with other organizations. The work will need to
comply with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and protect nesting birds between March 1 and July
15 annually. 
To support effective communication and transparency with communities affected by the Flight
Corridor Safety Obstruction Management Project, a comprehensive outreach and communication
plan has been developed. The plan includes targeted communication and collaboration with the
cities of SeaTac, Burien, and Des Moines; Highline Public Schools; Seattle Public Utilities; and
WSDOT. Initial  briefings with representatives from the cities of SeaTac, Burien, and Des
Moines and the Highline School District have already been completed. Upcoming outreach
efforts will focus next on presentations before airport community city councils and use of the
Airport's community newsletter, Airmail, to inform residents within the airport communities
about the project, its impacts, and its phasing.
The funds being requested are needed to complete the first phase of design and construction for
the overall program that began in 2015 with a previously authorized $150,000 to complete a
comprehensive environmental plan for the program. Project expenses in 2016 will complete the

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
January 28, 2016 
Page 3 of 7 
environmental process, design documents, and construction for the first phase of the program.
Port staff will return to the Commission for authorization of the subsequent phases of the
program. 
PROJECT JUSTIFICATION AND DETAILS 
This program is necessary to meet the Aviation Division's goals of ensuring safe and secure
aircraft operations.  The Port must remove obstructions to navigable airspace to continue
operating a world class airport. 
Justification for this program falls under the following categories: 
1.  Federal Requirements for Airport Operators to Control Obstructions 
a.  Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 139, Certification of Airports 
b.  Advisory Circular (AC) AC 150/5300.13A change 1, Maintenance of obstacle
clearance surfaces 
c.  Grant Assurance 20 "Hazard Removal and Mitigation" 
d.  Grant Assurance 21 "Compatible Land Use" 
2.  State Requirement for Airport Operators to Control Obstructions
a.  RCW 14.12.020 "Airport hazards contrary to public interest" 
3.  Airport's Strategic Goals and Objectives 
a.  Strategic Goal No. 1, Operate a world-class international airport by: Ensuring safe
and secure operations 
Program Objectives 
Program objectives are as follows: 
Remove obstructions, to facilitate safe aircraft operations 
Communication and transparency with the surrounding community 
Comply with local, state, and federal regulatory requirements 
Revegetate with low-growth vegetation and re-plant trees in appropriate locations 
No net loss of vegetation 
Scope of Work 
Design for this scope of work will be procured under an existing design services indefinite
delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract. Scope of work for the 2016 project includes
removing trees/vegetation on and around the Airport.  Removal of trees/vegetation ensures the
Airport can continue safe aircraft operations. This scope also includes environmental review and
permitting in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements.  The work
includes installation of temporary erosion and sediment control devices, removal of
trees/vegetation, grading, revegetation, and restoration.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
January 28, 2016 
Page 4 of 7 
Schedule 
Commission Authorization                             1st Quarter   2016 
Execute Construction Contract                             3rd Quarter   2016 
Construction Completion                               4th Quarter   2016 
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 
Budget/Authorization Summary                Expense         Total Project 
Original Budget                             $150,000          $150,000 
Previous Authorizations                         $150,000          $150,000 
Current request for authorization                    $750,000           $750,000 
Total Authorizations, including this request             $900,000           $900,000 
Remaining budget to be authorized                     $0              $0 
Total Estimated Project Cost                     $900,000          $900,000 
Project Cost Breakdown                     This Request       Total Project 
Construction                                $497,750          $497,750 
Design                                   $200,000           350,000 
State & Local Taxes (estimated)                    $52,250           $52,250 
Total                                       $750,000           $900,000 
Budget Status and Source of Funds 
The 2016 operating budget includes $750,000 to complete the first phase. All costs will be
charged to the airfield Movement Area cost center and recovered through landing fees. This
request ($750,000) will increase airline cost per enplaned passenger (CPE) approximately $0.03
in 2016. Future phases will be incorporated into the operating budgets in 2017 and 2018. 
STRATEGIES AND OBJECTIVES 
The 2016 Flight Corridor Safety Obstruction Management Project supports the Century Agenda
goal to advance this region as a leading tourism destination and business gateway by meeting the
region's air transportation needs. This project also supports the Aviation Division's strategic
goals of operating a world-class international airport, providing extraordinary customer service,
and being a model of environmental innovation for the region and industry. 
One of the Century Agenda goals is to use the Port's influence as an institution to promote small
business growth and workforce development. For the major construction contract, Port staff will
coordinate with the Office of Social Responsibility to maximize opportunities for small business
utilization within the contract.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
January 28, 2016 
Page 5 of 7 
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED 
Alternative 1) Status quo, do not remove obstructions. 
Pros: 
No expenditure required, saving estimated $900,000 in costs 
Cons: 
FAA could consider the Airport to be non-compliant with Federal
rules and regulations. The FAA would have a number of options on
how to address the non-compliance. The FAA's options would
include: 
1.  Considering approach and/or departure procedures to be unsafe,
and limit their use; 
2.  Consider approach and/or departure procedures to be unsafe, and
turn them off; 
3.  Limit or eliminate FAA grant funding until the obstructions are
removed. FAA entitlement funding is estimated to be $6.6
Million in 2016 and up to $7.1 Million in 2021. 
Port would not be in compliance with Federal and State requirements
regarding obstructions to navigable airspace. 
Airlines may be required to take weight penalties and/or not serve
certain markets, as aircraft would have to be lighter to take-off over
the obstructions. 
Does not meet the Airport's strategic goals and objectives such as
ensuring safe and secure operations. 
This is not the recommended alternative. 
Alternative 2) Remove all obstructions and complete project by 2017. Under this alternative 
all obstructions identified would be removed by 2017. The total estimated cost
for this alternative is approximately $2,740,000.
Pros:
Complies with FAA and state regulations to remove identified
obstructions. 
Meets the Airport's strategic goals and objectives such as ensuring
safe and secure operations.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
January 28, 2016 
Page 6 of 7 
Cons: 
It may not be feasible to complete coordination with local agencies,
jurisdictions, and residents for a 2017 project. 
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects nesting birds between March
1st and July 15th annually. Trees cannot be removed during this time
which limits the duration for construction activities. 
This is not the recommended alternative. 
Alternative 3) Phased delivery approach for obstruction removal. Remove obstructions over
a 3-year period starting with obstructions on Port-owned properties in 2016. The 
total estimated cost for the 2016 work is approximately $750,000. 
Pros:
Provides a manageable program to meet FAA and state regulations to
remove identified obstructions. The FAA concurs with this approach. 
Allows the Port to apply lessons-learned from Phase 1, to the
subsequent phases. 
Allows time for coordination with local agencies and area residents for
the subsequent program phases. 
All obstructions located on Port-owned properties will be removed in
2016. 
The Port will set precedent that removing obstructions is a high
priority for the Port as demonstrated by removing all Port-owned 
obstructions in the first phase. 
Meets the Airport's strategic goals and objectives such as ensuring
safe and secure operations. 
Cons: 
Phased delivery approach does not remove all obstructions in 2016. 
The Airport will not fully be in FAA compliance until all the
obstructions are removed. 
This is the recommended alternative. 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST 
Obstruction Removal Program Map

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
January 28, 2016 
Page 7 of 7 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
November 24, 2015  Commission briefed on the Flight Corridor Safety Obstruction
Management program.  The briefing provided an overview of state and federal
laws/requirements, and staff's recommendation of a phased delivery approach to
complete the program.