COMMISSION 
AGENDA MEMORANDUM                        Item No.          10b 
BRIEFING ITEM                            Date of Meeting       August 9, 2022 
DATE:     July 29, 2022 
TO:        Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director 
FROM:    Sarah Cox, Director Aviation Environment and Sustainability 
Stan Shepherd, Senior Manager Airport Noise Programs 
SUBJECT:  Sound Insulation Program Briefing 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
As part of the Port of Seattle’s (Port) long-term commitment to communities surrounding the
airport, the Port offers sound insulation for eligible properties within the current Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) approved noise remedy boundary. On February 25, 2020, the Commission
adopted Motion 2020-04 to implement the acceleration of the airport’s noise mitigation (sound
insulation and acquisition) programs with direction to complete prior to 2026. 
To date, the Port has provided sound insulation to over 9,400 single family homes and five
condominium complexes. Our current focus is apartments, places of worship, completion of the
Villa Enzian condominium complex and participating single family homes. Staff will share with
you the success from multiple outreach campaigns that have led to over 70% of the Places of
Worship and 78% of Apartments applying for the program. Acoustic testing has been completed
for all that have applied.   With over 60% of the subordination documents finalized for
apartments; design work has been accelerated.
Staff will also discuss plans to evaluate potentially failed products that were installed in the early
stages of the program in the 1990’s.  The Port will hire a consultant in 2023 to conduct this
evaluation and pending the evaluation’s outcome may provide recommendations for the Port to
establish a future program to remedy any failure. 
Commission Construction Authorization for Phase 1 of the apartment program is being requested
today as a separate action item. The objectives of this briefing are to: (1) inform the Commission
about progress made since the Q3 2021 briefing, (2) inform the Commission about ongoing work,
and (3) discuss risks to the program. 



Template revised April 12, 2018.

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. __10b__                            Page 2 of 5 
Meeting Date: August 9, 2022 
Program Status Update 
Sound Insulation Program is currently: 
• Program is on target for completion no later than the end of 2026 
• Progressing with community outreach, project estimates, design, and acoustic testing of
eligible properties within the noise remedy boundary 
• Conducting active construction in the Single-Family Homes and Condo(s) programs 
• Preparing bid documents for the first apartment major works construction contract 
• Aligning with the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (OEDI) to enhance equitable
project implementation strategies 
The briefing will cover these topics, as well as progress on project completion for single-family
homes, condominiums, places of worship and apartments. Staff will be returning to Commission
in October to discuss plans for an update to the Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibility Study
in 2023 which will identify any future programs for grant eligibility beyond the ones discussed in
today's briefing. 
Project Funding 
The FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants for noise mitigation projects at SEA compete
nationwide with sound mitigation projects at other airports and the FAA determines annually the
availability of funds depending upon the number of applications received.  Although not
guaranteed, noise grants typically fund approximately 80% of eligible costs (eligible costs are
limited to installation of windows, doors and ventilation) with the remaining amount being
funded through revenue bonds. The airport would be required to fund the remaining 20% plus
any ineligible costs. Ineligible costs typically consist of staff time and any building code related
issues. To manage the uncertainty of grant availability and ultimately fund the balance of costs
not grant-funded, the Port would use commercial paper as an interim funding source and follow
federal procurement guidelines, so the projects remain eligible for reimbursement at later dates
if AIP funding becomes available. 
The FAA is anticipated to award approximately $10 million in Airport Improvement Program (AIP)
grant funding per year, the remaining amounts would be paid from airport funds and reimbursed
with AIP grants at later dates. The Port would continue to apply for grants to fund retroactive
spending. However, there is no guarantee of FAA future grant funding and Port sound insulation
expenditures would be made at risk. 
The Port has received the following grants for work in progress: 
• Single-Family Home Sound Insulation- $1.8 million 
• Highline Schools Sound Insulation- Des Moines Elementary School $3.1 million 
• Highline Schools Sound Insulation- Highline High School $11.7 million 
• Condominium Sound Insulation- $7.4 million 
• Apartment Sound Insulation- $21.3 million 

Template revised September 22, 2016.

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. __10b__                            Page 3 of 5 
Meeting Date: August 9, 2022 

Diversity in Contracting 
With FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants, the Port will follow the United States
Department of Transportation’s Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE) program requirements 
in accordance with Code of Federal Requirements - 49 CFR Part 26. 

Potentially eligible projects 
The following provides a summary of progress on the Capital Improvement Programs (CIPs) 
associated with the Sound Insulation Program (SIP). Project  eligibility criteria has to be met
including being within the current noise remedy boundary, passing a noise audit of an interior
noise level of 45 dB Day-Night Average Sound Level (DNL) or greater, and built after applicable
building codes were enacted that met noise reduction standards for the area (1986 in Des Moines
and 1987 in all other jurisdictions): 
•    Single-Family Home SIP 
•    Approximately 140 homes within the noise remedy boundary are potentially
eligible to participate 
•    As of August 1st, 63 potentially eligible homes have applied to participate 
•    10 homes were completed in 2021 
•    A minimum of 13 homes to be completed in 2022 
•    2 homes are pending design from Q2 2022 acoustic testing 
•    3 homes are in the subordination process 
•    No homes are pending acoustic testing 
•    25 homes have been placed on hold by the owners 
•    Condominium SIP 
•    3 condominium complexes within the noise remedy boundary and are potentially
eligible to participate 
•    Villa Enzian Condominiums (28 units) is the only property that has expressed
interest in the program 
•    Scheduled construction completion of Villa Enzian Condominiums including 17
units in 2022 and 4 remaining units in Q1 2023 
•    Apartment SIP 
•    18  complexes  (903  units) are   within  the  noise  remedy  boundary  and  are
potentially eligible to participate 
•    Through  extensive  outreach,  14  of  18  complexes  expressed  interest  in  the
program and were briefed on the details; 2 declined acoustic testing 
•    11 of the 12 complexes (622 units) acoustically tested eligible for the program 
(based on FAA criteria) 
•    Implementation will occur by phases, with phase 1 being five properties 

Template revised September 22, 2016.

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. __10b__                            Page 4 of 5 
Meeting Date: August 9, 2022 
•    Construction for phase 1 is anticipated to commence Q4 2022 
•    Commission Construction Authorization for phase 1 is being requested today as
an action item 
•    Places of Worship SIP 
•    7  properties  within  the  noise  remedy  boundary  are  potentially  eligible  to
participate 
•    Through extensive outreach, 5 of 7 properties have currently expressed interest
in the program 
•    Acoustic testing was completed in June 2022 with 4 confirmed as eligible for the
program 

•    Approach Transition Zone (ATZ) 
• Voluntary acquisition of residential units in the 3rd Runway South ATZ   –
 estimated 2 homes and 1 apartment complex with 6 units 
Highline School District 
•    Memorandum of Agreement 
•    $100 million shared equally with the FAA to contribute to the noise mitigation
work at 15 schools 
•    10 of 15 are complete; the 11th will be on the election ballot for a bond vote in
November 
Program Risks 
As discussed in prior Commissioner briefings, there are several uncertainties and challenges
related to program implementation: 
•    The extent of program participation is unknown. Staff is committed to ongoing outreach 
•    Obtaining subordination or consent agreements is often challenging and can delay the
program. The use of a specialty consulting firm has achieved progress and Staff will
continue to monitor the consultant’s work and adjust the schedule accordingly 
•    COVID-19 future risks, including limits on staff and contractor on-site work, are unknown  
•    Supply  chain  material  issues  continue  to  impact  procurement  of  long  lead  sound
insulation products (doors & windows) 
Staff will work to incorporate lead times into project schedules. 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING 
(1)   Presentation slides 

Template revised September 22, 2016.

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. __10b__                            Page 5 of 5 
Meeting Date: August 9, 2022 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
December 3, 2021 – Commission authorized design for the Places of Worship Sound
Insulation Program 
August 10, 2021 – Commission briefing on sound insulation programs, acceleration and staff
recommendations 
August 10, 2021 – Commission authorized design for the Apartment Sound Insulation
Program 
December 15, 2020 – Commission briefing on sound insulation programs, acceleration, and
staff recommendations  
  
December 15, 2020 – Commission authorized consultant services IDIQ contract to provide
sound insulation program development support for single-family homes, apartments, and
places of worship  
  
February 25, 2020 – Commission briefing on sound insulation programs, acceleration, and
staff recommendations. Motion 2020-04 of the Port of Seattle Commission directing the
acceleration of the sound insulation program at SEA  
  
July 10, 2018 – Commission authorized contracting for Sound Insulation Architect and Project
Oversight Consulting for Condominiums  
  
October 11, 2016 – Commission authorized contracting for Sound Insulation Architect and
Project Oversight Consulting Services and Job Order Contracting (JOC) for Single-Family
Homes  
  
October 22, 2013 – Second Reading and Final Passage of Resolution No. 3683 concluding the
Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibility Study
Update for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.   
  
October 8, 2013 – First Reading of Resolution No. 3683 concluding the Federal Aviation
Regulation (FAR) Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibility Study Update for Seattle-
Tacoma International Airport.  
  
April 23, 2013 – The Commission authorized contracting for Sound Insulation
Consulting Services and Job Order Contracting (JOC) for Single-Family Homes.  



Template revised September 22, 2016.