COMMISSION 
AGENDA MEMORANDUM                        Item No.          11a 
BRIEFING ITEM                            Date of Meeting       March 28, 2023 
DATE:     March 8, 2023 
TO:        Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director 
FROM:    Lance Lyttle, Managing Director, Aviation Division 
Marco Milanese, Senior Community Engagement Manager, External Relations 
Eric Schinfeld, Senior Federal and International Government Relations Manager,
External Relations 
SUBJECT:  SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART) 2022 Annual Report 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
In 2018, the Port of Seattle launched the SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART) in
partnership with the Highline Forum-member cities and other representational entities to
enhance cooperation between the Port and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s (SEA’s)
neighboring communities. 
StART provides the Port of Seattle with a dedicated forum intended specifically for discussing and
tackling airport and aviation industry impacts on the neighboring Highline Forum-member cities.
With the Port, the FAA, the primary air carriers,  and the airport’s neighboring cities all
represented around the table, StART brings together all the relevant parties with a common 
purpose to share information, collaborate and achieve results. 
StART’s major accomplishments are primarily the result of efforts initiated by its two working
groups: the Aviation Noise Working Group and the Federal Policy Working Group. 
StART OVERVIEW 
Cognizant of SEA’s growth and the ramifications of that growth on neighboring residents, the
Port of Seattle is committed to building open relationships with the community and local
jurisdictions that foster trust, accountability and collaboration. An important component of that
commitment was the creation of StART in early 2018.
The Port of Seattle developed StART to enhance cooperation between the Port and the Highline
Forum-member cities of SeaTac, Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, Tukwila and Federal
Way. This voluntary, non-governing, regional roundtable is convened by the Aviation Managing
Director and was developed in partnership with the leadership from the Highline Forum-member
cities and other representational entities. 
StART provides all parties with the opportunity to: 

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             COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 11a                                 Page 2 of 5 
Meeting Date: March 28, 2023 
• Support meaningful and collaborative public dialogue and engagement on airport-related
operations, planning and development; 
• Provide an opportunity for the Highline Forum-member cities to inform the airport-
related decision-making of the Port of Seattle and other jurisdictions/organizations; 
• Raise public knowledge about the airport, its impacts; and 
• Most significantly, focus on practical solutions to reduce the impact of the airport and
aviation operations on Highline Forum-member cities. 
Each of the neighboring cities designates three members to serve on StART who are joined by
representatives from Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines, an air cargo representative (currently
vacant) and Port staff. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provides agency expertise. 
Meetings, in 2022, were facilitated by Brian Scott, BDS Planning & Urban Design with assistance
from Dori Krupanics, BDS Planning & Urban Design. 
StART created two working groups to empower StART’s members to work on identified priorities
between StART meetings: the Aviation Noise (AN) Working Group in late 2018 and the Federal
Policy (FP) Working Group in early 2019. 
In 2022, the AN Working Group – with a mission to prioritize and explore potential near-term
actions to reduce and prevent aviation noise – continued to focus its efforts on its Aviation Nearterm
Noise Action Agenda. This included reviewing and refining work associated with several of
the agenda’s initiatives and exploring new potential initiatives to include within the agenda.
In 2022, the FP Working Group – with a mission to change federal policies and regulations that
can give the FAA, the Port and the communities more tools, resources and flexibilities to address
aircraft noise and emissions concerns – has developed and continues to implement a shared Port-
Cities Federal Policy Priorities agenda. Last year, the FP Working Group prioritized advocacy
surrounding the Inflation Reduction Act, the 2023 FAA Reauthorization Act and several agency
rulemakings related to aircraft emissions standards.
AVIATION NOISE WORKING GROUP 
The AN Working Group is comprised of a subset of StART members, Port staff and additional staff
from the Highline Forum-member cities and other representational entities along with a noise
consultant to provide expert advice. Its assignment is to prioritize and explore potential nearterm
actions to reduce and prevent aviation noise. 
Aviation Near-term Noise Action Agenda – 2022 Highlights 
In 2022, the AN Working Group focused on reviewing and refining work associated with several
of the agenda’s initiatives and exploring new potential initiatives to include within the agenda .

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             COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 11a                                 Page 3 of 5 
Meeting Date: March 28, 2023 
The highlights in 2022 include: 
(1)     Ground Noise Study – The study, which analyzed airfield ground noise sources
and identified potential mitigation measures, was completed in the spring. Airfield ground noise
sources identified in the study by the consultants included stop and go aircraft queuing,
traditional takeoffs, reverse thrust, auxiliary power unit (APU) use, engine maintenance run-ups 
and dual engine taxiing. The AN Working Group, since the study’s completion, has been
reviewing each of the potential mitigation measures to determine feasibility and if there’s
agreement, the steps to implementation. 
(2)      Discouraging Reverse Thrust – Identified as a noise source in the Ground Noise
Study, reverse thrust is used by pilots to deaccelerate aircraft upon landing. In coordination with
the FAA, Alaska Airlines, Delta Airlines and the members of the AN Working Group, updated
language was developed that discourages the use of reverse thrust at SEA at all times of the day 
and beyond what is necessary.  The updated, voluntary SEA language was implemented in
January 2023 and will be followed by an air carrier awareness campaign in mid-2023. 
(3)      Encouraging Rolling Takeoffs – Identified as a noise source in the Ground Noise
Study, rolling takeoffs have less of a noise footprint than traditional takeoffs that require aircraft
to power up after coming to a complete stop. Noise monitoring conducted by Port staff over the
summer to evaluate rolling takeoffs didn’t produce usable data. However, based upon past
results at a comparable airport, implementation of voluntary SEA language identifying rolling
takeoffs as having a noise benefit was pursued. In coordination with the FAA, Alaska Airlines,
Delta Airlines and the members of the AN Working Group, new, voluntary SEA language
promoting rolling takeoffs is in development. If enacted, the language will be followed by an air
carrier awareness campaign in 2023. 
Aviation Near-term Noise Action Agenda – Earlier Achievements 
(1)      Late Night Noise Limitation Program – Voluntary measure to reduce late night
noise by incentivizing air carriers to fly at less noise sensitive hours or transition to quieter
aircraft.  Program commenced in July 2019 with regular reporting each quarter to StART, air
carriers and other external audiences. 
(2)      Runway Use Plan – Informal Runway Use Plan, implemented in late 2019, to
minimize use of the Third Runway during the late-night hours (12:00 AM to 5:00 AM). Late night
operations on the Third Runway have dropped dramatically since implementation of the Runway
Use Plan. 
(3)      Glide  Slope  Adjustment  –  Raise  Runway  34R’s glideslope  to  lessen aircraft
approach noise. Implementation is contingent on the Sustainable Airport Master Plan’s (SAMP)
finalization and FAA approval. 
(4)      Monthly Noise Comment Reporting – Provide up-to-date, accessible information
on noise complaints and comments submitted by the public. Online monthly reporting began
with June 2020. 


Template revised September 22, 2016.

             COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 11a                                 Page 4 of 5 
Meeting Date: March 28, 2023 
FEDERAL POLICY WORKING GROUP 
Because the Port of Seattle is extremely limited in its authority to address some of the core issues
that local residents have expressed about aviation, StART formed a FP Working Group as a way 
to identify areas of consensus and collaboration between the Port and the Highline Forummember
cities on new tools, new authorities, new resources, new approaches and new
engagement from the federal government, and to engage Members of Congress in pushing for
these shared priorities. 
Over a year-long period, the Port and the airport cities successfully identified a significant number
of shared federal policy priorities for proposed inclusion in the 2023 FAA Reauthorization Act.
They are as follows: 
1)  Reducing the impact of overflight noise on near-airport communities by: 
a.  Advocating for US Representative Smith’s legislation to allow for homes located
within the airport’s current FAA-recognized noise contours that meet broader
criteria  for  “failed”  insulation  to  be  eligible  for  secondary  investments  – 
particularly those homes where  the warranty has expired, or the product
manufacturer is out-of-business and therefore unavailable to honor warranties. 
b.  Advocating for US Representative Smith’s Aviation Noise and Emissions Mitigation
Act, which would empower the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to
play a productive role in addressing community concerns about aircraft noise and
emissions. This legislation would support the collection of data and then fund
initiatives to mitigate aircraft noise and emissions. These new tools could make a
significant difference, particularly in terms of environmental justice. 
c.   Instituting a deadline for action on the FAA Neighborhood Environmental Survey 
(NES). Without a clear timeline and deadline for whether and how FAA may act on
the results of the NES, airports and communities are stuck in a frustrating limbo
of uncertainty. The FP Working Group also believes that FAA could use a wider
range of input on this challenging and complicated topic. 
2)  Reducing aircraft emissions through: 
a.  Sustainable  Aviation  Fuel  (SAF)  incentives  and  investments  including  those
contained in the Inflation Reduction Act. The FP Working Group urges the 2023
FAA Reauthorization to direct the FAA to do everything possible to successfully
implement these policies in ways that move the United States toward the Biden-
Harris’ Administration’s SAF Grand Challenge goal of producing at least three 
billion gallons per year of SAF by 2030. Similarly, the FP Working Group supports 
additional, complementary programs, policies, and investments that the FAA can
undertake to facilitate progress – including but not limited to collaboration with
other federal agencies such as the US Departments of Energy, Agriculture and 
Defense. 
b.  Continuing the Environmental Mitigation Pilot Program contained in Section 190
of the 2018 FAA Reauthorization. The FP Working Group supports the permanent

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             COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 11a                                 Page 5 of 5 
Meeting Date: March 28, 2023 
authorization of this program at six million dollars per year, because of its
potential to support innovative technology solutions to reduce aircraft noise and
emissions issues. 
c.   Advocating for US Representative Smith’s Protecting Airport Communities from
Particle Emissions Act which would bring more federal attention and engagement
on the sources, characteristics, dispersion, and potential health effects of ultrafine
particulates from aircraft engines. 
3)  Addressing regional airport capacity needs by ensuring FAA support for new regional
airport capacity. In particular, the FP Working Group would like to see policy language in
the FAA Reauthorization legislation that accomplishes three goals: 1) clarifies the process
for FAA regulatory review and agency collaboration with cities and states in high air travel
demand regions looking to invest in new airport capacity; 2) dedicates funding for new
airport capacity in high demand regions; and 3) provides additional FAA guidance on 
necessary steps to implement any final decisions from the Commercial Aviation
Coordinating Commission. 
In 2023, expect the AN Working Group to continue to prioritize efforts that fit within its Aviation
Near-term Noise Action Agenda.  For the FP Working Group, expect a continued focus on
advocating for the inclusion of shared federal priorities in the 2023 FAA Reauthorization Act – 
including via a Port-Cities DC Fly-in at the end of April.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING 
(1) Aviation Near-term Noise Action Agenda Summary 
(2) Port-Cities 2023 FAA Reauthorization Letter 
(3) StART Membership Roster 2022 
(4) 2022 StART Annual Report 
(5) Presentation slides 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
March 22, 2022 – The Commission was briefed on StART’s 2021 Annual Report 
March 9, 2020 – The Commission was briefed on StART’s 2019 Annual Report 
January 22, 2019 – The Commission was briefed on StART’s 2018 Annual Report 





Template revised September 22, 2016.