COMMISSION 
AGENDA MEMORANDUM                        Item No.          11b 
BRIEFING ITEM                            Date of Meeting       March 9, 2021 
DATE:     February 18, 2021 
TO:        Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director 
FROM:    Lance Lyttle, Managing Director, Aviation Division 
Marco Milanese, Community Engagement Manager, External Relations 
Eric Schinfeld, Federal and International Government Relations Senior Manager,
External Relations 
SUBJECT:  SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART) 2020 Annual Report 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
The Port of Seattle developed the SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART) in 2018 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 influenced by discussions
with leadership from the Highline Forum-member cities and other representational entities. 
During 2020, the cities of Des Moines, Burien, and Federal Way, temporarily suspended their
membership;  therefore,  membership  consisted  of the three-remaining airport-area  cities
until late in 2020, when all three suspended cities reinstated their involvement in StART .
Once the three cities reinstated their involvement, StART took action to revise its Operating
Procedures building on work that had begun in early 2020 and then interrupted by COVID-19.
The revised Operating Procedures were finalized on January 26, 2021. Among the numerous
changes, the revised Operating Procedures establish a more formal relationship with the Highline
Forum, create a Steering Committee that provides StART with shared strategic direction, offer
the StART membership greater input on the facilitator and strengthen the behavior expectations
for the entire membership.
StART's major accomplishments are primarily the result of efforts initiated by its two working
groups: The Aviation Noise (AN) Working Group and the Federal Policy (FP) Working Group. 
In 2020, the AN Working Group, with a mission to prioritize and explore potential near-term
actions to reduce and prevent aviation noise, focused its efforts on refining and reviewing the
results   of   initiatives   implemented   in   its Near-Term Aviation   Noise Action Agenda.
These included the Late-Night Noise Limitation Program, Revised Runway Use Plan, Glide Slope
Adjustment, A320 Aircraft Noise, and Monthly Noise Comment Reporting. Due to COVID-19, two
efforts, the Ground Noise Analysis and Noise Abatement Departures Profiles Study, are currently
on hold and will be revisited in 2021.

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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. _11b_                               Page 2 of 8 
Meeting Date: March 9, 2021 

In 2020, The Federal Policy Working Group, with a mission to create a shared understanding of
information, influence legislation, and accelerate the implementation of policies most important
to StART, focused its efforts on the development of its Port -Cities Federal Advocacy Agenda.
Throughout 2020, the Working Group identified a significant number of shared federal policy
priorities  both implementation of existing laws from the 2018 Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) Reauthorization Act as well as new policies and investments to pass into law. Some of the
major priorities identified include Representative Smith's Protecting Airport Communities from
Particle Emissions Act, Representative Lynch's Air Traffic Noise and Pollution Expert Consensus
Act,  Representative  Smith's  legislation  that  would  allow  for  secondary  noise  mitigation
investments in previously insulated homes and more funding for the existing FAA noise insulation
program, more funding for research and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels, more funding
and incentives for aircraft modernization and other environmental performance improvements 
and more research and investment into the future of aircraft.
At their last meeting of 2020, StART members went through a facilitated exercise to define what
StART's top priorities should be in 2021.  The results were shared with StART's Steering
Committee's which then selected several tentative priorities that they believed were most
relevant and deserving of further discussion at 2021 StART meetings.  Those include ultrafine
Particles (UFPs) and the status of studies, aviation fuel dumping and FAA and airport procedures,
the 2021 aviation forecast, the South King County Fund, noise insulation and air cargo operations.
In 2021, expect the AN Working Group to continue to prioritize efforts that fit within its Near-
Term Aviation Noise Action Agenda. For the FP Working Group, expect a continued focus on its
Port-Cities Federal Advocacy Agenda and advocating for these priorities through a series of
"Virtual DC Fly-in" meetings with Members of Congress and representatives from the Biden
Administration.
StART OVERVIEW 
Cognizant of SEA's continued growth and the community impacts associated with that growth,
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 is 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, the Chair, and was influenced by discussions with leadership from the Highline Forummember
cities and other representational entities.
As described in the Operating Procedures, StART is the preeminent forum for information -
sharing, discussing the Highline Forum-member cities' concerns, and providing feedback to the
Port for issues related to the airport. 

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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. _11b_                               Page 3 of 8 
Meeting Date: March 9, 2021 

Each city designates three members to serve on StART who are joined by airline representatives,
an air cargo representative and Port staff. The Federal Aviation Administration provides agency
expertise. 
Meetings, in 2021, are facilitated by Brian Scott, 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. 
MEMBERSHIP & REVISED OPERATING PROCEDURES 
From the summer of 2019 to the fall of 2020, three of StART's six Highline Forum-member cities
temporarily suspended their membership: Burien, Des Moines and Federal Way. The three cities
have now rejoined and are actively involved on StART and on both working groups. 
Though COVID delayed the effort, the Port and all six Highline Forum-member cities collaborated
throughout 2020 to address ways to increase StART's effectiveness and shared accountability.
On January 26, 2021, an updated set of operating procedures, including a revised Code of
Conduct, was confirmed by the Highline Forum-member cities and the Port. Some of the major
changes to the Operating Procedures include: 
Reporting Structure with the Highline Forum 
The Operating Procedures formalize the relationship between the Highline Forum and StART.
StART updates are now provided regularly at Highline Forums with opportunities for input and
feedback. Agreed upon recommendations from StART are presented at Highline Forum meetings
for consideration.
Establishment of Steering Committee 
A newly established Steering Committee provides support, guidance, and strategic direction for
StART  including  agenda  setting,  speaker  identification  and  external  communications.
Membership includes  the chair, primary non-elected city representatives  and an airline
representative.
Feedback on Facilitator 
The Steering Committee now provides feedback annually on the facilitator's management of
StART meetings and members.
Behavior Expectations of Members 

Template revised September 22, 2016.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. _11b_                               Page 4 of 8 
Meeting Date: March 9, 2021 
The Operating Procedures strengthen expectations and  clarify  responsibilities for all with 
adhering to StART's Code of Conduct. 
AVIATION NOISE WORKING GROUP 
In June 2019, StART formed its first working group: The AN Working Group comprised of a subset
of StART members, Port staff and additional staff from the Highline Forum-member cities along
with a noise consultant to provide expert advice. Its assignment: prioritize and explore potential
near-term actions to reduce and prevent aviation noise. 
Near-Term Aviation Noise Action Agenda 
In 2020, the AN Working Group focused on reviewing and refining efforts implemented within
the Near-Term Aviation Noise Action Agenda, including:
(1)      The 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 external audiences. 
(2)      Revised Runway Use Plan  Informal Runway Use Plan, implemented in late 2019, to
minimize use of the 3rd Runway during the late-night. Late -night operations on the 3rd Runway
have dropped dramatically in 2020 with a majority of nights absent of any late-night operations
on the 3rd Runway.
(3)      Glide   Slope   Adjustment      Raise   Runway   34R's glide   slope   to   lessen aircraft
approach noise. The  34R glide slope  adjustment is incorporated into an airport taxiway
reconfiguration project estimated to be finished  in 2023.   The glide slope adjustment's 
completion is also contingent on the Sustainable Airport Master Plan's (SAMP) finalization and
FAA approval.
(4)      A320 Aircraft Noise  Encourage air carriers to install a vortex generator on pre-2014
A320 series aircraft to lessen descent noise. Many air carriers, due to COVID-19's impact have
begun retiring pre-2014 A320 series aircraft and the Port will continue to track fleet changes to
see how it impacts aircraft noise and help determine any next steps. 
(5)      Monthly Noise Comment Reporting  Provide up-to-date, accessible information on
noise complaints and comments submitted by the public. Monthly reporting began with June
2020. 
Two efforts are currently on hold: The Ground Noise Analysis, a program to analyze airfield
ground noise sources and identify potential mitigation measures, and the Noise Abatement
Departures Profiles Study, a program to analyze the feasibility of implementing a "distant"
departure profile to lessen aircraft departure noise for farther out airport communities. Further
discussions will need to occur on StART before next steps can be identified. 
In 2020, the AN Working Group recognized that conditions had significantly changed in the airline
industry due to COVID-19 and that uncertainty about how and when the aviation industry
recovers will have an impact on their action agenda's efforts. Discussion s at meetings

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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. _11b_                               Page 5 of 8 
Meeting Date: March 9, 2021 
focused on identifying emerging trends in air traffic and exploring new action items that could be
undertaken.
FEDERAL POLICY WORKING GROUP 
The Port of Seattle is extremely limited in its authority to address some of the core issues that
local residents have expressed about aviation: it has no authority to set flight paths or control
when planes take off or land; it is required by federal law to accommodate all legitimate airline
requests; it cannot determine what airplanes or engines are used by airlines; and airport revenue
can only be used for noise insulation if the properties are within the FAA's approved 65 DNL noise
contour. 
For those reasons, StART formed a FP Working Group  to identify areas of consensus and
collaboration between the Port and airport 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  both implementation of existing laws from the 2018 Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act as well as new policies and investments to 
pass into law. They are as follows: 
FAA Reauthorization Provisions: 
While all of the FAA Reauthorization noise provisions are important, there are three top priorities
1) the provisions related to evaluation of the 65 DNL noise standard (sections 173, 187 and
188), 2) the study of the impact of overflight noise on human health (section 189), and 3) the
proposed environmental mitigation pilot program (section 190). The timely and effective
execution of these provisions are well aligned with community concerns and have the potential
for substantive benefit to the region. 
Sections 173/187/188: In terms of the 65 DNL, the FAA put out a brief report finding that
the 65 DNL is the only viable metric, but the FP Working Group is interested in them taking
a more comprehensive review of this topic. The FAA  also recently  released its
comprehensive and detailed survey of noise annoyance levels, and the findings of this
study will be a key driver of next steps related to noise mitigation best practices. The
Federal Policy WG is urging policy guidance based on the release of the survey as soon as
possible. 
Section 189: As one of the metropolitan areas called out in the legislation for focus of the
human health study, the FP Working Group is particularly interested in the scope,
methodology and findings of the study of health and economic impacts of overflight
noise. In addition to urging swift action on this provision, the Federal Policy WG would
like to be engaged with the FAA and the research university carrying out this work
throughout the process. 

Template revised September 22, 2016.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. _11b_                               Page 6 of 8 
Meeting Date: March 9, 2021 
Section 190: The Puget Sound region is known for both its innovation and commitment
to sustainability, and so the FP Working Group was very excited about the potential for a
pilot program that would allow for experimenting with new approaches to reducing or
mitigating aviation impacts on noise, air quality, or water quality. The FP WG certainly
intends to apply for this funding, but also offer its willingness to provide input to the
design and structure of the grant program. The Federal Policy WG also looks forward to
working to ensure sufficient appropriations for this provision. 
New Legislation: 
There are also pieces of legislation that the FP Working Group believe would help move its 
priorities forward: 
Representative Smith's Protecting Airport Communities from Particle Emissions Act,
which would direct the FAA to report on ultrafine particles and their health impacts for
communities around 10 of the busiest U.S. airports. The study would also analyze the
potential impacts of mitigation options, emissions reductions, and the increased use of
aviation biofuels. 
Representative Lynch's Air Traffic Noise and Pollution Expert Consensus Act, which
would direct the FAA to enter into appropriate arrangements with the National
Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to provide for a report on the health
impacts of air traffic noise and pollution. 
Representative Smith's legislation that would allow for secondary noise mitigation
investments in previously insulated homes, in specific situations where those noise
reduction packages failed or were flawed in some way. 
New Investments: 
More funding for the existing FAA noise insulation program  The FP Working Group
supports increased set asides for  airport improvement grants for airport emission
reduction projects, airplane noise mitigation and other airport projects that reduce the
adverse effects of airport operations on the environment and surrounding communities. 
More funding for research and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels as well as other
low-zero carbon alternative fuels for ground transportation vehicles such as renewable
natural gas and electrification  The FP Working Group is focused on not only pursing this
goal through legislation and appropriations but also executive action, especially because
sustainable aviation fuels not only decrease carbon emissions, but also decrease other air
particle emissions. 
More funding and incentives for aircraft modernization and other environmental
performance improvements  The FP Working Group is impressed and excited about the
work that the European Union and the European aviation industry has done to tie
together COVID recovery and environmental sustainability, and will be doing more
research on how those efforts can be applied in the United States. 

Template revised September 22, 2016.

COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. _11b_                               Page 7 of 8 
Meeting Date: March 9, 2021 
More research and investment into the future of aircraft  The FP Working Group
supports federal investments and policies that drive cleaner aircraft, such as electric jets
and eVTOL, while ensuring that these new planes don't increase noise impacts. Any new
commercial jets  including supersonic aircraft  should meet or exceed existing noise
standards. 
Now that StART has agreed on these priorities, the FP Working Group is focused on actively
advocating for these priorities through a series of "Virtual DC Fly-in" meetings with Members of
Congress and representatives from the Biden Administration  (specifically FAA and US
Department of Transportation). 
START IN 2021 
At the December 9, 2020 StART meeting, StART members went through a facilitated exercise to
define what StART's top priorities should be in 2021.  The results of that exercise were
summarized and shared with the StART Steering Committee.  At the Steering Committee's
inaugural meeting on January 29, members reviewed the summary and selected several tentative
priorities that they believed were most relevant and deserving of further discussion at 2021 
StART meetings. Steering  Committee members also recommended additional priorities to
consider as topics at StART meetings in 2021.
Tentative priorities for 2021 StART meetings: 
1)   Ultrafine Particles (UFPs) and the status of studies 
2)  Aviation fuel dumping and FAA and airport procedures 
3)  2021 aviation forecast 
4)  South King County Fund 
5)  Noise insulation 
6)  Air cargo operations 
The StART AN Working Group and FP Working Group set their own workplans and meeting
agendas. In 2021, expect the AN Working Group to continue to prioritize efforts that fit within
its Near-Term Aviation Noise Action Agenda. For the FP Working Group, expect a continued focus
on its Port-Cities Federal Advocacy Agenda. Both working groups are also receptive to tackling
additional topics and priorities as they arise.
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND 
The 2019 StART Annual Report to the Commission was cancelled in 2020 because of impacts
related to COVID-19. 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING 
(1)   Presentation slides 
(2)   2020 StART Annual Report 

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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. _11b_                               Page 8 of 8 
Meeting Date: March 9, 2021 
(3)   StART Operating Procedures 
(4)   StART Membership Roster 
(5)   Snapshot of StART 2020 Accomplishments & Results 
(6)   Near-term Aviation Noise Action Agenda Summary 
(7)   StART Federal Policy Advocacy Plan 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
January 22, 2019  The Commission was briefed on StART's 2018 Annual Report 















Template revised September 22, 2016.