Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Airport Planning Environment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents urge review of Port of Olympia airport master plan, cite noise and environmental concerns
Summary
Public commenters asked Thurston County commissioners to press the Port of Olympia for a fuller environmental review of its Master Plan Update, saying projected expansion could increase flights, noise and local environmental impacts; commenter gave a Feb. 12 comment deadline for port materials.
Several residents told the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners that the Port of Olympia’s Master Plan Update (MPU) raises environmental and community concerns and warrants a thorough review.
Sharon Coontz, who identified herself as a South County resident, told commissioners she was “deeply troubled” by the port’s update and said the plan includes elements she and other residents find concerning: a potential capacity of “630 operations a day” (315 landings and 315 takeoffs), additional aircraft hangars, a passenger terminal with six gates and parking for about 600 cars, more helicopter activity, and a commercial aircraft de‑icing area. “The MPU is full of things that are frightening and missing several things that should be there,” Coontz said.
Coontz urged county officials to press the port and the Federal Aviation Administration for an environmental review, noting she believes the port did not complete a SEPA checklist before releasing the update and that the port later moved to prepare related environmental materials. She advised residents that the port’s public comment deadline was Feb. 12 and encouraged commissioners to seek an environmental impact study where community concerns exist.
Commenters raised public‑health and wildlife concerns tied to greater aircraft activity—noise, emissions, de‑icing runoff and threats to prairie habitat and birds. Coontz said the MPU does not address potential property‑value impacts, night flight restrictions or alternatives such as rail.
County staff did not take action on the MPU at Tuesday’s meeting; commissioners did not make formal findings or direct county staff to a specific next step during the public comment period. Coontz provided handouts to the board and offered to answer follow‑up questions after the meeting.
