Des Moines committee targets airport noise, data and outreach while awaiting federal EIS

Members of a Des Moines City advisory committee on (start-related airport issues) spent most of their meeting outlining a work plan to press for stronger study, more data and broader community outreach around Seattle‑Tacoma International Airport noise and related impacts. Committee members agreed to gather and share data, pursue coordinated legal review of environmental review processes, and hold neighborhood meetings and a citywide survey after the first of the year. The committee approved the minutes of the previous meeting by head nods.

Committee members said they want to avoid “reinventing the wheel” by reusing past studies and data but stressed gaps remain in measures of noise, vibration and ultrafine-particle pollution. Rebecca Deming, Des Moines City community development director, told the group that staff are working with other cities through an interlocal arrangement to retain legal counsel experienced in NEPA and SEPA work and that the SEPA process — which will contain the local EIS — is expected to follow the federal NEPA review. Deming said the NEPA document is due next month and SEPA is expected to begin after the new year.

The discussion focused on three near-term priorities:…