REMINDER: Public comment deadline is this Thursday, Aug. 20 at 5 p.m. for Sea-Tac Airport expansion review

South King County residents have until 5 p.m. this Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, to submit comments to the Port of Seattle on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Sea-Tac Airport’s Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Near Term Projects.

Comments may be submitted at sea-samp.com/get-involved or by email to samp@portseattle.org. The contact listed is Steve Rybolt of the Port of Seattle’s aviation environment and sustainability division.

The deadline comes as local officials and others are urging the Port to broaden its review of airport impacts on nearby communities, including Burien, Tukwila, SeaTac, Des Moines, and Normandy Park.

In an Aug. 7 letter to Rybolt, Tukwila Mayor Thomas McLeod, Council President Armen Papyan and City Councilmembers said they are concerned the Port has not fully considered the impacts of airport operations and proposed expansion on Tukwila and other South King County communities. “The General Study Area is too limited,” they wrote.

The Tukwila letter says the airport is a critical regional asset, but “its benefits and burdens are not distributed equally.” City leaders said the Port evaluates airport economic benefits regionally while reviewing many environmental impacts within a narrower geographic area.

Tukwila officials asked the Port to expand the study area to include the incorporated boundaries of Tukwila, SeaTac, Des Moines, Burien, Normandy Park and Federal Way, which the letter refers to collectively as Airport Communities. The letter says increased passenger activity, vehicle trips, aircraft operations, noise, air emissions, traffic and future capacity expansion extend beyond Port owned and immediately adjacent land.

The letter also asks the Port to broaden its environmental justice analysis, seek an independent review by the Port’s Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and evaluate cumulative impacts and mitigation under Port equity goals, federal environmental justice guidance and the Washington HEAL Act framework.

Separately, David E. Ortman, a north Seattle resident, retired attorney, and former Seattle Port Commissioner candidate (1997), submitted comments on Aug. 14 saying the Draft Environmental Impact Statement is inadequate because it does not address alternatives, health and environmental noise impacts beyond the limited airport perimeter, or impacts to property values.

Ortman’s comments cite the Port’s description of 31 Near Term Projects, including a second terminal and concourse with 19 added aircraft gates, an elevated busway, cargo facilities, roadway realignment and other updates.

Here’s the Port’s response to Ortman’s submission:

“We appreciate Mr. Ortman’s participation in the SEPA process and encourage anyone who’s interested in making comments to do so before the end of the comment period.

“Each comment for the SEPA process will be responded to through the prescribed process after the submittal deadline is complete.”

How to Submit Comments

Comments may be submitted electronically to SAMP@portseattle.org or through the project website here. Written comments may be mailed to:

The Port said comments must be received by 5 p.m. Pacific time on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026. Mailed comments must be postmarked by 5 p.m. Aug. 20.

Mr. Steve Rybolt
Port of Seattle, Aviation Environment and Sustainability
P.O. Box 68727
Seattle, WA 98168

Links

• City of Tukwila Comments
• David E. Ortman’s Comments
• Cities of Burien, Des Moines and SeaTac “Equity for Airport-Impacted Communities”