HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 2609

                  As Amended by the Senate

Title:  An act relating to air transportation.

Brief Description:  Making airport expansions consistent with the state air transportation policy plan.

Sponsor(s):  By House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Hine, G. Fisher, R. Fisher, Brough, Heavey, Locke, Chandler, Leonard, Valle, Wood, Prentice, Hochstatter, Mitchell, Horn, Rasmussen, Paris, R. King, Beck, Spanel, Nelson, Appelwick, Wilson, Franklin, Wang, Jacobsen and Belcher).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, February 6, 1992, DPS;

Passed House, February 18, 1992, 97-1;

Amended by Senate.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 1677 members:  Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; R. Meyers, Vice Chair; Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brough; Cooper; G. Fisher; Heavey; R. Johnson; Jones; Kremen; Mitchell; Orr; Prentice; Prince; Schmidt; and Wood.

Minority Report: Do not pass.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives Betrozoff, Ranking Minority Member; Basich; Cantwell; Day; Forner; Haugen; Horn; P. Johnson; Wilson; and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Brian McMorrow (786-7304).

Background:  The Air Transportation Commission (ATC) is a 27-member body that is conducting studies to determine Washington State's long-range air transportation policy.  The commission's work program will address the following issues:  investment in air transportation or other modal alternatives; needs of commercial and general aviation; air transportation economic development tools; air transportation as part of the state's environmental policy goals; air transportation as part of the state's growth management policy; and suitability of existing governance structures.

The ATC will submit its findings and recommendations to the Legislative Transportation Committee by December 1, 1994, with an interim report by December 1992.

The Puget Sound Air Transportation Committee (PSATC) is a 36-member committee responsible for addressing the air capacity needs of Sea-Tac airport.  The Committee's project, known as "Flight Plan," is sponsored by the Puget Sound Regional Council and the Port of Seattle.  After two years of work the committee has selected as its preferred alternative a multiple airport system, which will be implemented in phases:

1)Add a new air carrier runway at Sea-Tac (1995-2000).

2)Initiate commercial service at Paine Field (1995-2000).

3)Add a supplemental airport after 2010 at one of the following:

a)Ft. Lewis or McChord if military coordination can be achieved;

b)Ft. Lewis East if airspace coordination can be resolved; or

c)Olympia/Black Lake if no military sharing is possible.

Currently, the public is reviewing the PSATC's findings, supporting material and draft programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).  Construction of the new runway would begin no earlier than 1996.

The State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) requires public entities, whose actions may significantly affect the environment, to prepare a detailed environmental impact statement.  The SEPA process may involve several steps including:  Determining probable impact on the environment; mitigating adverse impacts on the environment; and preparing a document identifying potential areas of impact.

Summary of Bill:  Public entities that intend to extend or construct new runways may proceed with the planning process as required by the Growth Management Act, the State Environmental Policy Act and the National Environmental Policy Act.

Political subdivisions and municipal corporations in counties in the western part of the state with a population greater than 150,000, may not construct a runway of 1,000 or more feet or extend a runway until the Air Transportation Commission (ATC) submits its final report to the Legislative Transportation Committee (LTC). 

The commission must provide the LTC with the following reports by December 1, 1992: an evaluation of the importance of air transportation to the economic and social vitality of the states, including costs and effects of delay of air capacity expansion; an analysis of air transportation demand, aviation industry trends, and air capacity in Washington State through 2020; and a review of the final draft of the Puget Sound Air Transportation Committee's "Flight Plan" assessments of air capacity and demand.  The ATC must also submit these reports to regional transportation planning organizations to assist them in their planning responsibilities under the Growth Management Act.

By July 1, 1993, the ATC must submit to the LTC a transportation systems planning evaluation of air transportation planning options.

The final report of the ATC, due in December 1994, must include a review of the environmental, social and economic costs associated with the state's air transportation system.  The commission must review and comment upon mitigation practices related to the air transportation system.

The bill contains an emergency clause.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S): The amendment limits the moratorium on expansion and construction of runways to King, Pierce, Snohomish and Thurston Counties and prevents city, county, or county-wide port districts from directing excess demand to other regional airports.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  The bill would prevent the Port of Seattle from expanding Sea-Tac airport and further diminishing the quality of life in surrounding neighborhoods.

Testimony Against:  Any prohibition against expansion at Sea-Tac would adversely affect the region's economy and prevent the Port of Seattle from providing a timely response to a serious shortage in airport capacity.

Witnesses:  Richard Kennedy, Mayor of Des Moines (pro); Kathy Parker, citizen (pro); Rick Arambaru, attorney for citizens against third runway at Sea-Tac (pro); Paul Barden, King County Council (pro); Bob Wallace, Puget Sound Air Transportation Committee (con); Andrea Riniker, Port of Seattle (con); Robert Larson, city of Stanwood (con); Bruce Laing, King County Council and Puget Sound Regional Council (con); Bill Ayer, Horizon Airlines (con); Bill Conley, Port of Port Angeles (con); Brad Junkovich, Seattle Chamber of Commerce and Air Washington (con); Chuck Chereghino, Tacoma/Pierce County Chamber of Commerce and Air Washington (con); Tom Burns, Everett Chamber of Commerce and Air Washington (con); Bruce Ittner, citizen (pro); Peter Townsend, Federal Way accountant (pro); Chuck McClellan, TRANEC (pro); and Ed Pina, Highline School Board (pro).

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Yeas 97; Nays 1

Nays:  Representative Edmondson