Save Our Communities Blog

Stand Up for our communities on Monday October 29th, 6:30 PM!

Join us to stand up for our communities at the FAA public hearing on the Supplemental Environmental Assessment for scheduled commercial flights at Paine Field. The Public Information Workshop/Public Hearing will be held Monday, Oct. 29, 2018 at the Lynnwood Convention Center, at 3711 196th St SW, Lynnwood, WA 98036, from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM, with the Public Hearing portion beginning at 6:30 PM.

Acceptance of the Supplemental Assessment has a huge impact for our communities. We need you to show up and give public comment to be on the record in opposition to the incomplete, flawed assessment. If you don't feel comfortable speaking, come and help make our collective presence known. You also have until November 2nd to submit written comments.

The fix is in and we cannot stop commercial flights at Paine Field, but we must make our voices heard! Remember, any amount of money required for mitigation of the negative impacts not paid for by Propeller will be paid by us, the taxpayers.

Please attend Monday's hearing and also consider speaking in opposition to this round of "death by a thousand cuts". The FAA and County have this set up to allow incremental growth over time with the predictable finding of "no significant impacts" associated with starting and growing scheduled service. The FAA/County approach fails to identify all the impacts and mitigation measures that need to be implemented. They need to fully comply with the letter and spirit of the law requiring a comprehensive and objective assessment of all impacts. We need to point that out...again!

If you choose to speak on Monday night, here are our suggestions:

1. Sign up to speak, and your name will be called in the order you signed up.

2. Identify yourself, and if you're commenting on behalf of a group, name the organization you represent.

3. Be clear about what you oppose and what your concerns are. Here are some suggestions:

• First, form your points into questions to force them to answer (they will not answer Monday, but will address questions in written form)
• Why wasn't a more comprehensive EIS conducted given the magnitude of this change (they conducted a streamlined Environmental Assessment and a Supplemental without any public input on the scope of study)
• Why only hold one public hearing when so many less impactful projects today hold multiple public hearings to ensure public input?
• What criteria defines what a significant impact is? It is obvious to the majority of impacted citizens that starting scheduled commercial service at Paine Field (or any airport) will produce many impacts that will grow as scheduled service grows.
• What assurances are there that the cumulative impacts of all scheduled service will be assessed with any increase in operations?
• We will definitely make the above points so either repeat them in your own words or pick your key issues and ask specific questions about how they concluded no significant impacts to your issues of concern: schools, traffic, noise, home value reduction leading to increased tax rates to cover less tax revenue, loss of home equity, conversion of home ownership to rentals, airport type of unwanted businesses generating unwanted activities and more public services and costs and so many more.

Thanks to all that attended the SOC annual meeting this past Sunday representing neighborhoods from Mill Creek to Edmonds, all through Mukilteo and beyond. Your questions, comments, concerns and willingness to engage demonstrate our collective commitment to ensure scheduled flight and terminal operations fully comply with obligations to mitigate all direct and indirect impacts.

There are now three airlines who have announced flights from Paine Field, with a combined projected 24 flights per day, and the terminal is not even built yet! The original FAA Environmental Assessment conducted in 2009 considered 2 flights per day up to a maximum of 11.5 flights per day at year 5. A City of Everett study in 2008 estimated 5 flights per day and included the possibility of a homeowners fund for mitigation.

There have been no completed assessments of the impacts of the additional flights, or if there have been, there has been no public announcement of or public input on such assessments. Conditions like traffic, number of students and schools, residential projects and real estate values have all changed since 2009 and so have the number of proposed flights. Additional study is required. There must be legitimate opportunities for public input.

This is exactly what SOC has been warning about for years, but was rebuked by proponents of commercial flights. This is classic “death by 1000 cuts”. Just a couple flights per day, just 11 flights, just 5 more flights, just 8 more flights, just …

None of this changes the fact that impacts should be identified and mitigated. Additional studies must be conducted by the FAA and County to address the additional flight activity, traffic, noise, air emissions and so on. It is critical that these studies be comprehensive and objective as the results should identify mitigation measures.

These decisions are obviously important now but might also impact decisions for any future expansion at Paine Field. They need to get this right. SOC and others will press for public comment opportunities in these addendum study processes.

One last thing, the airlines themselves can agree to mitigation actions like what time of day they fly and the type of aircraft they use. Alaska and United announced their intention to use a smaller quieter aircraft that needs less than half the runway to safely takeoff - that would mitigate some of the noise impacts. This is a smart and fair thing to do and we welcome opportunities to meet with the airlines and Propeller to further discuss mitigation options.

Stay tuned to announcements regarding public engagement, comment periods and how to participate. Be sure to encourage all your friends and neighbors to sign up on our website so they can stay informed too!

Mike Moore

You may have seen some recent media coverage of Paine Field and comments made by Propeller CEO Brett Smith who continues to minimize concerns regarding the scheduled service.
The main concern is that commercial service will come with impacts that will grow over time unless there are limits. Remember, the FAA allows rates that cover ALL direct AND indirect costs.

We understand that Mr. Smith, his investors and prospective airlines would rather minimize the impact issues, essentially ignoring legitimate concerns about how scheduled service over time would change the quality of life, transportation, noise, and air quality around our schools, all while decreasing tax revenues from lower home values.

Mr. Smith has stated he wants to be a good neighbor and community partner. He can start by limiting scheduled service activity under his lease terms and agreeing to mitigate all reasonably determined impacts. Perhaps he will seriously consider doing so but we are not holding our breath.

We must pursue ensuring that all costs to the public are covered, in every way we can (remember, if they don't pay, you do!). Propeller and any airline they partner with should have no question in their minds about surrounding communities’ commitment to follow through and ensure there are no free passes.

Stay tuned!

A reminder to show your support for responsible management of Paine Field by attending the Snohomish County Charter Review Commission meeting. As a guide, there are some talking points at the end of this blog.

Mayor Gregerson plans to introduce a proposal concerning Paine Field Airport. She believes the public should weigh in before major changes occur at Paine Field like sale or transfer of public assets.

She believes the county should be required to hold a public vote before any sale or transfer of Paine Field Airport. The airport is an important county asset, and voters should weigh in before changes occur.

Her other proposal is to empower the Paine Field Community Council to provide more oversight of the airport, to make the Community Council a part of the charter, and to adjust the membership of the Community Council to better represent the public.

You can find more information about Mayor Gregerson's proposals here.

You can also send your comments by email to Chris.roberts@snoco.org.

Talking Points

• Boards and Commissions in Snohomish County help insure good governance and keep the public involved with decisions that affect important aspects of their lives. Visit http://snohomishcountywa.gov/128/Boards-Commissions and you will see scores of successful Boards and Commissions. Mayor Gregerson's proposal for the Paine Field Community Council to provide more oversight of the airport fits this successful pattern, and helps prevent further erosion of the best use of Paine Field.Decisions governing the airport are so important that it demands maximum public engagement from citizens throughout the county but especially those near and around the airport.

Whether you attend, send your comments by email, or both, we urge you to seize this opportunity to help shape the future of Paine Field.

We encourage you to show your support for responsible management of Paine Field by attending the Snohomish County Charter Review Commission meeting this Wednesday at 7:00 PM, Mukilteo City Hall.

Voters elected 15 people to the Charter Review Commission. Wednesday, April 6, they will be meeting at Mukilteo City Hall at 7 PM, to hear from you on your ideas for the charter.

This week, Mayor Gregerson plans to introduce a proposal concerning Paine Field Airport. She believes the public should weigh in before major changes occur at Paine Field like sale or transfer of public assets.

She believes the county should be required to hold a public vote before any sale or transfer of Paine Field Airport. The airport is an important county asset, and voters should weigh in before changes occur.

Her other proposal is to empower the Paine Field Community Council to provide more oversight of the airport, to make the Community Council a part of the charter, and to adjust the membership of the Community Council to better represent the public.

You can find more information about Mayor Gregerson's proposals here.

You can also send your comments by email to Chris.roberts@snoco.org.

Whether you attend, send your comments by email, or both, we urge you to seize this opportunity to help shape the future of Paine Field.

You most likely have heard about the recent federal court ruling in favor of allowing commercial flights at Paine Field with no further studies.

We believe some key points were not properly considered in the ruling and Petitioners are reviewing the potential for a rehearing. The court contemplates additional impact assessments if and when Propeller’s operation goes beyond a similar activity level described in the court ruling as 22 flight operations per day. All direct and indirect costs of commercial service need to be paid for by Propeller and the Airlines to avoid subsidies as is authorized by the FAA. Indirect costs can grow exponentially with additional traffic. The court made it clear that the limited scope of the study does not address operations beyond what was studied. The court also found that FAA actions are needed in any expanded operation scenario. Unless scheduled service is limited in some way, we must collectively address expansion scenarios. Mitigation actions and costs must not be circumvented or minimized by incremental expansion. The position of the County and many impacted cities is t o strongly discourage scheduled service meaning no subsidies. We are fully committed to that position and continue to explore all options.

Also, the lawsuit against Snohomish County is still in play. This is NOT over!

Thank you to those who attended the Save Our Communities annual meeting. We discussed ideas for moving forward, and the current lawsuits, including insights from Mayor Gregerson. Stay tuned for the outcome of the lawsuits, and next steps.

Check out the great letter in the Beacon written by our President, Mike Moore. It is not over! There is still time for the politics and money driving the fate of commercial flights to be replaced with reality and facts. We encourage you to add comments to Mike's letter, even if just a brief one. Let people know you still care about our future.

A reminder that your vote is important to keep Brian Sullivan on the Snohomish County Council. Brian's influence and support has been unvwavering for years in supporting your interests to discourage commercial flights from Paine Field. We need to show our support now in his bid to continue in office.

Don't forget to remind your friends and neighbors too!

A quick update on three topics . . .

1. YOU MUST VOTE FOR BRIAN SULLIVAN AND GET OTHERS TO DO THE SAME -- IF YOU CARE, YOU WILL ACT:

 Councilmember Brian Sullivan continues to represent your interests in Paine Field issues and deserves your vote in the coming elections. Brian will continue to defend our quality of life, support and promote aerospace manufacturing, while opposing scheduled commercial flights.

Brian’s opponent has long promoted commercial service using every angle possible. He scoffs at concerns over unrestricted and subsidized commercial service – there is no other way to describe his views on the airport other than he completely dismisses your concerns.

Brian’s leadership is just the opposite and is evident throughout the decades-long Paine Field debate, and with the future of Paine Field in question again, Brian fully understands that a 50 year lease to an unproven company, Propeller LLC, is like opening Pandora's box.

Brian will continue work to ensure there are no subsidies, that all impacts are paid for and that the true market and all applicable laws will dictate the outcome rather than flawed political pandering and misstatements.

If you care about this issue, if you support aerospace, general aviation and tourism versus subsidizing competition with SeaTac and Bellingham, then vote for Brian Sullivan.

2. The Federal lawsuit is still alive. This will see more activity when there is more direct action at Paine Field, such as terminal construction being scheduled.

3. The County lawsuit is still alive. This is progressing, and we will send out an alert when there is something to report.

• While the negative impact would not be immediate, it is simple math that as commercial flights grow, there is less time for Boeing. 
• Commercial flights have precedence of experimental flights (Boeing test flights are considered experimental). 
• Boeing continues to use more of Paine Field real estate to park planes. They need all the space they can get.”
• The FAA approved scheduled commercial flights from Paine Field based on a flawed Environmental Assessment (EA) that does not comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA.)

• Property devaluation

The reduction in our quality of l ife is another. Just as important is this airfield's long-standing and long agreed-to role of playing a supporting function to Boeing and the aerospace community, which could not continue if air service grew at a rate that is easily imaginable. In addition, the jobs it will attract will be low-wage jobs. 

• County residents are on the hook for all traffic improvements, noise mitigation, and other costs associated with adding commercial flights since the flawed EA found “no significant impact”.

• Based on a study of Sea-Tac home values, a 10% reduction is forecast if scheduled commercial air service begins at Paine Field. 

That 10% would cost our community over $1 Billion. This would, in turn, lower tax revenues to local and county governments which would then cause cuts to police, fire, and general services. That would likely then kick off a downward spiral of degradation, which could only be offset by higher taxes to restore the lost services.

• A study of Boeing Field, vs other Seattle communities found that, near the airport, residents had: 

- 57% higher asthma
- 28% higher pneumonia/influenza
- 26% higher respiratory disease
- 83% higher pregnancy complications

• Since the FAA determined that adding commercial flights would have “no significant impact” on the surrounding communities, there is no legal basis to demand the FAA or the airlines pay for needed improvements such as roads and noise mitigation.

• Noise Mitigation costs: About 100,000 children attend schools under the flight path of Paine Field. It cost the Highline School District $200M for Noise Mitigation.

• Traffic Improvements: most of the intersections that would be used to access the new terminal already have an “F” grade from WSDOT. The taxpayers would be on the hook for millions of dollars in improvements.