The Port of Olympia has determined its proposed update to the master plan of the Olympia Regional Airport would not have a “probable significant adverse impact” on the environment after issuing a “mitigated determination of non-significance” for the proposed plan on Feb. 6.
The port’s evaluation would mean the updated plan could proceed without an environmental impact statement.
The updated plan, which the Federal Aviation Administration requires every seven to 10 years, describes the existing conditions of the airport and recommends improvements to accommodate future aviation demand.
Should the Port of Olympia Commission adopt the plan, as the group is expected to do so in March, it would not mean the projects in the plan would get approved immediately.
Individual projects would still need to get approved for funding and undergo review, including an assessment for each project through the state Environmental Policy Act.
The determination was also made based on the measures to mitigate adverse impacts. These measures were described in a checklist prepared by the port in compliance with the Environmental Policy Act.
Community members and stakeholders may comment on the port’s determination until Feb. 20; people who do not agree with the assessment may appeal until March 13.
People with questions about the airport plan may also participate in a question and answer with airport management and the port’s environmental director on Feb. 26.
Just days after the determination's release, some community members went to the Monday, Feb. 10, Port of Olympia Commission meeting to comment on the master plan.
While the majority of people spoke to caution against future airport expansion, five of 18 people specifically spoke against the port’s determination.
They believe an environmental impact statement is warranted before adopting the updated master plan.
“We need an environmental impact statement on this airport expansion. This airport expansion will affect families, it will affect children, it will affect our entire economy along this I-5 corridor,” said resident Lee Riner during the public comment period.
There is a long-standing group of people who have opposed the possible expansion of the airport, believing it would negatively affect the environment and human health.
Port officials have previously said that the updated airport plan would not lead to any expansion in the airport’s footprint.
The preferred alternative for the master plan only includes the shortening of runway 8/26 and the realignment of taxiways, though it reserves spaces for the future development of a 97-acre general aviation area, a 48-acre corporate general aviation area and a 55-acre commercial air service area.
Port of Olympia Executive Director Alex Smith addressed whether the port considered the “cumulative impacts” of the master plan update when it issued its determination.
Smith acknowledged people have brought up the 2024 case of King County v. Friends of Sammamish Valley, which found that King County failed to comply with the Environmental Policy Act for not considering the potential environmental impacts of a “non-project” action.
A “non-project” action may refer to local government actions that “will govern a series of connected actions,” according to the Washington Department of Ecology.
Such actions include, but are not limited to, comprehensive plans and similar documents.
Smith said the port has looked into the King County case, but determined it did not apply to the airport master plan update.
“We determined from looking at that case and other relevant (Environmental Policy Act) cases that the cumulative impacts analysis will happen when the port takes an action that facilitates future action,” Smith said.
“The airport master plan only identifies areas where things could occur. It doesn't authorize any projects. Nothing can happen out of the airport pursuant to the master plan until the commission approves that future project."
Commissioner Jasmine Vasavada said she thinks most of the concerns stem from the possible return of commercial services to the airport.
Vasavada said this idea should be discussed with the commission to determine if the commissioners actually support it.
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johnvaneenwyk
Ah, the Port! “No adverse effect on the environment?” Obviously the residents of Thurston County are not part of the environment. Nor the birds, pocket gophers, vegetation. Once again, the Port charges ahead with no concern for the deterioration of quality of life in our area.
So let’s have a little candor and honesty. The Port’s motto should be: “Where Nature is, shall asphalt be.” Or: “Cut it and pave it.” And, by the way, all of this is funded by our tax dollars. So we get to pay for the deterioration in quality of life.
Let the battle begin.
Friday, February 14 Report this
BobJacobs
John Van Eenwyk is absolutely correct. We need a full Environmental Impact analysis now. Doing it piecemeal, construction project by construction project, is an illegal attempt to circumvent the law.
Just the health impacts on thousands of us residents from noise, fine particulates, and lead from aircraft fuel are sufficient justification to require a full analysis. Not to mention endangered species, traffic, and all the other impacts.
The Port of Olympia is supposed to help protect our quality of life, but it's doing the opposite -- and sending us the bill.
Shameful.
Bob Jacobs.
Friday, February 14 Report this
RondaLarsonKramer
To understand Port leadership's likely motivations for creating a Master Plan that would result in such a dramatic increase in air traffic, one must understand the current demand for air cargo capacity. It has skyrocketed due to the growth of online retailers such as Amazon. The Plan would enable the Olympia Airport to become a regional air cargo hub. This would result in a dramatic increase in ultrafine particulate matter (UFP) and noise pollution in our county. With all the new huge warehouses recently built and planned in Tumwater, cargo flights would likely be occurring at all hours.
In fact, the Port leadership has been making plans quietly for years to greatly expand air traffic. The current Airport Master Plan Update is probably the most important step toward reaching that goal. The Port has chosen to name the document the "2021 Master Plan Update." But don't be fooled--it's not a "done deal." It is still open to being rejected or at least modified. The Commissioners are set to decide this on Monday, March 24, 2025, after a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. at Olympics Room, 626 Columbia Street NW, Suite 1B, Olympia, WA 98501.
Help stop the Olympia Airport from becoming a regional air cargo hub. Sigh the petition here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/stop-olympia-airport-growth?clear_id=true
On Facebook: Stop Olympia Airport Growth.
Friday, February 14 Report this
S2345S23456
It is SUCH BS to say this master plan wouldn't have a “probable significant adverse impact” on the environment. They're just trying to sweep the dirt under the carpet!! If they are SO SURE about this, then they would confidently not mind running an environmental impact review and statement. Avoiding an environmental review is a surefire sign they're not being transparent, are hiding something, and certainly don't want to care about the local people, neighborhoods, and habitat. This is a case of profit over people.
Friday, February 14 Report this
Boatyarddog
Now the Question becomes What Will Olympias People Do about this obvious transgression of Enviromentalism?
Friday, February 14 Report this
Boatyarddog
Really? No comments on Will Olympias community allow this transgression? Just sitting on our Hands is showing the Port that We Agree with their Master Plan.
We MUST ban together in Numbers And Force to Suceed!
Monday, February 17 Report this