Opposition Growing to Plans For New Sea-Tac Reliever Airport

Three possible site locations are under consideration as state officials predict the airport will max out its capacity by 2050.

Meg Godlewski

Friday, February 03, 2023 at 06:07 PM ET

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Pierce County, Washington already has busy airspace, as seen taking off from Pierce County-Thun Field (KPLU). Pilots must be mindful of a U.S. Air Force base to the west and the Class Delta that belongs to Tacoma Narrows Airport (KTIW). [Credit: Meg Godlewski]

Key Takeaways:

A proposal to build a new 3,000-acre airport to address Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's projected capacity issues faces widespread opposition in its initially proposed "greenfield" locations south of Seattle.
These proposed sites in Pierce and Thurston counties are being rejected by the public, local governments, and the military due to environmental concerns, noise, displacement, and incompatibility with existing military operations.
An alternative location in the Yakima Valley is under consideration, showing positive local interest and potential economic benefits, but would necessitate significant improvements to cross-state transportation infrastructure.
The Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission (CACC) is tasked with recommending a new airport site by June, noting the complete lack of governmental support for the currently identified "greenfield" options.

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A proposal to build a 3,000-acre airport to accommodate airline and cargo traffic south of Seattle continues to run into across-the-board opposition.

In October, the Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission (CACC) announced they were studying three locations—known as greenfields—for the construction of a new airport to handle passengers and cargo. The project, however, sparked opposition, which has been getting larger and louder ever since.