There’s Still Time: Port Master Plan Comments Due Before Midnight

— from Sadie Bailey —

These are only a few of the many questions, concerns, and suggestions that I and many others have, concerning this Preferred Plan Master Plan.

The transparency issues and flawed public process have been covered extensively already and they still exist, from affected landowners not knowing, to the advisory committee, to being told that our comments against expansion would be ignored.

The FAA’s Non-Discrimination policy for airports requires that once an airport takes AIP funding, it’s mandated to let in any aircraft that can take off and land from Orcas, including border control planes and helicopters. This is what we are getting with a B-2 airport: some of these border control planes and helicopters would be able to land in a runway separation to 240′ (it has little to do with runway length; we have enough length but allows planes up to 79′ wide) – this path increases danger, hazards, and noise to on-the-ground dense housing and businesses. RE: border control – as Clark Cundy has pointed out, some of these aircraft would be able to use a class B-2 airport:
Airport:www.cbp.gov/border-security/air-sea/aircraft-and-marine-vessels

The Port only owns the existing land south of the storage units on the east to widen the south runway separation to 240′, forcing a terminal and cargo facilities move, and forever changing the dog park/community garden corner since they own that piece, too. The lands going north would then have to be taken/bought to finish the 240′ separation so we’d still be out of compliance – but the mandate to comply would be embedded in this master plan.

Once we let in the safety solutions provided in this Master Plan, the FAA is not going to let us go backwards and un-do them, regardless what we are being told. We have to get it right this time, and be sure Public will is heard – and honored.

If the Port Commissioners go forward with this plan, please understand that people will sue the Port because they have before, over the Port’s attempted taking of their lands and forcing their agendas onto the people. Then there’s the ongoing wetland violations and numerous violations to the forested ecosystems surrounding the airport. These must stop. You can’t “mitigate” wetland destruction on a totally different piece of land – it never works.

The Port considers tree hazards but not fire hazards in their enlargement Plan. All of these things are potential fire hazards : Electric transformer station, fuel above-ground, above-ground propane tanks. In a severe wind tunnel situation such as Eastsound’s, any flammables that explode could create a fireball that would take out the town in a matter of moments; lives would be lost.

A sign going east on Mt. Baker Road and low lights with the red, yellow, and green idea (dark-sky solution only; no more sky light pollution, please!) are perfect and inexpensive solutions to the Mount Baker Road “safety problem.” I’m sure the FAA would agree with it if it had been presented as Public preference and an option. Many millions cheaper than moving a road into a wetland or digging a tunnel or building a bridge.

Fire and EMT response time if Mt. Baker Rd. is to be moved: have heard no statement on concerns from the Fire Dept. but now is the time to state these concerns.

No emergency access on Seaview Street, making moving the cargo facilities there a hazard.

I don’t want the helipad moved south to just near Mt. Baker Road, or the fueling station anywhere near flight paths since now it must be above-ground; I don’t want Jet-A fuel – it’s the most polluting of any fuel, it doesn’t belong anywhere near a wetland that is also a recharge for our drinking water. It’s unclear from the drawings if the helipad will be enlarged.

On the Border Control aircraft link above, there are many helicopter models included, as well as marine vessels. All of this contradicts the way of life we have all said we want to uphold, which includes keeping our friends and neighbors safe from threats of I.C.E and border patrol.

Noise from helicopters is far worse than the prop planes; we don’t want MORE and bigger helicopters. Citations and larger Jets: NO. (citations are already here) Jet-A fuel: NO. Keep our airport small and rural and solve safety issues within the existing footprint. NO to 240′ separation when 156′ can do the job. NO to runway being torn up before it’s in bad shape: pilots report that the runway is in fine shape and is not “deteriorating.”

Yes to solving terminal and cargo buildings issues; expansion if necessary at current locations and no border patrol, including at Brandt’s Landing if the Port cuts some kind of deal with them. We don’t WANT border patrol on Orcas.

Has the Port approached the FAA about all of our constraints? Has the Port applied for a Modification of Standards?

Environmental issues cover: Noise, stormwater and other pollutions, light pollution, traffic issues and congestion, wetlands, shoreline (eelgrass beds to the North must be protected at all costs for SRKWs), Cultural issues including First Nations and rural character of the island and village; compliance with CAO, SMP, Eastsound subarea plan and visioning, Existing land densities of a UGA with an airport embedded in the village (too late to make us all move!), potential hazards to us terrestrials below, as well as to pilots and passengers,

My advice to the Port Commissioners: Scrap this Plan altogether, go back to the drawing board, sit down with the Public this time from the outset, now that we’re all becoming aware of what’s going on, and spend another half million dollars if we have to with a different consultant, if necessary, to craft this in keeping with our rural, cultural character and working closely with the FAA – citizens AND the Port – and save millions of dollars going forward. Advisory Committee needs to be re-formed to fairly represent citizen stakeholders, not just industry-heavy. If we don’t stop it now, we will be in deeper and deeper with AIP monies by the many-millions. We’re already over $9 million in. Slow the train down – we are going on the wrong track.

There’s still time to comment – until midnight tonight. Please share your good ideas, concerns, and any remaining questions (or questions not satisfactorily answered) to DOWL and the Port.