SEA Part 150
Noise Study
Project Overview
The Port of Seattle will begin a new multi-year Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibility Study update for SEA Airport in 2024.
A Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibility Study is a voluntary FAA program that sets guidelines for airport operators to document aircraft noise exposure, and to establish noise abatement and compatible land use programs. These noise abatement procedures and/or mitigation programs must be approved by the FAA in order to qualify for potential federal funding. This will be the fourth Part 150 update undertaken at SEA Airport since the initial study was conducted in 1985.
The study identifies and evaluates two components, (1) aircraft noise levels and (2) land uses, during two distinct phases of this study:
- Noise Exposure Maps (NEM) phase – contour maps are produced showing existing and future aircraft sound levels using the FAA-required 65 DNL noise metric.
- Noise Compatibility Program (NCP) phase – measures recommended in an NCP are designed to reduce noise and incompatible land uses within the noise exposure area. These may include noise abatement measures, noise mitigation measures such as sound insulation programs, and/or preventative measures.
Noise Exposure Map (NEM) Workshops
The Port recently held another series of workshops to provide an overview of the development and results for the Noise Exposure Maps (NEMs), as part of the Part 150 Study process. These workshops occurred on: September 30th, 2025 from 6:00 to 8pm at Parkside Elementary School in Des Moines, October 2nd, 2025 from 6:00 to 8:00pm at Seahurst Elementary School in Burien, October 4th, 2025 from 10:00am to noon at Glacier Middle School in SeaTac, and a virtual workshop was held via Zoom on October 15th, 2025 from 6:00pm until all study-related questions were answered.
Workshop materials are available in the Documents section of this website. The study includes extensive public engagement throughout the process.
