Examiner Backs Third Sea-Tac Runway

A hearing examiner has rejected a challenge to environmental studies for a third runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, but opponents say they’ll keep fighting the project.

Greg Smith, a Spokane city hearing examiner, dismissed the case brought by the Airport Communities Coalition on Friday, one week after a lawsuit by the same suburban group against the Puget Sound Regional Council for approving the project was dismissed in King County Superior Court.

Other suits against the runway remain pending and are expected to come to trial in May in Superior Court.

John Ranking, chairman of the opposition group, said Smith’s decision also would be appealed to Superior Court and probably will be combined with the earlier cases.

Port officials plan to have the runway ready for operation in 2005, saying it is needed to avoid landing delays in bad weather.