Stormwater and other hazardous wildlife attractants near airports pose a significant safety risk in our state and around the nation.
- Aircraft wildlife strikes are the second leading cause of aviation-related fatalities.
- Washington State recorded 696 bird strikes between 1990-2002.
- About 75% of all civil aviation air strikes occur near airports.
- Waterfowl, gulls and raptors represent 77% of reported bird strikes causing damage to aircraft in the U.S. between 1990-2002.
In 2004 Senators Haugen, Mulliken, Horn, Morton, Plug and Kastama drafted Senate Bill 6173. The bill required stormwater and wetland mitigation for the state’s public use airports to promote safety. Later amended as Substitute Senate Bill 6173 the bill moved from the House to the Senate but was unable to move out of the House Resource and Agriculture Lands Committee. As a result Senator Haugen directed WSDOT to gather interested parties to explore solutions to stormwater and other wildlife attractants near airports.
WSDOT formed the Hazardous Wildlife Attractants Near Airports task force in 2004. Members include state and federal representatives from:
- Federal Aviation Administration
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Ecology
- Department of Fish and Wildlife
- State House of Representatives
- State Senate
- Washington Public Ports Association
- Sierra Club
- Audubon Society
- Task Force Recommendations
After two meetings in April 2004, the task force recommended:
- WSDOT Aviation taking the lead on a draft memorandum of understanding with the FAA and other agencies to work together on aviation-related stormwater issues.
- Developing a technical committee to address short and long-term solutions that meet both state and federal regulations and best management practices.
- Pursuing funding options to develop an aviation stormwater manual, technical committee and research on best management practices.
- Status Report
- WSDOT has secured a $190,000 grant from the FAA to study issues surrounding hazardous wildlife attractants near airports.
- WSDOT using on-call stormwater consultant services contract to secure Herrera and Parametrix, Inc. as its consultants.
- WSDOT met for a third time with the task force to discuss the production and contents of an aviation stormwater manual.
- Consultants will work to develop a timeline and scope of work for the project.
Airport Stormwater Guidance Manual Briefing Paper (pdf 758 kb)
Airport Stormwater Guidance Manual Technical Memo (pdf 257 kb)
Airport Stormwater Guidance Manual Communication Plan (pdf 35 kb)
September 26, 2007 Meeting Summary (pdf 31 kb)
December 18, 2006 Meeting Summary (pdf 23 kb)
April 8, 2004 Stormwater Meeting Summary
March 13, 2006 Stormwater Meeting Summary
Presentations
Task Force Meeting: December 18, 2006 pdf 1 mb)
Task Force Meeting: September 26, 2007 (pdf 1 kb)