Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 53.54 - Aircraft Noise Abatement.
53.54.030 - Authorized programs—When property deemed within impacted area.

RCW 53.54.030
Authorized programs—When property deemed within impacted area.

(1) For the purposes of this chapter, in developing a remedial program, the port commission may take steps as appropriate including, but not limited to, one or more of the following programs:
(a) Acquisition of property or property rights within the impacted area, which shall be deemed necessary to accomplish a port purpose. The port district may purchase such property or property rights by time payment notwithstanding the time limitations provided for in RCW 53.08.010. The port district may mortgage or otherwise pledge any such properties acquired to secure such transactions. The port district may assume any outstanding mortgages.
(b) Transaction assistance programs, including assistance with real estate fees and mortgage assistance, and other neighborhood remedial programs as compensation for impacts due to aircraft noise and noise associated conditions. Any such programs shall be in connection with properties located within an impacted area and shall be provided upon terms and conditions as the port district shall determine appropriate.
(c) Programs of soundproofing structures located within an impacted area. Such programs may be executed without regard to the ownership, provided the owner waives damages and conveys an easement for the operation of aircraft, and for noise and noise associated conditions therewith, to the port district.
(d) Mortgage insurance of private owners of lands or improvements within such noise impacted area where such private owners are unable to obtain mortgage insurance solely because of noise impact. In this regard, the port district may establish reasonable regulations and may impose reasonable conditions and charges upon the granting of such mortgage insurance. Such mortgage insurance fees and charges shall at no time exceed fees established for federal mortgage insurance programs for like service.
(e) Management of all lands, easements, or development rights acquired, including but not limited to the following:
(i) Rental of any or all lands or structures acquired;
(ii) Redevelopment of any such lands for any economic use consistent with airport operations, local zoning and the state environmental policy;
(iii) Sale of such properties for cash or for time payment and subjection of such property to mortgage or other security transaction: PROVIDED, That any such sale shall reserve to the port district by covenant an unconditional right of easement for the operation of all aircraft and for all noise or noise conditions associated therewith.
(2)(a) An individual property may be provided benefits by the port district under each of the programs described in subsection (1) of this section. However, an individual property may not be provided benefits under any one of these programs more than once, unless the property:
(i) Is subjected to increased aircraft noise or differing aircraft noise impacts that would have afforded different levels of mitigation, even if the property owner had waived all damages and conveyed a full and unrestricted easement; or
(ii) Contains a soundproofing installation, structure, or other type of sound mitigation equipment product or benefit previously installed pursuant to the remedial program under this chapter by the port district that is determined through inspection to be in need of a repair or replacement.
(b) Port districts choosing to exercise the authority under (a)(ii) of this subsection are required to conduct inspections of homes where mitigation improvements are no longer working as intended. In those properties, port districts must work with a state certified building inspector to determine whether package failure resulted in additional hazards or structural damage to the property.
(3) A property shall be considered within the impacted area if any part thereof is within the impacted area.

[ 2021 c 65 § 3. Prior: 2020 c 112 § 1; 2020 c 105 § 3; 1993 c 150 § 1; 1985 c 115 § 1; 1974 ex.s. c 121 § 3.]
NOTES:

Explanatory statement—2021 c 65: "RCW 1.08.025 directs the code reviser, with the approval of the statute law committee, to prepare legislation for submission to the legislature "concerning deficiencies, conflicts, or obsolete provisions" in statutes. This act makes technical, nonsubstantive amendments as follows:
(1) Section 2 of this act decodifies an obsolete section.
(2) Sections 3 through 5 of this act merge double amendments created when sections were amended in the 2020 legislative session without reference to the amendments made in the same session.
(3) Chapter 20, Laws of 2020 (SHB 2246) reorganized certain environmental statutes and recodified numerous statutes to create a new Title 70A RCW. Sections 6 through 102 of this act update and correct many of the RCW citations impacted by chapter 20, Laws of 2020.
(4) Section 103 of this act corrects an erroneous chapter reference.
(5) Sections 104 through 108 of this act clarify references to the effective date of chapter 11.130 RCW." [ 2021 c 65 § 1.]