Friday, October 2, 2026
The Port of Olympia has decided not to continue the process for adopting the Olympia Regional Airport’s updated master plan, an official said.
The master plan is a long-range planning document that describes how the airport is preparing for future demand. It includes proposed layouts that show reconfigured runways and taxiways, as well as areas designated for potential industrial, commercial, corporate and general aviation use.
The adoption of an updated plan would require the approval of the Port of Olympia Commission, a process that has been delayed due to an appeal against the project.
Black Hills Audubon Society and a group of residents formally appealed the port’s decision to forgo an environmental impact statement before the adoption of the updated plan.
In February 2025, the port issued a Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance (MDNS), which claimed the master plan would have no adverse environmental impacts due to proposed mitigation strategies. That meant the master plan did need a full environmental review under the Washington State Environmental Policy Act.
Port management also expressed several times that projects under the new plan would undergo individual environmental reviews.
Hearing Examiner Robert Mack reviewed the appeal. In October 2025, he released a decision that found potential impacts of the updated master plan can be identified to varying degrees.
He mandated the port to submit a plan to account for various considerations, including whether the port could pursue a phased environmental review of the projects detailed in the master plan.
Mack also asked the port to consider an amendment to the MDNS or prepare an environmental impact statement in case it decides not to modify the determination.
In a statement last week, Director of Environmental & Planning Programs Shawn Gilbertson said the port officially withdrew the MDNS on May 14 and will not seek approval of the plan from the commission at this time.
Port staff will instead “work with the commission on a process for considering future development at the airport," he said.
Gilbertson added that future development proposals will include community engagement.
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RondaLarsonKramer
Thank you to the Port of Olympia for withdrawing the MDNS and pausing adoption of the airport master plan update, thereby delaying an increase in air traffic. This was the right decision.
SEPA (the State Environmental Policy Act) exists so that the public and decision-makers can understand the environmental consequences of major long-range planning decisions before those decisions are made. The updated airport master plan identified specific areas for future aviation, industrial, and commercial development, and those impacts deserved meaningful environmental review. The Port should not have issued the MDNS without conducting that review.
I also appreciate JOLT’s continued coverage of this issue. Local land use and environmental decisions shape communities for generations, and informed public discussion is essential.
Wednesday, May 27 Report this
JulesJames
Olympia Airport is likely a prime target for electric/hybrid air taxi. Creating a TSA security operation with a secure shuttle to Sea-Tac would be an excellent low cost test for demand. Cheap parking, maybe four shuttles north a day.
Wednesday, May 27 Report this
RondaLarsonKramer
@JulesJames, air taxis don’t need airports. They use vertiports. That enables them to be located closer to where customers are, instead of far away from a city center. The Olympia Airport is not a good candidate for a vertiport because it’s not conveniently located. It’s economically not where an air taxi company would choose to locate.
Thursday, May 28 Report this
johnvaneenwyk
Thank you, JOLT for keeping us updated onthis matter (as well as many others). The JOLT is an essential link in the chain of transparencey for the public.
Thursday, May 28 Report this
Person of Interest
Electric Airplanes are not something that will happen in the next twenty years. They do not have the battery power to move freight or many passengers. Like electric ferries there is much more progress required on battery technology before these mode of transportation becomes a an economic reality. Also the cost of operating electric air taxis and electric ferries would need to be subsidized. When this technology does mature you will need infrastructure to charge and maintain the fleet. A regional airport with this infrastructure makes the most sense. Also the FAA will be regulating this air traffic and will not be allowing these air taxis to land at your house.
Thursday, May 28 Report this
36098501
Rhonda Larson Kramer - That is a good point, and an important point to make that things in the future won't behave like the things they are replacing.
Olympia isn't on the forefront of technology, but it won't be long until companies like WayMo come here and change the way people think about transportation.
We are seeing the challenges with moving towards electrification, its impact on the grid and the need for battery storage to make it all work. Throw in some datacenters, more AI use, and the picture quickly gets complicated - and expensive - and controversial.
Like you note, things we just assume as we always have don't apply to these innovations.
Thursday, May 28 Report this
Skywarrior-Pilot
Common sense has finally arrived via an expensive process. The airport is municipal in nature and adequately serves emergency services and general aviation well.
Increased traffic, heavier jets and maintenance facilities would burden the surrounding urban and suburban properties, as well as the air shed which is already over boosted with polluted from I-5. Witness the "Can Truck" traffic, as the result of terminal closure in Portland.
Don't expect this issue to go away! There are always business interests ready to overuse public facilities for private gain. The burden on the people be damned.
Thursday, May 28 Report this
Southsoundguy
Nobody wants this to turn into a massive airport. It is a general aviation airport, that is it. Fake "growth" imperatives are a disease.
Thursday, May 28 Report this
Boatyarddog
Southsoundguy, in Your case, the "disease" is denialism. And its all over your posts. No one is correct.. except you.
Thursday, May 28 Report this
Taxpayer
Allowing four flights a day with a 50 passenger commuter jet to SLC and/or SFO would hardly be noticed By the local community and be a huge benefit. It would cut down I5 and SEA traffic and save locals a lot of time and frustration. KOLM is a general aviation airport that is required to serve local aviation needs.....GET OVER IT!
Thursday, May 28 Report this
Southsoundguy
lol boatyard wants a massive airport in Tumwater!
Friday, May 29 Report this
Boatyarddog
Southsoundguy, I will spell it out for you, "growth" is Not Fake. Obviously, NO One we wants a major airport in or Near Tumwater. My comment to you is about your lack of relating truth in your posts, you think saying something is "fake" or people have a "mental illness" as you've said many times if they identify as Trans will be believed by people. But it shows how stuck in your denialism you really are. To the point of a absurdity. We're NOT having an Airport here, IT DOES REQUIRE A FULL EIS, that's scary to those planners. It is NOT an Insignificant Change to the Ecosystem as they would LOVE to believe, the same is true for "Westbay Yards".
Friday, May 29 Report this