A cascade of polluting spills from the third runway project has upset local groups and officials of airport cities.

But there is little desire to return to previous legal battles with the Port of Seattle.

On. Jan. 13, the state Ecology Department levied an $81,000 fine against the Port, operators of Sea-Tac International Airport, and TTI Contractors, its prime runway contractor, for allowing six releases of muddy water into nearby creeks and for pumping industrial waste water into a storm-water treatment system.

The incidents occurred between October and December.

Ecology also required the Port to account for its methods of controlling stormwater runoff.

"We are giving the Port an opportunity to clean up its act," Larry Corvari, president of the Regional Commission on Airport Affairs (RCAA), declared last week.

His group is abiding by a gentleman's agreement to cooperate with the Port, but is keeping its options open, according to Corvari.

The RCAA is a nonprofit group that opposed the runway and favors a second regional airport.

RCAA officials plan to meet with the Port and Ecology Department before deciding what to do next.

Corvari describes the series of spills as "appalling."

Des Moines Mayor Bob Sheckler praises the Port for quickly alerting neighboring cities about the problems.

Sheckler, former chairman of the Airport Communities Coalition (ACC), said the Port is having obvious problems with its contractors and subcontractors.

"The big question is what action the Port is going to take with these people?" Sheckler observed. "They are exercising due diligence in reporting, but that doesn't take them off the hook."

There has been no talk among the cities of legal action, according to Sheckler.

The environmental problems won’t affect Des Moines’ cooperation with the Port on developing a business park at a former potential fill site, according to Sheckler.

The ACC was formed by the cities of Burien, Normandy Park, Des Moines, Tukwila and Federal Way as well as the Highline School District to oppose the third runway.

The Highline Forum replaced the group. Former ACC members plus the Port and the city of SeaTac meet once a month to foster communication and cooperation.

Greg Wingard, RCAA and Citizens Against Sea-Tac Expansion (CASE) water quality consultant, admits he “went out on a limb” when he helped negotiate an agreement between the groups and the Port on its stormwater discharge permit.

“Hostile would not be too harsh a word to describe the previous relationship,” Wingard observed. “It seemed like a page had been turned. It was a better day.”

Wingard said he was very disappointed when the spills began to happen.

“It’s a serious systemic ongoing problem. We expect the Port to really bite the bullet and figure out what went wrong.”

Not all the incidents were rain-related, so the problems cannot be blamed on the wet weather, he said.

Port staffers have assured him the problems will be fixed so he “cautiously expects improvement,” Wingard added.

But he believes Ecology’s $81,000 fine is insufficient.

“That’s just a write-off as a cost of business. It is not sufficient to get their attention.”

Bob Wright, Ecology’s on-site runway inspector, disagrees. He said the fine is on the higher end of the department’s usual assessments.

Although the project had been going relatively well considering its large scope, “communication and coordination between the Port and its contractor needs to be improved,” Wright observed.

Michael Feldman, assistant airport director, said he doesn’t blame local cities and groups for being upset.

“We are doing everything possible so it won't happen again and we can regain their confidence.”

Despite equipment mishaps and human errors that caused the problems, “the project has had a tremendous amount of success,” Feldman said.

He described the Port’s stormwater management system as “one of the most innovative that’s ever been used.”

When the Port finishes its environmental work on Miller Creek, “the creek will have never looked better,” Feldman added.

The Port has stepped up its inspections and training of contractor employees, he reported.

TTI will pay the entire fine amount, Feldman said.

Port staff is not recommending that the fine be appealed.

Brett Fish, CASE chairman , contends the reported spills are “only the tip of the iceberg.”

He points to unexplained Miller Creek water surges in Normandy Park.

But Wright said his investigation has found no evidence that the extra water is coming from Port property. He said he is doing more research and will issue a written report.

Wright added, “There is every indication” the runoff is coming from Burien’s detention pond near Five Corners.

He called the old pond that the city inherited from King County “a horrible situation.”

Fish disputes Wright’s evaluation.