SEATAC, Wash. - Angry momentum is building over Sea-Tac Airport's controversial new third runway, which began operations last November after years of delay.

Nearly 200 people packed a meeting with lawyers on Sunday, ready to battle the Port of Seattle in court over complaints of broken promises, noise, toxic fumes and other problems.

Many of these angry, frustrated residents live along or near 12th Avenue South in SeaTac, the neighborhood now directly under the flight path for all incoming flights for SeaTac, bringing with them plenty of noise and complaints.

At the meeting, many of them said they can't even get to sleep at night without wearing earplugs. And they're ready to go to court.

"It wakes me up at night and the early morning," says Colleen Criss, one of the homeowners at the meeting.

During the approval process for the runway, before construction began, port officials said it would only be used during poor weather and at other limited times.

But in past weeks as all incoming Sea-Tac flights have shifted to the new third runway, and complaints of noise, toxic fumes, and vibrations have increased greatly.

The Port of Seattle says it had no choice but to shift flights to the new runway because the FAA has required repairs to an older runway.

"It's gonna be noisier for a six-month period," says port spokesman Perry Cooper.

But many residents find it hard to believe anything the port says, and some are feeling naive for believing the runway was only for poor weather and limited use.

"They assured us that it would not be used as a primary runway - for bad weather," says homeowner Gerald James. "I'd like the port to live up to its commitment. I'm sure they want to live up to their word."

"I get no peace in my home," says Paula James. "There's no peace and quiet. There's incessant noise."

Now they and many of their neighbors are ready to fight.

Seattle-based trial lawyers are planning a class action lawsuit for property damage, and individual lawsuits could be filed for personal injury. They plan to file the suit by June 15.

"The law is clear that if a business operation like port of seattle clearly interferes with someone's property, they owe them to do the right thing," says trial lawyer Darrell Cochran, who was at Sunday's meeting.

But not everyone is hopeful that the lawsuit will accomplish anything.

"I'm not very hopeful, because of the port's past action and the ability to get away with anything they want to," says homeowner Barbara Melander.

The Port of Seattle says construction work on the older runway is on schedule. The port also has posted daily operations updates for the neighborhoods affected.