December 18, 2019

Centennial Airport (Denver Metroplex) CEO Robert Olisagers Writes A Letter To The FAA Expressing Frustration And Disappointment That The FAA Refused To Take Community Input Into Their Plans To Implement NextGen In The Denver Area. Highlights Include:

• “It is an understatement that we are disappointed by the fact that the FAA has completely ignored most comments presented to the FAA regarding the draft EA while proceeding unabated with pushing the DEN-Metroplex without any regard for the health, welfare, safety and quality of life of residents living underneath the proposed flight paths.”
• “The FAA claims the it collaborated with the Colorado Aviation Business Association (CABA) and the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) to develop the two approaches. This is an outright falsehood!“
• “The FAA consistently misapplies, misinterprets or ignores the definition of cumulative impacts as defined by NEPA.”
• “As has been stated before, the FAA completely ignores impacts below 3,000′ AGL, which makes any noise modeling deeply flawed.”
• “The FAA conveniently and again recklessly punts on aircraft noise by stating that….the General Study Area is beyond the scope of the proposed Metroplex Project Draft and Final EA, and that noise complaints related to local air traffic are best addressed by the local airport. It goes on to list five airport noise hotlines phone numbers. Centennial Airport is a listed airport within the General Study Area and the Part 150 NCP should have been included in the EA analysis!”
• By October 5, 2019, the FAA was required to submit to Congress pursuant to Section 173 and 188 of Subtitle “D” two studies related to aircraft noise metrics and the 65 Day-Night Level (DNL) standard. (As required in the 2018 FAA Reauthorization Act passed by Congress). It is unclear that these deliverables were submitted to Congress, yet these studies have a direct bearing on noise studies and the impact on humans exposed to aircraft noise, including Metroplex.”
• “The FAA currently has 11 active or completed Metroplex sites around the country and finding no significant impact. Yet, in virtually every community, implementation of Metroplex was followed by significant public outcry over the adverse impacts of overflight on the quality of life of residents living underneath the revised flight routes.” 

To see the full letter: http://www.centennialairport.com/images/FAA_Documents/DEN_Metroplex_Final_EA_Response_APA_12.18.2019-COM.pdf

October 23, 2019

The Cities of Medford, Somerville and Cambridge (Boston Area) Release A Joint Statement Calling On Massport And The FAA To Do Something To Alleviate The Harmful Air And Noise Pollution Being Caused By NextGen:

• “We recognize that hyper-concentration of jet noise represents an emergent public health problem for people who live in our cities, especially those who live directly under the flight paths. The cities are therefore in agreement on the need for noise dispersion and are eager to combine our voices with other communities affected by jet traffic from runway 33L.”
• “As leaders of our cities, we have the responsibility to ensure that the FAA changes the 33L departure procedures from one that unfairly and disproportionately exposes some citizens to one that geographically disperses noise in a fairer, more equitable way.”

To see the full letter: https://www.medfordma.org/2019/10/23/joint-statement-on-regional-airplane-noise/

March 5, 2018

Los Angeles City Attorney Michael N. Feuer, Los Angeles City Council President Herb J. Wesson, Jr., Councilmember, 11th District Mike Bonin And Councilmember, 8th District Marqueece Harris-Dawson Write A Letter To The FAA Requesting A Meeting With The FAA To Deal With The Air And Noise Pollution Caused By The SoCal Metroplex (NextGen) Implementation:

• “Residents, including those who live in predominately low-income and minority neighborhoods, report that their quality of life has suffered dramatically, just within the last few months.”

• “It is our understanding that despite repeated requests by Los Angeles residents and other participants in the LAX Noise Roundtable for explanations from FAA representatives concerning these issues, FAA has provided vague responses, even suggesting that due to pending litigation, representatives are unable to answer basic questions. FAA’s approach to date is not effective or respectful of our communities.”

To see the full letter: http://herbwesson.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Letter-to-D-Elwell_FAA_re-Metroplex-Noise-3-5-18.pdf

June 5, 2017

City Of Cherry Hills Village (Colorado) Mayor Laura Christman’s Letter To City Of Centennial Mayor And Metro Mayors Caucus Chair Cathy Noon Concerning The FAA’s NEPA Environmental Report In Advance Of Denver Area NextGen Implementation:

• “What the FAA failed to mention in their enthusiasm to quickly implement Denver Metroplex includes: Noise is calculated based upon an algorithm that inputs data the FAA deems relevant to ascertain whether there is “significant noise” upon the land below the new concentrated flightpath. All calculations are based upon persons inside with windows closed. The determination of “no signifiant impact” has no actual relationship to the noise being experienced at ground level.” 
• “In all regions where NextGen has been implemented ALL routes have been deemed by the FAA, in its various environmental reports, to have “no significant impact.” (It is amazing how one can control the result, when one controls the data and the algorithm).”
• “In Denver the FAA is trying very hard to garner “public comment”, while providing incomplete and misleading information, together with a concerted effort to actually prevent communities from accessing information pertaining to the routes or submitting comments that can be recorded or documented by third parties.” 

To see the full letter: https://www.cherryhillsvillage.com/DocumentCenter/View/385/Letter-from-Mayor-Christman-to-the-Metro-Mayors-Caucus-PDF

 May 11, 2017

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan’s Letter To Acting FAA Administrator Michael P. Huerta Regarding The FAA’s Lack Of Response To Problems Created By NextGen:

• “To date, there has been little to no action taken to mitigate this noise pollution. In fact, the problem has only metastasized into the National Capital Region and beyond.”
• “When the Maryland State Highway Administration designs and constructs new highways and bridges, we work hard to minimize the impact of traffic noise on our citizens. We do not willfully ignore the local communities and circumvent their input.”
• “Regardless, your agency has refused to make any meaningful adjustments. In fact, your agency stated at the April 18th meeting that the FAA would not return to the pre-NextGen flight paths, and would only make minor modifications. This is completely unacceptable. The FAA has a duty to listen and work with the communities it impacts. I am asking for the FAA to reconsider these procedures.”

To see the full letter: https://www.maacommunityrelations.com/_media/client/anznoiseupdate/2017/2017.05.11%20Governor%20Hogan%20Letter%20to%20Huerta%20Re%20NextGen.pdf

 September 28, 2016

Letter From Scottsdale Airport (Arizona) Aviation Director Gary Mascaro To FAA Vice President Of Air Traffic Organization Mission Support Services Elizabeth Ray Concerning Scottsdale’s Lack Of Representation In Stakeholder Discussions:

• “When the changes to the flight paths were made to Phoenix Sky Harbor, the City of Scottsdale began receiving increased complaints from residents about overflights and noise related to these changes. The impacts from these changes have significantly affected parts of our community.”
• “This is an important topic for our community. We would like the opportunity to be involved and share the concerns of our residents and, hopefully, come to an amenable solution to help alleviate some of these impacts.”

To see the full letter: https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Assets/ScottsdaleAZ/Airport/noise-information/timeline/Letter+from+director+to+FAA+re+participation.pdf