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“Aircraft noise continues to adversely impact the residents of Queens including my constituents and they need relief,” Rep. Meng said.
By Forum Staff
Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-Flushing) has sent a letter to the head of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey calling for additional recommendations to be included in the agency’s new report that addresses aircraft noise over Queens and the surrounding region.
In her correspondence to Executive Director Rick Cotton, Meng said that the recently published “LaGuardia Airport Draft Noise Compatibility Program” does not go far enough to combat noise that for too long has negatively impacted borough residents.
The LaGuardia Airport Draft Noise Compatibility Program report is the Port Authority’s multi-year plan to mitigate noise in communities surrounding airports. The prepared document contains several noise reduction recommendations that will be sent to the Federal Aviation Administration for final consideration in early 2022. The recently released draft of the report allows for a public comment period before the final draft is submitted to the FAA.
In her correspondence, Meng requested that the following be included in the final version of the Port Authority’s report:
- Increased flight disbursal utilizing a combination of flight procedures which would reduce the concentration of planes flying over one area, alleviating noise corridors like those over Queens.
- Noise Abatement Departure Procedure 1 on Runway 13 which would allow airplanes to climb to 4,000 feet quicker and closer to the runway, resulting in less land exposed to low flying planes for a shorter duration.
- Reduced usage of Runway 13 departures. Departures on this runway face Queens and less usage would mean less noise towards local communities.
- Nighttime optimized profile descent procedures which would minimize needed engine power and the noise that results from it.
- Expand the sound-insulation of eligible residential units to include residences outside of the DNL 65 contours which would entitle more Queens residents to federal sound insulation programs to help block out noise from aircrafts.
- Include communities exposed to noise levels below DNL 65 in the scope of the study. DNL 65 (the Day-Night Average Sound Level) is the current standard at which the FAA determines acceptable noise levels in residential areas. Including lower DNLs would allow areas experiencing noise below DNL 65 to qualify for sound insulation to help reduce noise pollution in their homes.
- Air Traffic Controller noise sensitivity training and management oversight to ensure that controllers are aware of the impact of noise on communities, and the importance of mitigating it.
“Aircraft noise continues to adversely impact the residents of Queens including my constituents and they need relief,” Meng said. “This persistent noise pollution is not just an annoyance or inconvenience. It has direct effects on their health, harms quality of life and affects property values. Many constituents also report stress and trouble sleeping. We need more solutions to be addressed and I urge the Port Authority to include additional recommendations in this report, in particular the suggestions I specify in my letter. I look forward a receiving a swift response.”
The Quiet Skies Caucus, which Meng helped to launch and served as co-chair of several years ago, seeks solutions to excessive aircraft noise across the country.
