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Meng Calls on Port Authority to Provide More Recommendations for Combatting Aircraft Noise Over Queens

October 20, 2021

Congresswoman urges more solutions to be included in agency’s new report addressing noise; sends letter to Port Authority’s Executive Director

QUEENS, NY – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens), a founding member of the Congressional Quiet Skies Caucus, announced today that she 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 (FAA) 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.
"Aircraft noise continues to adversely impact the residents of Queens including my constituents and they need relief," said Congresswoman Meng. "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."
In her correspondence, Meng requested that the following be included in the final version of the Port Authority's report:
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Reduced usage of Runway 13 departures. Departures on this runway face Queens and less usage would mean less noise towards local communities.
  4. Nighttime optimized profile descent procedures which would minimize needed engine power and the noise that results from it.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
The text of Meng's letter is below, and a copy of the correspondence can be viewed here.
In August, Meng reintroduced the Quiet Communities Act, a bill that would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take over efforts to mitigate aircraft noise. The measure would reopen the agency's Office of Noise Abatement and Control which previously oversaw the nation's noise control activities until it was defunded by the Reagan Administration in 1981.
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.
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Executive Director Rick Cotton
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
4 World Trade Center
150 Greenwich Street
New York City, NY, 10007
Dear Executive Director Cotton,
As a founding member of the Quiet Skies Caucus and the Representative of New York's sixth congressional district, which borders LaGuardia Airport, I write in response to the recently published "LaGuardia Airport Draft Noise Compatibility Program." While I am optimistic about the proposed noise abatement measures outlined in this draft, I believe the plan does not go far enough to improve the quality of life of the Queens residents affected by airplane noise. I respectfully urge you to consider including the following recommendations in the final draft:
1. Increased flight disbursal utilizing a combination of flight procedures.
2. Noise Abatement Departure Procedure 1 (NADP1) on Runway 13.
3. Reduced usage of Runway 13 departures.
4. Nighttime optimized profile descent procedures.
5. Expand the sound-insulation of eligible residential units to include residences outside of the DNL 65 contours.
6. Include communities exposed to noise levels below DNL 65 in the scope of the study.
7. Air Traffic Controller noise sensitivity training and management oversight.
Airplane noise pollution is not merely an annoyance or inconvenience for many of my constituents. While it certainly does affect their property values and comfort, high levels of noise pollution have direct effects on their health as well. Data and studies conducted over decades confirm that noise pollution is a public health problem. I respectfully urge you to take these concerns seriously and hope that you consider the above measures.
I am concerned that the implementation of measures related to Runway 13 would take up to three years. Being within the contours of DNL 65, it is unacceptable to expect Flushing residents to endure those noise levels for any longer, as current airplane noise exposure is negatively impacting their health and wellbeing. While I applaud the improvements to the community that these abatement measures would make in Flushing, I ask that you consider expediting their development process.
It is in my opinion that the draft also broadly ignores the difficulties faced by households within the 55 DNL to 65 DNL contours. Many find themselves living under a "noise" corridor who would immediately benefit from increased flight disbursal using a combination of the TNNIS, GLDMN, NTHNS, and Whitestone Climb. My constituents in neighborhoods as far as nine miles from LaGuardia Airport are reporting migraines, stress, and trouble sleeping brought on by the persistent airplane noise. I am disappointed that the draft has chosen to limit its scope to the strict FAA standard. In light of substantial evidence that 55 DNL is sufficient to cause adverse health effects, I recommend the draft be revised to include these communities in its analysis and relief plans.
While I believe the draft proposal falls short in several regards, I was glad to see a proposal to sound-insulate eligible residential units to improve the noise level reduction of structures by at least 5 decibels (dB). I recommend this proposal be extended to residents in the 55 to 65 DNL range. A study of this policy – sound insulation for noise level reduction around LaGuardia Airport – determined that "changing the regulatory standard for noise exposure around airports from 65 dB to 55 dB comes at a very good value." While I understand this would incur an additional cost to the FAA and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, it is my belief that the benefits of reducing airplane noise pollution by even 5 decibels outweigh the expected increase in costs.
I hope to see the proposals in this draft improved upon and implemented as quickly as possible, as airplane noise continues to take a physical and emotional toll on my constituents. I look forward to working with the FAA, the Port Authority New York and New Jersey, and relevant communities to implement viable solutions for reducing the burden of airplane noise. I appreciate your giving my concerns your full and fair consideration, consistent with applicable statutes and regulations.
Sincerely,