Chronological Index for August 1997

1990: Sep
1994: Jul Sep
1996: Jun Jul Sep Oct Nov Dec
1997: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
1998: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov
1999: Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2000: Jan Feb Mar Apr


August 1997

Chicago Has Soundproofed 600 Suburban Homes to Compensate for Jet Noise. Governing Magazine reports that Chicago officials have soundproofed more than 600 homes in an effort to satisy homeowners disturbed by jet noise from O'Hare International Airport.

August 3, 1997

Regional Wisconsin Airport Builds New Runway to Improve Noise Levels Over Neighborhoods. The Wisconsin State Journal reports that this summer, work is beginning on a runway at the Dane County Regional Airport near Madison, Wisconsin. The new runway is being constructed in order to reduce noise levels for nearby residents and to improve safety, according to Airport Director Peter Drahn.

Resident Says if Florida Airport Allowed to Grow, Noise and Safety Problems Will Worsen. The Orlando Sentinel Tribune printed the following letter-to-the-editor from Robert Betts, a Lake Mary, Florida resident, regarding noise problems from the Orlando-Sanford Airport:

Chicago and Suburb of Bensenville Argue Over Who Can Talk at Public Meeting About Airport Soundproofing Plan. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that officials in Bensenville, Illinois invited residents to a meeting Tuesday to learn about how and when soundproofing would be done in a program to dampen jet noise from O'Hare International Airport. The article says that Chicago aviation officials were furious when they weren't allowed to do the talking, but contractors were.

August 4, 1997

Editors Advise Giving Chicago's "Fly Quiet" Nighttime Aircraft Noise Reduction Plan Another Chance. The Chicago Sun-Times printed an editorial which argues that Chicago's "Fly Quiet" voluntary nighttime noise reduction plan for O'Hare International Airport flights should be given a second chance. The program has only been underway for a month, the article points out, and deserves a longer chance to see if it will work.

Resident Says Albany's Noise Laws are not Adequate or Enforced. The Times Union printed the following letter-to-the-editor from Paul Tick, a resident and chair of the Environment Committee, regarding noise regulations in Albany, New York:

New Technology for Stage 3 Aircraft Standards Completes FAA Certification. Aviation Week and Space Technology reports that Raisbeck Commercial Air Group, Inc. of Seattle has completed Federal Aviation Administration certification of its noise abatement system for the Boeing 727-100. The new system allows planes to meet Stage 3 aircraft noise requirements without the use of hushkits, which till now were the only method available.

City in New York Continues Campaign to Ban Nightly Truck Traffic on Residential Street. The Capital District Business Review reports that the city of Watervliet, New York is continuing its campaign to ban most nightly truck traffic on 25th Street, a residential street that has provided access to the major routes into and out of the city for nearly a century. Previous ordinances have been implemented twice, but have been challenged successfully in court. Each time, the ordinance has been rewritten by the city to address problems arising from the court challenges. Now, the city council is considering whether to enact another rewritten ordinance, and is seeking public input at a public hearing on August 7.

Europe Continues to Limit Aircraft Noise. Aircraft Value News reports that several recent actions in Europe have continued to place limitations on aircraft noise. As a result, the article says, residual values for a number of aircraft types may be called into question.

Aviation Industry Angry Over Move by European Body to Place Further Restrictions on Chapter 2 Aircraft. Commuter/Regional Airline News International reports that the aviation industry is reacting in anger over moves by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) to prevent the influx of hushkitted Chapter 2 aircraft into its 36 member countries after April 1, 1999, three years ahead of the date set for all Chapter 2 aircraft to be banned from ECAC countries. The article reports that ECAC officials also have said they intend to recommend that Chapter 2 aircraft not be allowed to join the ECAC fleet after April 1999, even if they are fitted with hushkits to bring them into compliance with Chapter 3 noise level standards. It is believed that ECAC has proposed the earlier date in order to stop Chapter 2 aircraft from flooding their market if, as expected, the aircraft are banned in North America before 2000, the article says.

August 5, 1997

Debate Over Aircraft Noise at New Zealand Airport Begins in the Environment Court. The Evening Post reports that the Environment Court in Wellington, New Zealand is being asked to decide how Wellington Airport and its neighbors can best live with each other. A three-week court hearing started yesterday to hear appeals against airport noise provisions in Wellington City Council's proposed District Plan. Judge Shonagh Kenderdine, assisted by three environment commissioners, is hearing the case.

Residents Concerned About Possible Airfield Expansion in Wisconsin City. The Capital Times reports that residents in Middleton, Wisconsin who are concerned about possible expansion of Morey Field told town officials that airpcraft noise is already a problem at the airfield. The city is considering purchasing the airport as an option to having it develop as a private business park.

Amsterdam Airport Accused of Negligence by Aviation Authority for Delay in Instituting Noise Mitigation Measures. ANP English News Bulletin reports that civil aviation authorities in the Netherlands are accusing officials at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport of negligence because they delayed implementing noise mitigation measures that would prevent the airport from exceeding national noise limits. Civil aviation authority officials said the airport did not need to get approval from the government before implementing its latest plan to ban nighttime flights.

August 6, 1997

Residents in Chicago Lobby for Noise Walls. The Chicago Tribune reports hundreds of residents along Chicago's tollways, including those in the Orchard Brook, Hoffman Estates, and Burr Ridge subdivisions, have petitioned the Illinois Toll Highway Authority to build noise barriers. Officials from the authority, however, are making no promises about building noise barriers, which they say are expensive.

Amsterdam Airport Institutes Ban on Night Flights to Reduce Noise. The ANP English News Bulletin reports that the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, the Netherlands Tuesday instituted a ban on night flights to avoid exceeding the country's noise pollution limits. The ban was approved late Monday by Transport Minister Annemarie Jorritsma, who described the plan as insufficient and called for a revised plan to be presented by September.

Noise Complaints are Down at Orlando Airport. The Orlando Sentinel Tribune reports that between June and July, noise complaints about jet noise from the Orlando Sanford (Florida) Airport fell by 124. Airport officials hope new noise mitigation measures may have helped reduce complaints, but they agree there may have been other reasons for the reduction.

Italy Places Partial Ban on Nighttime Aircraft Flights. The Xinhua News Agency reports that the Italian Ministry of Environment issued a decree today that will partially ban aircraft takeoffs and landings at domestic airports at night, in an effort to curb noise pollution for residents near airports. The ban will go into effect next June 30.

August 7, 1997

New Hearing on Railroad Noise in Washington City Scheduled. The Seattle Times reports that the City Council in Everett, Washington has scheduled a new public hearing to review a proposed ordinance that would limit noise from the "makeup yard" at the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad yard. The public hearing is set for 7 pm on August 20 in order to accomodate citizens who couldn't attend a morning hearing yesterday.

August 8, 1997

Residents Near Baltimore Get Traffic Noise Barriers. The Baltimore Sun reports that residents along the northeastern edge of Interstate 695 outside Baltimore, Maryland are getting 26-foot noise barriers this summer to protect them from traffic noise. The barriers eventually are intended to provide noise relief to 1,173 homes in seven communities at a cost of $44.2 million.

Study in Wisconsin Finds that Noise from Grooved Highway Pavement Can be Reduced. M2 Presswire released a press release from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation that reports a new study has found that the whine caused by vehicles traveling over grooved highway pavement can be reduced by spacing the grooves or "tines" in a random pattern. The study was funded by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), and was conducted by Marquette University in cooperation with the Wisconsin Concrete Pavement Association and the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

August 10, 1997

Aircraft Noise Debate Continues in Florida City. The Palm Beach Post reports that complaints about aircraft noise have been increasing in variety, number, and ferocity in Boca Raton, Florida and surrounding communities. Recent debate has focused on the planned $1 million construction of an air-traffic control tower for the Boca Raton Airport next year, which opponents believe will attract more air traffic and noise. Meanwhile, a resident on a noise committee formed earlier this year said the committee has not been very effective so far.

Airline Pilot Argues That Flight Test at California's Proposed El Toro Airport Wouldn't Work. The Los Angeles Times printed an editorial by George Mon, an airline captain from Laguna Niguel, California, regarding noise from the proposed conversion of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station to a commercial airport. The writer argues that a plan to conduct flight tests to allow residents to assess the noise impact of a commercial airport would not work.

Chicago O'Hare Airport Noise Fight Shows No Sign of Abating. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the long-standing fight between the City of Chicago and the suburbs over aircraft noise from O'Hare Airport has shown no sign of abating this summer, even with the implementation of the city's "Fly Quiet" program. The article summarizes the history of the fight, as well as the major issues and proposed solutions.

Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers Illegal in LA, But Debate Over Their Use Continues. Newsday reports that an ordinance that went into effect on July 1 in Los Angeles, California bans the use of leaf blowers within 500 feet of homes. One week after the ordinance took effect, however, enforcement was postponed for six months at the urging of the Los Angeles Police Department. Meanwhile, the article reports, the debate over the use of leaf blowers continues, garnering both strong support and strong opposition.

Tests in San Francisco Movie Theaters Show that Some Movie Sound Levels Break 100 Decibels. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Robert Sweetow, audiology director at the University of California at San Francisco, has tested sound levels at San Francisco Bay Area theaters and found that the sound level of some movies exceed 100 decibels, the noise level generated by a jackhammer. Loud sound levels at movies have been encouraged by sophisticated audio technology which now allows soundtracks to be played at very loud levels without fuzziness or distortion, the article says. Unnecessarily loud preview trailers before movies are also an issue, and according to Barry Reardon, president of Warner's Distribution, an industry task force of movie companies and theater owners is trying to standardize and lower preview trailer volumes.

August 11, 1997

More Local Laws on Long Island and Around the Country Ban or Limit Leaf Blower Use. Newsday reports that residents and officials on New York's Long Island and in other communties around the country are increasingly complaining about and seeking to pass laws restricting the use of leaf blowers. The article goes on to explore restrictions in Long Island communities, including a ban enacted by the Village of Great Neck Estates in June on the summertime use of gasoline-powered blowers. In addition, the article explores the history of leaf blowers, the health effects of leaf blowers, and attempts by leaf blower manufacturers to make the machines quieter and more palatable to residents.

August 12, 1997

Chicago and Suburbs Argue Over Soundproofing for Multi-Family Dwellings. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that officials from Chicago and nearby Bensenville are arguing with each other over who is responsible for excluding apartments and condominiums from the program to soundproof buildings against jet noise from O'Hare International Airport.

August 15, 1997

California State Senator Lobbies to Strenghten State Law on Airport Noise. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Calfornia State Senator Quentin Kopp plans to introduce legislation that will give the state more power to minimize noise at airports. Kopp said at a public hearing in San Mateo yesterday that noise from increased air traffic at San Francisco International Airport is becoming a bigger problem for San Mateo County residents.

Colorado Airport Board Votes to Keep a Ban on Heavy Jets. The Rocky Mountain News reports that the Centennial Airport Board in Arapahoe County, Colorado voted Thursday to refuse to open the airport's runways to large corporate jets, giving a victory to opponents of airport expansion and of increased noise pollution. However, the article says, the board hedged on whether it will permit so-called through-the-fence cargo operations, which opponents fear will encourage more noisy cargo flights into the airport. The board had postponed its decisions until Thursday after several hundred people packed a hearing room June 19 to oppose the measures, the article says.

Florida Airport Offers Money to Construction Firm to Speed Runway Reconstruction. The St. Petersburg Times reports that the Hillsborough County (Florida) Aviation Authority decided Thursday to reward the contractor of a runway reconstruction job at Tampa International Airport up to $4,000 per day for every day shaved off the project's completion deadline of October 28. Authority officials offered the incentive to encourage quicker completion of the project, which has brought noise complaints, weight restrictions on cargo planes, and delays for airport passengers.

Florida Library Patrons Disturbed by Noise from Kids in the Children's Section. The St. Petersburg Times reports that patrons of the Countryside library branch in Clearwater, Florida have complained about children's voices carrying through the building ever since the library opened nine years ago. The children's section is not separated from the rest of the library in a separate room, and proposals for an addition to the library to solve the problem have met with funding limitations, the article explains.

New Rules at Washington Air Force Base Should Reduce Noise. The News Tribune reports that aircraft landings at McChord Air Force Base near Tacoma, Washington should be quieter from now on, due to new minimum altitude requirements that go into effect today.

Restrictions on Air Tours at National Parks Receives Attention in Utah. The Washington Post reports that one of the hottest controveries at Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park and other national parks is the pending federal regulations of air tours over the parks. Past and current attempts to limit air tours over the Grand Canyon will play a part in determining what regulations are formed for all national parks, the article says. The controversy has pitted backpackers, environmentalists, and some park superintendents against the air tour industry.

United Airlines Will Install Passenger Noise Cancellation Devices in its Fleet. Airline Industry Information reports that United Airlines has announced it will install passenger integrated noise cancelling electronics and active-ready headsets in its First and Connoisseur Class seats. Installation of the devices will begin in the Fall of 1997 on the airline's 767-300 and 747-400 fleets, and is expected to be completed on all three of the airline's fleets by early 1999, the article says.

August 16, 1997

Cordless Lawn Mowers Cut the Noise and Offer Other Benefits. The Sacramento Bee printed a question-and-answer column regarding cordless lawn mowers. In response to a reader's question about the feasibility of buying and using a cordless mower, the columnist writes that for anyone with up to a half-acre lot, a cordless rechargeable lawn mower is the best option available for many reasons.

Landing Slots at Amsterdam Airport to be Apportioned by Independent Administrator. The Financial Times (London) reports that Annemarie Jorritsma, the Netherlands Transport Minister, said she would seek clearance from Brussels to declare Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport a "co-ordinated airport," with landing slots apportioned by an independent administrator, in an attempt to address noise problems. If the regulation goes through, airlines would be forced to surrender some of their present scheduled times at the airport and would be allocated other times. The announcement comes the day after a ruling by a Haarlem court that the airport must rescind a ban on night flights by older, noisier jets in an attempt to not exceed legal noise limits.

Public Hearing on Noise Plan at Indianapolis Airport is Delayed. The Indianapolis News reports that the Indianapolis Airport Authority voted Friday to delay a public hearing on a noise mitigation plan for the airport by 30 days. The hearing was set for August 25, but the Plainfield Town Council sent a letter to the authority asking for a 90-day delay. In a related development, the Town of Plainfield decided this week to hire a consultant to study the noise plan for the town.

August 17, 1997

Rhode Island Airport Grows and Noise Complaints Increase. The Providence Journal-Bulletin reports that air traffic at the T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, Rhode Island is booming, due in part to a new air terminal that opened 11 months ago and by the introduction of Southwest Airlines to the airport. Meanwhile, residents living near the airport are complaining more and more about the noise from the growing airport. In recent developments, Air Ontario and Southwest announced plans Thursday to add service to Toronto, Iceland, and Luxembourg; the City Council Tuesday asked the state Department of Health to conduct an independent noise study; and a City Councillor has a resolution pending that would require a portion of the airport's landing fees be given to the city. The article details the history of attempts to measure noise impacts at the airport.

August 18, 1997

Court Rules That Amsterdam Airport Doesn't Have Authority to Limit Nighttime Flights. The ANP English News Bulletin reports that a court in Haarlem, Netherlands ruled Friday that the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam did not have the authority to limit air traffic and control noise pollution levels by imposing a ban on night flights by wide-body planes. The suit was brought by a number of airlines, led by the charter airline Martinair.

Florida Airport Offers Money to Airlines That Fly Quiet Jets. The Sun-Sentinel reports that officials from the Palm Beach (Florida) International Airport want to return some of the fees airlines have paid as a penalty for flying noisy airplanes after an airline flies 80% or more of its flights using quieter "Stage 3" jets. Airport officials plan to bring their proposal before county commissioners Tuesday.

Maine Resident Decries the Noisiness of Life Outdoors. The Kennebec Journal printed an editorial from George Smith, a Mount Vernon, Maine resident, which says that quiet is an important aspect of life in Maine that is not appreciated, understood, protected or respected. The writer goes on to detail several personal experiences he has had with noise or the absence of noise in the outdoors, including noise from trains, personal watercraft, barking dogs, and loud radios, and the affect of noise on fish.

August 19, 1997

British Residents Fear Noise While Airport Promises Jobs. The Northern Echo of England reports that plans are going forward at Teesside Airport to build one to the United Kingdom's biggest freight distribution centers. The warehouse has been at the center of a controversy in spite of its promise to create thousands of jobs. Nearby residents object to the likelihood of unrelenting road and air traffic as well as noise and air pollution.

Chicago Suburb Rejects Proposal to Join Chicago Airport Noise Commission and Supports Federal Legislation to Restore Noise Regulation Power to EPA. The Chicago Tribune reports that the Park Ridge (Illinois) City Council voted unanimously Monday night to reject a proposal to join the City of Chicago's O'Hare Airport Noise Commission. In addition, the council voted to endorse federal legislation that would restore the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's authority to regulate noise emissions, the article reports.

Dutch Government Agrees to Speed Up Plans for a Fifth Runway at Amsterdam Airport. AP Worldstream reports that the Dutch government agreed Monday to accelerate work on a fifth runway at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport. The runway project is designed to decrease noise in neighborhoods near the airport by providing another landing strip for incoming jets.

German Judge Rules that Couple Must Quiet Their Love-Making. The Deutsche Presse-Agentur reports that a judge ruled Tuesday that a German couple from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia will have to quiet their love-making or else risk a fine of up to 500,000 marks ($275,000). The judge ruled that failure to comply with the court order also could lead to a prison sentence. The case was brought by a neighbor tired of hearing the noise next door, the article says.

Landing Fees for Airlines Cut at Two California Airports. Business Wire released a press release that reports the Los Angeles World Airports Board of Airport Commissioners agreed Tuesday to lower landing fees for aircraft using Los Angeles and Ontario International Airports. The noise mitigation programs normally paid for through landing fees will now be funded through passenger facility charges levied on each traveler.

Massachusetts Town Councillor Asks Residents to Support Proposed Noise Bylaw. The Telegram & Gazette reports that Dale Johonnett, a Southbridge, Massachusetts Town Councillor, urged residents last night to let their town councillors know they support a proposed noise control bylaw or it may be defeated.

Missouri Citizens Group Calls for Local Officials to Take a Stand on Pursuing Noise Agreement with Airport. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that members of St. Charles (Missouri) Citizens Against Aircraft Noise (CAAN) are urging more aggressive action by local officials in pursuing a noise agreement with city officials in St. Louis over noise from Lambert Field. CAAN opposes an airport expansion plan favored by St. Louis officials that would extend a runway two miles closer to St. Charles. CAAN members have staged a rally for September 6 and are urging officials who support the group to attend and speak at the event.

More Noisy Streetcars to be Bought in San Francisco. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Board of Supervisors voted yesterday to allow San Francisco's Municipal Railway to buy 59 more Italian-built Breda streetcars, despite problems with the streetcars that include screeching noise and vibrations that shake houses.

Rhode Island Airport Redevelopment Plan Seeks to Eliminate Residential Neighborhood. The Providence Journal-Bulletin reports that the phenomenal growth of the T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, Rhode Island has led city officials hoping to capitalize on the airport's success to propose an Airport Economic Redevelopment Plan, in which Hillsgrove is targeted for more commercial and light-industrial development. The plans would eliminate the neighborhoods in the historic village. The article details the history of Hillsgrove, and the sentiments of residents who eventually will lose their homes.

August 20, 1997

British Police Will Enforce Noise Restrictions on Car Stereos. According to The Northern Echo of England, government officials are preparing to award police with more powers to combat loud car stereos in England.

Debate Continues About Whether an Airport Control Tower Will Increase or Lower Noise in a Florida City. The Sun-Sentinel reports that debate continues in Boca Raton, Florida over whether an airport control tower at Boca Raton Airport, scheduled for construction by the end of the year, will reduce or increase noise levels. On Tuesday, Philip Jones, an air controller for RVA Associates Inc., the company that would run the tower planned for the airport, told members of the airport's noise advisory committee that a tower can help improve noise problems by permitting air traffic controllers to tell pilots to use specific flight routes that avoid residential areas.

Groups Battling Over Noise Issues at New Zealand Airport Reach an Agreement. The Dominion reports that the groups involved in an Environment Court hearing against provisions in the Wellington (New Zealand) City Council's district plan regarding acceptable noise controls for the Wellington Airport have signed a consent order, agreeing to settle their differences, after a week of court-ordered mediation. The Residents Airport Noise Action Group, Wellington International Airport Ltd, the Board of Airline Representatives, and Wellington City Council presented the consent order to Judge Shonagh Kenderdine, ending more than 10 years of dispute on the issue.

Illinois Town Joins an Effort to Oust the FAA as Airport Noise Monitor. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Park Ridge, Illinois has become the first town to join a campaign by the Alliance of Residents Concerning O'Hare to remove the Federal Aviation Administration from airport noise monitoring and return the power to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Province in South China Expected to Pass New Noise Pollution Regulations. The Xinhua News Agency reports that according to today's China Daily, new regulations limiting noise pollution will take effect later this year in Guangdong, a province in South China. The provincial regulations are expected to be passed by the Provincial People's Congress next month.

August 21, 1997

China Issues New Noise Pollution Regulations for Southern Province. The China Business Information Network reports that new noise regulations expected to be approved next month will take effect later this year in Guangdong, an economically-developed province in south China. The Guangdong Provincial Regulations on the Prevention of Noise Pollution, which are expected to be passed by the Provincial People's Congress next month, will punish firms and vehicle-owners who create too much noise in residential areas, the article says.

Los Angeles Cuts Aircraft Landing Fees at Two Airports, Approves Passenger Charge to Pay for Noise Mitigation Programs. Aviation Daily reports that the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners has agreed to reduce aircraft landing fees at Los Angeles and Ontario airports, funds which have been used for noise mitigation programs. The board wants to raise the money for noise mitigation through a passenger facility charge instead, the article reports. The board's decisions must be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, which is expected later this year.

August 25, 1997

Hearing Problems Are Increasing From Noise Pollution. Newsweek reports that research has shown that excessive exposure to noise is one of the leading causes of hearing loss and ear damage, contrary to the popular belief that hearing loss is a natural process of aging. The article goes on to discuss the risks to hearing of noise pollution, the ways in which noise damages the ear, the levels at which noise is dangerous, and practical steps people can take to protect their ears.

August 26, 1997

Canadian Police Say Noisy Motorcycles Are Hard to Measure. The Vancouver Sun printed a question-and-answer column in which the question of why motorcycles are allowed to be so noisy is addressed. According to Staff Sergeant Garnet Salmond of the Vancouver (British Columbia) police traffic section, motorcycle noise is difficult to measure.

Jurors Tour Louisiana Neighborhood in Lawsuit Over Noise and Odors From Shell Plant. The Times-Picayune reports that a Louisiana jury from toured a neighborhood in Norco Monday in connection with a lawsuit brought by residents against Shell Oil Company. The approximately 250 residents in the suit say the plant is an unbearable nuisance due to its odors, noise, and flare problems, and are seeking enough money to move.

New York Town Disregards its Own Leaf Blower Ban. Newsday reports that the City of Long Beach, New York considers itself exempt from its own leaf blower ban passed in 1994. The city's position came to light after a resident complained about city employees using leaf blowers near her home, only to be told the city considers itself exempt from the law.

Ontario Airport Makes Forbidden Night Flights to Test Noise Levels, Angering Residents and Officials. The Toronto Star reports that officials at the Pearson International Airport near Toronto, Ontario permitted secret flights during restricted night hours in order to test whether such flights would be tolerated by nearby residents on a regular basis. The flights have angered residents and local officials. Louis Turpen, president of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, said the flights had to be kept secret to ensure valid results.

Virtual Pets Become More Popular with Some. The Wisconsin State Journal printed a column discussing the popularity of virtual pets, the new computer toys that allow kids to raise an electronic pet or child. The toys beep when the pet/child has a need that must be satisfied. The article explores the opinions of some parents who like and who don't like the toys.

August 27, 1997

Chicago Suburb Votes Not to Join Mayor's Anti-Noise Panel. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Village Board in Elk Grove, Illinois voted unanimously Tuesday to reject an invitation to join Chicago Mayor Daley's O'Hare Noise Compatibility Commission, a suburban advisory group on jet noise from O'Hare Airport. Elk Grove officials instead agreed to remain a charter member of the Suburban O'Hare Commission, the adversary of the Mayor's group.

Florida City Officials and Residents Question the Effectiveness of Airport Noise Committee. The Sun-Sentinel reports that the City Council in Boca Raton, Florida has asked to meet with the Airport Authority for the second time in three months over allegations that the recently formed Noise Compatibility Advisory Committee is ineffective. The article says one member of the noise committee resigned last week, and other members complained at a City Council workshop on Monday that the committee is ineffective.

Unexpected Takeoffs of Fighter Jets Wake Maine Residents in Early Morning. The Bangor Daily News reports that residents in Bangor, Maine were awakened at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday morning by the roar of five F-16 fighter jets taking off from the Bangor International Airport. Four more jets were scheduled to take off today at 4 a.m., the article adds. The flights Tuesday prompted many residents to call the police to complain about the loud noise. Meanwhile, the take-offs are expected to continue to occur occasionally.

Voters in Colorado Community to Decide Development Fate of Land in Airport Noise Zone. The Denver Post reports that the City Council in Greenwood Village, Colorado has decided to ask voters whether the city should annex a piece of land from Arapahoe County for a new housing development. The housing development recently was turned down by the Arapahoe County Commission because the land is inside a high noise zone of the Centennial Airport.

August 28, 1997

Argument Over Noise Leads to Arson and Assault. The Hong Kong Standard reports that a resident in Hong Kong set a building on fire and bit the ear of a fellow tenant after an argument about noise. The Court of First Instance heard the case on Wednesday, and sentencing was adjourned until September 9 pending a psychiatric report.

Atlanta Airport's Master Plan Will Include New Noise Projections and Contour Lines. The Atlanta Journal reports that the new master plan for Hartsfield International Airport, expected to be completed next spring, will include updated noise projections and new noise contour lines that show the concentrations of noise around the airport. The plan also will project what the contour lines will look like five years into the future, according to Deputy General Manager Andy Bell. Airport officials held three-day workshops last week in Jonesboro, College Park, and south Fulton County to update residents on the master planning process and gather public input, the article notes.

Connecticut Town Approves $10,000 Purchase of Noise Meter to Enforce Ordinance. The Hartford Courant reports that the Select Board in Cromwell, Connecticut voted unanimously Wednesday to spend $10,000 for a noise meter and training for the officers who would use it. The equipment will be used to enforce an ordinance passed last spring that prohibits noise over 45 decibels.

Maryland County Board Approves Private Airstrip Over Neighbors' Objections. The Baltimore Sun reports that the Carroll County (Maryland) Board of Zoning Appeals yesterday approved an application for a private airstrip on a 208-acre property in Woodbine. The board approved construction of a 50-foot by 1,785-foot landing strip, but stipulated that the strip can only be used by the owner's two single-engine planes for 40 trips per year.

Regional Illinois Airport Expands, While Other Nearby Airports Face Opposition Over Noise. The Chicago Tribune reports that many of the smaller, regional airports near Chicago have faced opposition due to noise pollution, including opposition to a proposed runway expansion at Lake in the Hills Airport in McHenry County, and an effort by Chicago Mayor Richard Daley to turn Meigs Field into a park. However, the village of Schaumburg has recently taken the opposite track by saving the Schaumburg Regional Airport from demolition, spending another $8 million on development, and allowing commercial aircraft to use the airport. The article goes on to expand upon the economic benefits of reginal airports.

The Netherlands Government Approves Measures to Reduce Noise at Amsterdam Airport. ANP English News Bulletin reports that a large majority of Members of Parlaiment in the Netherlands approved the cabinet's measures for reducing noise from Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport on Tuesday. Only the opposition parties of the Green Left and the Socialist Party believed the measures to be inadequate, the article reports.

August 29, 1997

Environmental Groups Set to File Lawsuits Over Legal Noise Limits at Amsterdam Airport. The ANP English News Bulletin reports that Dutch environmental groups said Thursday they planned to take Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, a number of airlines, and the Transport Minister to court to demand compliance with legal noise restrictions.

Florida City Sends Noise Ordinance Back to the Drawing Board. The Tampa Tribune reports that the Tampa (Florida) City Council decided Thursday to ask city attorneys to rewrite the proposed noise ordinance after hearing protests from both residents and business owners. The ordinance is not scheduled for review again until December 4.

Noise Ordinance in Florida City is Delayed Because of Rewriting. The St. Petersburg Times reports that city lawyers in Tampa, Florida said they need more time to rewrite a proposed noise ordinance so that it can be applied across the city. City officials have postponed the next public hearing on the noise ordinance to December.

Personal Watercraft in Florida Waters Cause Safety and Noise Problems. The Tampa Tribune printed an article outlining the controversy over personal watercraft, known as Jet Skis, in St. Petersburg Beach and other areas in Florida. The article contains an in-depth look at the safety problems with the watercraft, but also outlines some of the noise issues surrounding the watercraft. According to the article, Labor Day weekend is likely to bring more attention to the battle between personal watercraft users and everyone else in the water trying to have a good time.

August 30, 1997

Arkansas Airport Gets Federal Noise Grant to Purchase Land. The Commercial Appeal reports that U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater announced Thursday the City of Little Rock, Arkansas will receive a $1 million grant to acquire land near Adams Field to reduce the impact of noise from the airport as it continues to grow. The grant is part of the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Improvement Program, the article says.

Construction Noise Irritates Residents in Florida City. The Florida Times-Union reports that residents in the San Pablo Creek subdivision in Jacksonville, Florida are complaining about noise from the construction of an 800-unit apartment complex near their homes. Residents voiced their complaints at a town meeting Tuesday with Mayor John Delaney at Alimacani Elementary School.

FAA Approves Increased Airport Noise Regulations at Van Nuys, California Airport. The Daily News of Los Angeles reports that the Federal Aviation Administration has approved changes at the Van Nuys (California) Airport to extend the nighttime curfew and to restrict the presence of noisier aircraft at the airport. The FAA's ruling is a reversal of its decision a year ago not to allow extending the curfew and limiting the jets, the article says.

August 31, 1997

Local Authorities Are Granted More Power to Arrest Noisy Neighbors in England and Wales. The Times Newspapers Limited reports that the government of the United Kingdom has given local authorities and housing associations in England and Wales the power to seek an injunction for the arrest of rowdy tenants. The new rules allow offenders to be arrested and charged with a breach of the peace or of their tenancy agreement, and prostitutes and drug-dealers will lose their tenancies, the article says. Neighbors who are arrested could spend a night in jail and appear in court the following morning.

Salvation Army in Boise Fights Order to Build Wall to Protect Neighbors From Noise. The Idaho Statesman reports that the Salvation Army in Boise, Idaho is fighting a directive from the city's Planning and Zoning Commission to build a 10-foot masonry wall at its State Street store to shield nieghbors from noise. The Salvation Army plans to take its case to the Boise City Council on Sept. 9, the article says.


Other Indexes

Aircraft Noise
Amplified Noise
Effects on Wildlife/Animals
Construction Noise
Firing Ranges
Health Effects
Home Equipment and Appliances
Industrial/Manufacturing
International News
Environmental Justice
Land Use and Noise
Lawsuits
Civil Liberty Issues
Miscellaneous Noise Stories
Noise Ordinances
Noise Organizations Mentioned
Outdoor Events
Noise in Our National Parks/Natural Areas
Regulation
Residential and Community Noise
Snowmobile and ATV Noise
Research and Studies
Technological Solutions to Noise
Transportation Related Noise
Violence and Noise
Watercraft Noise
Workplace Noise

Geographical Index

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