PUBLICATION: The Tampa Tribune
DATE: May 20, 1997
SECTION: Pasco, Pg. 1
BYLINE: Mathew Horridge
DATELINE: Pasco County, Florida
The Tampa Tribune reports that Pasco County (Florida) Commissioners today will consider changes to the county's existing noise ordinance that would make it a misdemeanor to violate the ordinance, would prescribe decibel level limits for all hours of the day, and would give officers the ability to cite violators without a noise meter.
According to the article, the commission first raised the issue last year. Since then, the county attorney's office and the sheriff's office have been fine-tuning the proposal and studying whether a new ordinance would stand up to a court challenge, according to Mike Randall, one of the sheriff's lawyers.
The article reports that the existing ordinance requires a Pasco official, either a sheriff's deputy or a code enforcement officer, to use a noise level meter to determine whether someone is violating the decibel limits set between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. However, this has been a problem, according to Harold Sample, executive assistant to Sheriff Lee Cannon, because while the code enforcement officers have access to a few noise meters, they work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., hours when the noise limit isn't in effect. Sheriff's deputies, who do work all hours, don't have access to the noise meters, so when they are confronted with noise violators, they can't issue a citation.
Sample said the proposed changed to the ordinance would address these issues, the article reports. First, there would be graduated noise limits at all hours of the day. The proposal would limit residential noise to 66 decibels, measured at the property line, between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. (For comparison, the article says, a noisy office produces about 60 decibels, and normal traffic produces about 70 decibels.) The limit between 6 and 10 p.m. would be 60 decibels, and the limit between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. would be 55 decibels, under the proposal.
In addition to the new noise limits, sheriff's officers would be allowed to issue noise citations without a noise meter under the proposal, the article reports. If an officer determines that noise disturbs the "the peace, quiet and comfort of the neighborhood and vicinity," the violator could be cited, the article says. could cite a violator, she wrote. Attorney Randall said the state's district courts of appeal have upheld that sort of language, which is a variation of a "disturbing the peace" violation.
By county rules, code enforcement officers must give noise violators a chance to correct the problem before issuing citations, the article says. Convicted violators would receive a second-degree misdemeanor under the proposal, which is punishable by a fine of up to $500, or 60 days in the county jail, or both.
The article says that the proposed changes will be discussed at the county commissioners' 9:30 a.m. meeting today, and a public hearing would be held before the commission decides to adopt or reject it.
PUBLICATION: The Record
DATE: May 22, 1997
SECTION: Opinion; Pg. L10
BYLINE: Emma Perez
DATELINE: Rutherford, New Jersey
The Record reports in a commentary by Emma Perez that air traffic over Rutherford is affecting schoolchildren. She paints the scene of a child trying to give an oral presentation over the roar of jets flying overhead. He is asked to speak up but cries when he is unsuccessful in competing with the overhead noise. Perez warns that corporations using Teterboro Airport should be wary of and comply with noise abatement guidelines, or a residential boycott of that corporation's product may result.
PUBLICATION: Asbury Park Press
DATE: May 21, 1997
SECTION: B, Pg. 4
BYLINE: Chanta Jackson
DATELINE: New York, New York area
The Asbury Park Press reports that the Eatontown (New York) Borough Council voted last week to hire a part-time noise control officer to serve as a liaison between businesses and residents. The officer's work will stress the importance of being a good neighbor to businesses and residents.
The article reports that the position will be a 24-hour, on-call job, according to borough administrator Michael Trotta. It is expected the the officer will be a borough employee who will take on the additional responsibilities. Trotta said the employee will be appointed next week, and will receive a salary of $15 an hour when responding to calls outside the standard work day. The officer will be asked to meet with businesses that have had noise complaints filed against them in the past and familiarize them with existing noise ordinances, the article says. Trotta added that this strategy is an alternative to fining someone immediately. The officer will enroll in statewide training classes next month to learn how to use noise-monitoring equipment. The article adds that if the officer can't respond to a noise complaint, borough police would serve as a backup. Trotta said the borough would eventually like to get rid of the position if and when people are working cooperatively.
According to the article, an ongoing dispute between Manhattan Bagel on Industrial Way West and residents of the abutting Woodmere subdivision was the impetus for establishing the position. Residents complained about noise at the company's warehouse, including noise from pallet jacks, beeping from loading trucks in reverse gear, and droning from refrigerated delivery trucks. Company officials, however, said they have restricted delivery hours and relocated the noisier trucks away from residents to deal with the problem.
PUBLICATION: CNBC News Transcripts
DATE: May 20, 1997
BYLINE: Doug McKelway, reporter; Janice Lieberman, host
DATELINE: U.S.
CNBC News Transcripts reports that springtime brings fresh air, but also the sounds of leaf blowers, mowers, boom boxes, and loud mufflers. The report says noise has become a byproduct of living in our crowded, mechanized world, and can make you not only irritable and stressed out, but can cause serious harm to your hearing.
According to the news report, the world is getting noisier -- one out of three Americans today over age 65 has some hearing loss and younger people are suffering more hearing loss. In the news report, the reporter repeatedly tries to interview people along the Georgetown waterfront, and is interrupted by noise from jets, chainsaws, car alarms, and loud motorcycles.
The reporter said that doctors know any noise over 85 decibels is dangerous after repeated exposures, so he decided to test a few common environmental noises using a Radio Shack decibel meter. He found that a vacuum cleaner registered 80 decibels.
The reporter also interviewed Walter Berry, who has been using chainsaws as part of his business for 16 years. He usually doesn't use ear protection because it blocks the sounds of wood cracking and his co-workers' voices. Berry said he believes he has some hearing loss, because when his wife calls him, he often can't hear what she's saying.
The reporter goes on to say that often, people who work in noisy environments choose leisure activities that are noisy too. For instance, Dave Weakley, an NBC technician, is an avid Harley rider in his spare time, the news report said. Weakley said he likes it when his bike sets off car alarms, especially when people are in them, and that he wasn't concerned about noise.
However, the reporter said, whether you're concerned or not, many people may be sustaining permanent damage from noise pollution. The report showed what happens to a hair cell in your ear at a safe decibel level, and at an unsafe level. The hair cell exposed to the unsafe level of noise is damaged and never heals. The reporter went on to say that there are three warning signs that mean you may have hearing loss. First, you may have ringing in your ears. Another sign is that you can hear people talking, but can't make out the words. Finally, after being around loud sounds, you may find some hearing impairment lingers for hours. The report advises people who have any of these symptoms to see a doctor, because hearing may already be damaged.
PUBLICATION: Sun-Sentinel
DATE: May 22, 1997
SECTION: Local, Pg. 1B
BYLINE: Karla Schuster
DATELINE: Boca Raton, Florida
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Boca Raton Airport Action Group, local activist organization; Shirley Schneur, president of Boca Teeca Unit Owner's Association
The Sun-Sentinel reports that the Airport Authority, the City Council, and federal and state aviation officials will be meeting to discuss future airport expansion at the Boca Raton (Florida) Airport. Expansion includes construction of a control tower and the push for a mandetory flight curfew at the airport. Mayor Carol Hanson made motions last month for a mandatory curfew. According to the article, because of a recent change in federal regulation, mandatory regulations are difficult to pass. The Federal Aviation Administration has not approved a mandatory curfew since 1990. The article says that local activist groups are joining forces to voice their say about the airport's expansion.
The article reports that since the last noise study in 1988, the noise level from the airport has increased approximately 2 to 3 decibels. Airport traffic has increased from 233 landings and takeoffs a day in 1988 to 400 in 1996.
The article says the Airport Authority is responding to community organizations, like the Boca Raton Airport Action Group, who are supported by the City Council. An Authority meeting took place between 40 local pilots, city officials, and residents. The Airport Authority claims to have plans for creating a permanent airport advisory committee consisting of airport officials, City Council members and residents. They also announced at the Wednesday meeting they plan on enforcing and educating the already existing noise regulations for the airport, including flight patterns that fly planes over less populated areas. They are also claiming to push for an aircraft voluntary night curfew.
Shirley Schneur, president of the Boca Teeca Unit Owner's Association, thinks community organization and activation is finally getting responded to. However residents do not want any further expansion at the airport until current noise regulations are enforced. The Boca Teeca Unit Owner's Association is one of 14 community organizations that comprise the Boca Raton Airport Action Group.
The article reports some local pilots feel a new control tower would actually reduce noise for the communities by rerouting flight patterns.
PUBLICATION: The Union Leader
DATE: May 21, 1997
SECTION: Section A Pg. 9
BYLINE: Lorna Colquhoun
DATELINE: Effingham, New Hampshire
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Wayne Monaghan, president, Lost Valley Association
The Union Leader reports that voters in Effingham, New Hampshire, a town of about 900, will vote Thursday on whether to adopt a temporary zoning ordinance in the town in response to a developer's plan to build a racetrack on his land. The town is emotionally divided over whether to adopt the ordinance, the article says.
The article reports that Effingham considered adopting zoning before, but each attempt in the past has been voted down. The last time a zoning ordinance was put before voters, in the 1980s, it occurred in conjunction with the update of the master plan. Former Selectman Jory Augenti said it didn't pass because "it was too much at once." This time, the vote has been prompted by Milton Dow's plans to construct a racetrack on land he owns next to a residential neighborhood.
The Lost Valley Association, a residents association, petitioned the selectmen for the special town meeting to vote on the issue. Resident Wayne Monaghan, president of the Lost Valley Association, said a racetrack doesn't fit into the neighborhood, and residents are worried about increased traffic, noise, and other safety and quality of life issues. "A lot of people have bought property here because it is nice, quiet country," he said. "About half the people bought here for their retirement." Monaghan acknowledged that a zoning ordinance wouldn't halt Dow's plans, but he said he believed it would "ensure the safety and welfare of the area" and "protect the people."
Several public meetings on the issue have been heated and divisive, the article reports. Proponents on both sides of the issue have exchanged letters-to-the-editor in the local weekly newspaper for several weeks. Selectman Stan Drelick said initially, people were positive toward the racetrack, but then some people started thinking about the noise aspect. He said Dow's property is bounded by a residential neighborhood to the west, north, and south, and the Pine River State Forest to the east.
The article says that Effingham, Tamworth, and Chatham are the only three towns in Carroll County that don't have a zoning ordinance. Planning board member Janet Normandeau and Conservation Commission member Pat Parker recently visited the towns of Woodstock and Lee, which both have race tracks, the article reports. Parker said in Woodstock, selectmen drew up some bylaws regarding operation of the racetrack, but the voters turned them down. Town officials and the track owner have worked out their differences, she said.
Thursday's vote could go either way, the article says. The town, long divided geographically by Green Mountain, is in danger of being divided after the vote, according to Selectman Drelick. He said, "I can see the town being very split. There has been some talk of setting up a precinct and some talk of forming another town. The town has always been divided by a mountain, but after May 22, half this town is going to be angry at the other half. We will either have zoning or we will have a racetrack." Former selectman Augenti agreed the circumstances of Thursday's vote are not good, and added he doesn't believe zoning is the way to go in this instance. Conservation Commission member Parker said, "The old timers are dead-set against it. She added there is a sentiment in town that things have worked fine without zoning. She went on to say, "Most of the land here is old farmland. There is still a colonial village and it is off the beaten track. We have prided ourselves in not being discovered. Zoning is coming in some form someday -- as an area that is growing, we are going to have deal with it sometime.
PUBLICATION: Anchorage Daily News
DATE: May 19, 1997
SECTION: Lifestyles, Pg. 1E
BYLINE: Susan Morgan
DATELINE: Anchorage, Alaska
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Marjory Bailey, Jerry Fuller, members of the Quota International of Anchorage service club; Jerod Updike, student, Alaska State School for the Deaf
The Anchorage Daily News reports that a survey undertaken by the Quota International of Anchorage (Alaska) service club to determine how loud noises are around Anchorage found that 14 out of 23 locations tested register above 80 decibels, the level at which permanent damage to ears can occur after prolonged exposure, according to club members. The club undertook the survey in order to educate people about noise threats and about the subtlety and irreversibility of hearing damage.
According to the article, the club members asked Jerod Updike, a student at the Alaska State School for the Deaf, to test noise levels at 23 locations around the city. Some of the locations that tested at 80 decibels or above included a hockey game, a school pep rally, a local schoolyard as a light plane flew overhead, a blaring car stereo at the Tudor Road / Bragaw Street intersection, regular traffic at Boniface and DeBarr roads, previews at a movie theater, a comedy movie, a transit station, a video arcade, and a bowling alley. Quota International club members said they were surprised that 14 of the 23 locations tested exceeded 80 decibels.
The article reports that Vince Fennimore, administrative assistant with the Municipality's Health Department said the city doesn't have a noise expert, but according to the city's noise ordinance, 90 decibels and above can be harmful. Fennimore said as the decibels rise, the time it takes to sustain hearing damage is shorter. He added that he hasn't seen the results of the Quota Club's test, but because noise is starting to become a bigger issue in Anchorage, he was interested to see the findings. Noise complaints to the city are on the rise, the article says. Before 1995, the city got about 30 or 40 noise complaints a year. In 1995, it jumped to 60, and in 1996, to 90. The article says the city issues about 100 "noise permits" annually, which allows people to temporarily exceed legal levels.
The article goes on to say that the club, which has nearly 10,000 members in 390 clubs around the world, has a mission to increase public awareness of issues facing deaf, hard of hearing, and speech-impaired people, and to assist disadvantaged women and children. The Anchorage group meets regularly and chooses service projects, the article says. The club's members agreed to contribute toward Updike's expenses for attending a leadership camp this summer in exchange for his testing of Anchorage noise levels. Member Marjory Bailey said it's important to keep the public informed on a sense that many take for granted, and that the is considering doing this type of survey again. Member Jerry Fuller added, "People have the right to not have their ears damaged."
PUBLICATION: The Vancouver Sun
DATE: May 22, 1997
SECTION: Editorial; Pg. A17
DATELINE: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
The Vancouver Sun reports that the Vancouver (British Columbia) Urban Noise Task Force, a residents' committee, recently presented the city with a list of 165 recommendations to lessen urban noise. The article prints excerpts from the report, which includes recommendations with respect to harbor air traffic, transportation noise, and watercraft noise.
AIR TRAFFIC AT COAL HARBOR
The report said, according to the article, that the smaller aircraft flying in and out of Coal Harbor are not required to satisfy any recognized noise standards, unlike the aircraft at Vancouver International Airport. The reports said that air traffic in the area include jet-powered transport helicopters flying frequently to Victoria, smaller helicopters used by charters, twin-engine float planes flying to Victoria, and small, single-engine float planes for scheduled and charter services to coastal and island communities. Because the flights have become so active, the growing noise disturbance is a serious concern, the report said, according to the article.
The article explains that the report said in many offices facing the harbor, conversation already is impossible when these aircraft are taking off. With new residential construction occurring in the area and plans for more outdoor attractions at the waterfront, more complaints are inevitable. In addition, the report said, the aircraft noise will be a notable disturbance in Stanley Park after plans to submerge the Stanley Park causeway eliminates traffic noise.
According to the article, the report said that over the long term, it will be important to establish noise limits for aircraft in the harbor. The engine/propeller combination used by most of the small float planes operating from the harbor is particularly noisy and ancient, the report noted, and since the piston engines of these aircraft require replacements at regular intervals, it would not be unreasonable to stipulate an update to turbine engines within five years. With turbine engines, propeller noise can be reduced during take-offs. Over the short term, the type and size of the total aircraft fleet should be frozen until noise restrictions are in effect. In addition, the report said, the noise level of any aircraft replacing those now operating out of Coal Harbor should not exceed the standard set by the current jet helicopter, for helicopters, or the Twin Otter, for fixed-wing aircraft.
THE REPORT'S RECOMMENDATION: The city should approach Transport Canada, pending significant reductions in the noise levels of the individual aircraft, to declare a freeze on the size of the present fleet and the size of the individual aircraft, fixed wing, and helicopter.
AUTOMOBILE NOISE
According to the article, the report said that road traffic noise is everywhere, the "most pervasive and chronic noise to be faced in a growing urban region so heavily reliant on the automobile." The report went on to say that traffic noise is especially bad in Vancouver because many arterial roads serve as major conduits for commuters and for trucks and buses, as well as for local traffic.
The report mentioned that the European Union considers traffic noise to be its worst urban noise problem, and has undertaken a noise initiative to combat the problem. Initiatives to reduce traffic volume provide the "best prospect of reducing noise," the report said. In addition, the report stated "because there is a growing perception that current driving habits cannot continue indefinitely for reasons related to congestion, pollution, and noise, the task force believes that the motoring public will accept changes."
According to the article, the report said the task force endorses efforts to reduce traffic volume by promoting alternatives such as public transit, car pooling, dedicated bus lanes during rush hours, light rapid transit, and cycling.
THE REPORT'S RECOMMENDATION: The city should communicate to the Greater Vancouver regional board, B.C. Transit, the transportation and highways ministry and others its desire to maintain vehicle capacity at 1996 levels....
TRUCK AND BUS NOISE
The article says that the report explained that noise from the individual car has decreased in recent years, but the same cannot be said of buses and trucks. The task force was particularly concerned, according to the report, about the extensive use of diesel buses with supercharged engines and exhaust systems by the transportation authorities.
THE REPORT'S RECOMMENDATION: The city should communicate to B.C. Transit that the existing system of electric buses on many streets should be maintained and extended in lieu of noisier diesel buses.
The article says the report also addressed the tour buses producing noise and exhaust pollution around city parks, especially Stanley Park. The task force supports an experimental service of state-of-the-art, battery-powered "trams" providing service to the downtown core or around Stanley Park, to allow the city to establish leadership in this field.
THE REPORT'S RECOMMENDATION: The city should advise B.C. Transit that it supports a demonstration service using electric vehicles or hydrogen fuel-cell buses in the downtown core or around Stanley Park.
RAILWAY NOISE
According to the article, the report said the excessive use of whistles in the East End of Vancouver by the West Coast Express is causing a noise problem.
THE REPORT'S RECOMMENDATION: The city should initiate an investigation into the excessive use of whistles by the West Coast Express.
JET SKI AND WATERCRAFT NOISE
The report found that jet skis are not a significant problem because they are limited to launching and landing at Vanier Park, and cannot land on beaches.
In addition, the article says, the report found that large ships using the harbor have not been identified as a significant noise problem. Some small, personal boats have been cited as causing a noise problem from parties, the report said, particularly in the False Creek South area.
THE REPORT'S RECOMMENDATION: The city should contract with the various [federal agencies] involved to review mandates and develop a strategy to increase enforcement of the municipal noise bylaw prohibiting noisy parties. Noisy parties on board a boat, of any description, should be handled in the same manner as a noisy house party.
The article concludes that the Vancouver City Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday on the recommendations from the urban noise task force.
PUBLICATION: The Tampa Tribune
DATE: May 21, 1997
SECTION: Pasco, Pg. 2
DATELINE: Dade City, Florida
The Tampa Tribune reports that Pasco County (Florida) Commissioners are considering strengthening the county's noise ordinance. A public hearing will be held before the commissioners vote on whether to adopt the changes to the ordinance.
According to the article, the idea for the ordinance came from the sheriff's office and the county attorney's office, but the idea has been supported by commissioners. The changes would make violating the noise ordinance a second-degree misdemeanor, with convictions resulting in a fine of up to $500, or 60 days in the county jail, or both. In addition, the proposal would put time limits on noise, with the most restrictions between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., and lesser restrictions between 6 to 10 p.m. The changes would also allow sheriff's deputies to make an arrest without having to use a noise meter, the article reports. Anyone who violates the "peace, quiet and tranquillity of the neighborhood and vicinity" could be cited, the article says.
PUBLICATION: Sun-Sentinel
DATE: May 24, 1997
SECTION: Local, Pg. 3B
BYLINE: Karla Schuster
DATELINE: Boca Raton, Florida
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Carol Hanson, mayor
The Sun-Sentinel reports that Boca Raton, Florida Mayor Carol Hanson on Friday called on the area's congressional delegation to either ease a federal law restricting flight curfews or give airports the power to fine or ban pilots who ignore noise reduction measures.
According to the article, the mayor said in a letter to Sen. Bob Graham, Sen. Connie Mack, Rep. Alcee Hastings, and Rep. E. Clay Shaw, "Either you need to go back and undo what has been done or you should pass legislation that allows airport officials the authority to fine the violators of noise abatement procedures." The article reports that the mayor's letter came after two city meetings this week about aircraft noise, which were prompted by the formation of a new alliance of homeowners' groups that wants to curb noise and traffic at the airport. Hanson has called for a night curfew at the airport, but a 1990 federal law makes it almost impossible to impose restrictions on pilots, and although airports can apply to the FAA to impose such measures, the process is long, expensive, and the FAA has not approved any restrictions since 1990, the article says. The Boca Raton Airport currently has a voluntary noise reduction plan, the article reports, which uses special flight plans and signs asking pilots to avoid overnight takeoffs and landings. Airport and city officials this week said they would work harder to promote the voluntary noise restrictions by taking out ads in aviation publications and creating an airport Web page on the Internet.
The article reports that Hanson wants to lobby Congress to consider legislation that would allow airports to fine pilots between $1,000 and $5,000 for failing to obey noise reduction plans, and strip their license or ban them from an airport after three violations. Hanson said, "Boaters get fined and drivers get fined, so why not pilots? It's worth a shot to try, and if it doesn't go anywhere, we still have our voluntary (noise reduction) plan."
Meanwhile, Airport Authority Chairman Phil Modder said he's isn't sure Hanson's proposals will go anywhere. He said he believes the cost of buying sound-measuring equipment to enforce noise regulations among pilots would be cost-prohibitive.
PUBLICATION: The Palm Beach Post
DATE: May 23, 1997
SECTION: Local, Pg. 4B
BYLINE: Eliot Kleinberg
DATELINE: Boca Raton, Florida
The Palm Beach Post reports that at a joint meeting Thursday between between the Boca Raton (Florida) City Council and the airport authority to discuss noise issues from the Boca Raton Municipal Airport, members were frustrated to learn that the airport has no power to enforce noise-reduction measures. At a meeting Wednesday, pilots and residents also addressed the issue at the airport authority's monthly meeting.
The article reports that the airport has said just getting all the pilots to learn and follow existing noise rules, which are voluntary, would cut a lot of the noise. But the airport maintains that getting an FAA-sanctioned noise reduction plan or imposing a curfew are good ideas that won't happen, the article says. Mayor Carol Hanson suggested that new federal legislation would help.
Airport Director Nelson Rhodes said the airport doesn't even know who uses it, the article reports. He said the airport doesn't log the planes that take off and land, and only a maintenance supervisor is there at night, the time when noisy planes are especially irritating to residents. Mayor Hanson responded by saying, "I find it incredible that at those hours of the morning, no one can tell us who that plane was."
Rhodes went on to say that the airport's proposed control tower would cut noise by directing planes straight in to the runway, rather than having them circle over residential neighborhoods as they do now before they land. A tower would also allow the airport to keep track of planes easier, and to direct landings and takeoffs to cut noise.
The council and authority agreed to assemble a task force that will include pilots and residents to make recommendations on the issue, the article concludes.
PUBLICATION: The Palm Beach Post
DATE: May 22, 1997
SECTION: Local, Pg. 2B
BYLINE: Eliot Kleinberg
DATELINE: Boca Raton, Florida
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Ellen Lohr, vice chair, Boca Raton Airport Action Group
The Palm Beach Post reports that at a meeting Wednesday, residents called on the Boca Raton (Florida) Municipal Airport to find ways to cut that noise. The Boca Raton Airport Authority responded that FAA rules limit them from doing much, but said that much noise would lessen if pilots would follow voluntary noise rules the airport has established.
According to the article, airport officials said many pilots don't know about the voluntary noise rules because they are infrequent users of the airport. But Ellen Lohr, vice chair of Boca Raton Airport Action Group -- an alliance of about 15 neighborhoods representing 6,500 residents -- said many pilots are regulars, and the airport hasn't done enough to educate and crack down on violators.
The article reports that a consultant's report showed the airport handled an average of 400 planes a day, compared with 233 in 1988. But Airport Authority Chair Phillip Modder said a May 2 letter from the Federal Aviation Administration said its rules to protect commerce and the rights of pilots make the threshold to institute noise restrictions so high no municipal airport has ever met it, the article says. Airport authority officials say a proposed control tower will reduce noise, but Lohr said a tower will just lure more planes, especially small jets whose owners now won't land at airports with no towers.
The airport authority and city council will hold a joint meeeting at 10 a.m. today at the city's community center, the article concludes.
PUBLICATION: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
DATE: May 21, 1997
SECTION: Lifestyle, Pg. C-1
BYLINE: Diana Nelson Jones
DATELINE: Kane, Pennsylvania
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Kim and Jim Evans, Anita and Ron Housler, John and Carolyn Maynard, residents; Kenneth Feith, former director of the EPA's former Noise Standards and Regulations Division; Nita Lowey, U.S. Congresswoman from New York; Nancy Nadler, director, The League of the Hard of Hearing's Noise Center; Evelyn Talbot, epidemiologist, University of Pittsburgh; Bill Belitskus, spokesperson and organizer, PROACT -- Protecting Property Rights of All Citizens in the Township
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that residents angered at noise from the Keystone Chipping Mill in Kane, Pennsylvania have organized to fight the wood-chip operation, but so far the protest seems to be going nowhere. The article explains the controversy over the mill and explores why noise pollution issues get little attention nowadays.
The article reports that the Keystone Chipping Mill started operation in Lantz Corners, several miles northeast of Kane on 110 acres on the edge of the Allegheny National Forest, in March of 1994. The mill produces about 800 tons of chips on the average day, and sends its product to a paper plant in nearby Johnsonburg. The article says that some of the mill's neighbors along Route 6 say there are days when they can't hear each other talk over the noise from the mill. Residen Kim Evans said the day she moved into her house less than a mile down the road, she looked up expecting to see a fleet of Hueys when she heard the mill noise. Evans said, "I know Hueys. My husband used to work across from the runway at Fort Dix."
The article notes that if there were air and water issues will the mill, environmental agencies would enforce enforce minimum standards. And, if workers were forced to listen to 90 decibels for eight hours without earplugs and breaks, they could get relief from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. But, the article says, if ordinary residents are awakened in their bedrooms by the sound of trees being chipped, there is little recourse. The article says that peace and quiet are no longer guaranteed in places where people seek it most -- the rural countryside. Cities have become so noisy that regulators try to contain it. But, the article reports, noise control is almost completely absent in rural America.
The article goes on to explain that noise abatement as national policy fell through the cracks 15 years ago, when President Reagan cut the Environmental Protection Agency's noise office. Reagan's justification for cutting the office was that noise is a local issue, but the article reports that without federal money, state and local efforts have dwindled. According to the article, there used to be about 400 community noise-abatement programs in this country, but there are no more than a dozen now. Kenneth Feith, who directed the EPA's Noise Standards and Regulations Division until it was closed in 1982, said his office was ready to regulate many industrial and household noise-makers when it closed. Now a senior policy adviser in the EPA's Office of Air and Radiation, Feith said, wood chipping devices were candidates for regulation, but his office never got the chance to take action. Earlier this year, Nita Lowey, U.S. congresswoman from New York, proposed a bill to reestablish the EPA's noise-abatement office with $5 million a year, $8 million after 2000. The bill, called "The Quiet Communities Act," reported that 20 million Americans get noise at levels that can cause health problems, and another 40 million lose sleep because of noise, the article reports. In addition, the League of the Hard of Hearing in New York is lobbying for noise controls. Nancy Nadler, director of the League's Noise Center, says the campaign is "where smoking was in the 1950s. Nobody believed smoke was so hazardous. We face similar skepticism about noise."
According to the article, Pennsylvania does not have noise standards, nor does McKean County or Hamlin Township, where the chipping mill is located. Pittsburgh has an 85-decibel standard for music from boom boxes and car stereos, and cites repeated horn blowing and dogs barking as local noise offenses, but does not address industry noise. Cleveland and New York City have ordinances against certain varieties of "unreasonable" noise, but use no objective standard in evaluating noise. These cities restrict some industry to certain hours.
The article reports that according to OSHA, a wood chipping mill produces about 100 decibels on site. Keystone Chipping Mill president Norm Asel would not say what the mill's on-site decibels reading is, but he said that readings a half mile away are about 48. Asel said the noise is "a very slight rumbling." He added that last year, the company enclosed its debarker in a metal building "just to be a good neighbor," and that further enclosure is not necessary. In addition, the mill operates only between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Asel went on to say that the company pays out $6 million a year to loggers, truckers, six employees, electricians, repairmen, and consultants. Andy Redmond, the mill's environmental supervisor, said that Lantz Corners has never been quiet, contrary to what some residents say. Redmond said, "There's a massive amount of traffic along Route 6, and oil wells used to pump day and night. Like beauty, noise is in the eye of the beholder."
According to the article, hearing loss is the most direct result of sustained, high-frequency noise, but less underrated is annoyance, said Evelyn Talbot, an epidemiologist at the University of Pittsburgh. Feith of the EPA added that the effect noise has on stress levels should not be taken lightly. "For anyone who has a medical condition that is stress related, then clearly repetitious noise is not healthful," he said.
Meanwhile, citizen activists who have organized against the chipping mill have been accused of everything from sabotaging a piece of the mill's equipment to being ridiculed as "tree-huggers and environmental wackos," according to resident Anita Housler. Housler said her and her husband's farm has been in the family for almost 50 years, and their kids are the sixth generation there. She said they want something to leave their kids.
The Houslers are among about a dozen neighbors who have united to fight the mill's noise, the article reports. They've formed a group called PROACT -- for Protecting Property Rights of All Citizens in the Township -- and have written to the local newspaper, to township and county politicians, and to officials at the mill. They have an energetic organizer and spokesperson in Bill Belitskus, who has put his life on hold, according to neighbors, to work on the issue. Some of the group's members are now appealing permits the state granted the chip mill, and Belitskus is traveling as far away as Oregon and Arkansas to support similar groups he found out about over the Internet. PROACT has become a controversial issue for the town as well, the article reports. Some neighbors have written letters-to-the-editor claiming they are not part of the group. Others residents who are sympathetic to PROACT declined to be interviewed, fearing ridicule, even reprisals, the article says.
However, the article reports, the protest seems to be going nowhere because local, state, and federal officials are satisfied with the efforts the company has made to control noise. Asel believes PROACT will not be satisfied with any mitigating efforts the mill makes, but PROACT members said they will be happy when the company confines its noise to its own property.
Bill Belitskus said he moved to the county 15 years ago to enjoy the peace of rural life, and has spent the last four in "an industrial park," the article reports. His home is about a mile east of the mill. Belitskus said after the chipper was enclosed, mill officials told residents there would be no noise. But this has not turned out to be true, he said.
Residents Kim and Jim Evans moved three years ago into a rambling property with a stone home along Route 6. Kim said the seller did not tell them about the noise when they bought the house. "We feel like we got a raw deal," she said. "There are things we'd like to do to the property, but I'm not even sure it's worth it now."
Residents and retirees John and Carolyn Maynard spent 23 years beautifying their property and refurbishing their 19th century house near the mill. They made many indoor and outdoor improvements on their property before the mill was built. Now, the company's crane can be seen through the trees behind their back yard, the article says. Carolyn said, "When it first started up, John and I were in the garden. I was in one row of beans, he was in the next row, and we had to yell to be heard." John, who spent 36 years as a railroad freight agent, said the noise from the mill "rattles the bathroom windows and sounds like an airplane. But an airplane passes on by, and this just keeps coming at you." Carolyn credited the Belitskuses and the Houslers, who are in their 30s and 40s, for the success of PROACT. "They're young and have the energy to work on this, and I can see why they're so upset. They have a lot more time to have to put up with this than some of us," she said. Carolyn said she is not opposed to the mill in principle, but that "they had no right coming in here and tearing up our lives like this." She added, "The way I look at it, we were here first."
PUBLICATION: Sun-Sentinel
DATE: May 20, 1997
SECTION: Local, Pg. 1B
BYLINE: Robin Benedick, with the assistance of David Fleshler
DATELINE: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
The Sun-Sentinel reports that a long-running feud between the city of Fort Lauderdale and Broward County over the proposed expansion of the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport may be coming to an end. A proposed deal between the two parties would give the city a list of perks and would allow the county to make a number of expansions to the airport. The agreement would avoid a battle between the two parties that could be decided by Gov. Lawton Chiles and the Cabinet on an appeal, the article says. Meanwhile, the city of Hollywood, also involved in the feud, has not been approached with a similar proposal by the county.
The article reports that the deal would give Fort Lauderdale millions of dollars for road improvements near the airport, a noise buffer for the Edgewood neighborhood, a new park, street closures to curb cut-through traffic, a decorative wall in Snyder Park, and a county application for federal money to buy about a half dozen houses in the path of roaring jets overhead. In exchange, Broward County would get permission to extend the airport's south runway, add terminals and concourses, double the number of gates, and rebuild the airport roadway system, the article says. Both Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood have the power to refuse issuing building permits to the airport because they own property within the airport's boundaries.
Meanwhile, the article says, Hollywood officials are upset that Fort Lauderdale has won concessions from the county, while Hollywood has been ignored. Hollywood Mayor Mara Giulianti said, "Fort Lauderdale is always treated a little different and a little better than Hollywood. I don't think anyone from the county has spoken with us seriously. Fort Lauderdale manages to get their attention, and Hollywood is ignored."
The deal between Fort Lauderdale and the county has been worked out over the past month, the article says, after the city's Planning and Zoning Board approved a development order that prodded city and county officials to negotiate the compromise. However, the article says, the deal still could fall apart because several key votes remain. Meanwhile, the City Commission is slated to vote on the development order for Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport tonight (public hearing at 6 p.m., City Hall, 100 N. Andrews Ave.). If the deal goes forward, an interlocal agreement that spells out terms of the compromise would be considered by city commissioners on June 17, and county commissioners also would get a say on the compromise.
The article goes on to list the following details of the proposed interlocal agreement:
Roads: Widen to four lanes Eller Drive from Southeast 14th Avenue to Eisenhower Boulevard and Eisenhower Boulevard from Southeast 28th Street south to Eller Drive. Remove the eastbound right turn lane from State Road 84 to Southwest Ninth Avenue, subject to state approval. In addition, Fort Lauderdale would receive $50,000 for a traffic study on roads within the Edgewood neighborhood.
Parks and open space: Create a passive park on airport land west of Southwest 15th Avenue. The park would have a walking and exercise trail. The county also would develop a large buffer of land with berms and landscaping from the former Cherokee Mobile Home Park land east to Snyder Park. Other buffers would be carved out to shield residents from noise.
Snyder Park: Build a wall, from 6 to 8 feet tall, in Snyder Park with a landscaped hedge.
Houses: Submit a county application for federal money to buy about a half dozen houses from 15th to 12th avenues.
PUBLICATION: Sacramento Bee
DATE: May 24, 1997
SECTION: Scene; Pg. SC2
BYLINE: Gina Spadafori
DATELINE: U.S.
The Sacramento Bee printed an article about ways to quiet your barking dog. The writer makes recommendations about working with your dog on behavior modification and trying an anti-bark collar when all else fails.
The article reports that if you have a dog that's a chronic barker, it not only means your neighbors may be thinking of legal action, it means your dog isn't happy. The writer says you owe it to your pet and neighbors to fix the problem.
The article goes on to say that the typical barker is an outdoor dog who isn't getting the exercise and attention he needs. The writer says that dogs are social animals that need to be part of a family. If your dog is outside because of poor manners or because he isn't house-trained, the writer says, ask your veterinarian for a referral to a trainer or behaviorist and arrange for an in-home consultation to fix the underlying problems. Then, the writer advises, keep your dog busy with regular outings and exercise. Dogs who bark from boredom or to release excess energy are often cured by exercise, and become much more calm, happy, and quiet.
The writer says some dogs are just naturally yappy, and if your dog still barks, you need to train him to be quiet on command when you're home and to reduce the events that trigger barking when you're not home. The article says you can train your dog to be quiet by distracting him when he barks, saying the word "Quiet" or "Enough," and then praising him for "minding." With repetition and lots of praise, the dog will make the connection soon enough, the article says. As a distraction when your dog is barking, rattling a can filled with pennies often works. But shouting at your dog, the article says, does nothing except make you feel temporarily better.
For barking when you're not at home, work to minimize cues that make your dog bark. For instance, if your dog barks while looking through a window facing the street, keep him out of that room when you're gone. The writer says many dogs start to bark when they hear car doors slam, or the mail carrier's steps, and these sounds can be muffled by leaving a radio playing while you're not home. Giving your dog something special to chew on while he's awake, such as a Kong toy or hollow bone stuffed with a little peanut butter, is also a good idea.
The article says that for the most persistent barkers, a new product called the ABS Anti-Bark System may work. The product is a battery-operated collar that releases a spray of citronella mist each time a dog barks. The mist is harmless to dogs, but they hate it. The hiss of the mist releasing and the smell is enough to distract the dog and correct him for barking. The article reports that the product has been in short supply since being mentioned on an "Oprah" show last year, but is now beginning to show up again. The writer says the collar is a good alternative to electric shock collars or to surgical debarking. But, the article concludes, if you bring you dog inside, give him enough exercise, and train him, you probably won't even need to consider the anti-bark collar or surgery.
PUBLICATION: The Vancouver Sun
DATE: May 22, 1997
SECTION: News; Pg. B1 / Front
BYLINE: Gerry Bellett
DATELINE: Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
The Vancouver Sun reports that the city of Richmond, British Columbia intends to develop a 14-hectare property it owns into a residential neighborhood, but officials at the Vancouver International Airport want to make sure the prospective buyers will be warned in advance that their homes are under a major flight path. They have proposed that an "air easement" be registered on the property's land title, which would prevent future owners from seeking damages because of aircraft noise.
According to the article, the property is located at Alderbridge Way near Shell Road and Highway 99. The city wants to develop the area into single-family lots, condominiums, and a two-hectare park. The profits from the development, the article says, are expected to be $21 million and will be used to help finance a new city hall.
Officials at the Vancouver International Airport Authority are concerned the development could lead to more complaints about noise from low-flying aircraft, the article reports. They are also worried, the article says, that what has happened in Bridgeport could happen again. Last month, a number of residents in Bridgeport launched a lawsuit in the British Columbia Supreme Court against the airport authority and the federal government, claiming they deserve damages for noise caused by the opening of the airport's third runway due to a reduction in their property values. The airport authority maintains that a third runway had been proposed since the 1940s, but residents failed to notice the covenants on their properties warning of noise from airport operations.
At a public hearing this week, the Richmond council sought a rezoning application that will make way for the property to be subdivided. Mel Goodwin, Richmond's representative on the airport authority's board of directors, and Michael O'Brien, the airport authority's vice-president of operations, asked that an "air easement" be registered on the property's land title, which would prevent future owners from seeking damages because of aircraft noise. Goodwin said such easements exist in the U.S., but he wasn't sure if they exist in Canada. Goodwin said, "There are covenants placed on properties in Richmond that warn owners about being under a flight path, but no one seems to read them. People buy a house and don't see it. We want something more specific than a covenant. We want people to be fully aware of what they are buying. We don't want them coming back later complaining about the noise." Richmond Mayor Greg Halsey-Brandt added that the new subdivision will be under the airport's main flight path, and that the city requires covenents be registered on such properties and that soundproofing standards must be met.
The article explains that the property was purchased from the federal government for $800,000 in 1983, and has been a good investment for the city, according to the mayor. The development plan now goes back to council for final approval, the article concludes.
PUBLICATION: Chicago Tribune
DATE: May 22, 1997
SECTION: Metro Northwest; Pg. 1; Zone: NW
BYLINE: Rogers Worthington
DATELINE: Chicago, Illinois area
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: John Geils, chair of the Surburban O'Hare Commission and mayor of Bensenville; Joseph Karaganis, lawyer for the Surburban O'Hare Commission
The Chicago Tribune reports that Wednesday, six new noise monitoring vans were officially placed in service by the Suburban O'Hare Commission, a group of 11 suburbs that opposes expansion of the O'Hare International Airport.
Commission chair and mayor of Bensenville John Geils said the vans "will support our position that the noise is much more extensive, and the adverse impact much greater, than it has been reported by the city (of Chicago)." The article reports that the commission has long been critical of the city's computer-modeled noise contour map, created in 1993. The map determines contours based on average noise levels over a 24-hour period.
The article goes on to say that the six vans, announced at a news conference two months ago, complement the 23 stationary noise monitoring units established in January by the City of Chicago's Department of Aviation, which operates O'Hare. Chris Arman, an assistant commissioner with the Aviation Department, said he believes the city and suburbs now have the "most noise-measuring equipment in the world."
However, the city and commission's relations have worsened in the last two months, the article says. The city at first said it would pay for the commission's $600,000 van-based system, but recently has broken off talk on the subject after the commission sued Chicago officials, saying they had purposely excluded member suburbs of the commission from the city's 1997 residential noise abatement program. Commission lawyer Joseph Karaganis went on to say that the commission would not share the data collected with the vans with the city until the city pays its dollar obligation. Instead, Karaganis said the commission would share its data with Gov. Jim Edgar and other state officials. The commission has arranged for a 7-year lease-purchase of the equipment, the article adds. Meanwhile, Dennis Culloton, spokesperson for the city's Aviation Department, said the city was sharing its own noise monitoring data with interested suburbs. Culloton said, "We'll share ours if they'll share theirs, but we haven't gotten that kind of commitment from the other side."
The article says the vans will be stationed for undetermined periods at sites selected based on resident complaints about aircraft noise. Large microphones will register "noise events" and feed them into noise analyzer/recording devices that will upload the data daily via cellular phone to a master computer at the commission's office in Bensenville. The data will be combined with radar information recording flight paths and FAA "flight strip" information that identify aircraft, their flight numbers, and airlines. The article reports that a "noise event" is a reading of 65 decibels or higher for at least 10 seconds. According to David Larson, an independent engineer who set up the equipment in the vans for the commission, every 6-decibel increase represents a doubling of a sound's intensity.
The article says both the city and commission believe their own monitoring systems are superior. The city said its its fixed-position system is directly connected to the FAA's flight data, information that the commission also is obtaining in a less direct way. However, both the city and the suburbs must wait three days before receiving flight data from the FAA because of security requirements. In addition, the city says its system is designed to provide information so that officials can work directly with the airlines to reduce noise at the point of origin. The commission, on the other hand, believes its noise-monitoring system is valuable because the vans can be sent directly to the site of noise complaints.
PUBLICATION: Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
DATE: May 21, 1997
SECTION: Local, Pg. 1B
BYLINE: Karla Schuster
DATELINE: Boca Raton, Florida
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Steven Abrams, City Councillor; Tom Knibbs, member of the Yamato/Spanish River Neighborhood Association; Carol Hanson, Mayor
The Sun-Sentinel reports that the Boca Raton (Florida) Airport Authority today will unveil a study expected to show no major increase in aircraft noise over the past few years. The study comes at a critical time, when plans for an airport expansion are being met by opposition from organized residents and the city council. The article says that the study results are not expected to dissuade opponents from continuing to call for a flight curfew at the airport.
According to the article, the airport authority will release the study at its regular meeting today and meet with the city council, federal, and state aviation officials on Thursday to discuss noise problems. Airport officials say the noise levels at the airport do not support a curfew. Airport Authority Chair Phil Modder said, "I don't think the study will show the noise is materially increased, and without justification, applying for a curfew would be an exercise in futility." He added that the authority wants to be good neighbors in the community, but if "neighbors didn't like the noise on I-95, the state wouldn't shut down the highway after 10 p.m."
City Councillor Steven Abrams responded to the news by saying, "I don't need a noise study. I have a telephone study -- mine's been ringing off the hook with complaints. In the past, we've had scattered complaints, but now it's widespread and constant, so I know the noise must be significantly more because the calls I'm getting on it have been."
The article goes on to say that last week, a new coalition of 14 homeowners' groups aimed at curbing airport noise asked the city council to push for a flight curfew and halt plans for airport expansion, including construction of a control tower. The coalition argues that the tower and expansion plans will increase jet traffic. But airport officials maintain the tower will reduce noise by preventing planes from circling while waiting to land.
The city council has no control over the Airport Authority, the article reports, except that it appoints the authority's members. Tom Knibbs, a member of the Yamato/Spanish River Neighborhood Association, said he believes this week's meetings between the city council and other officials can help their cause. He said, "We have the ear and the support of the people who are elected to represent us. So, yes, I think this can make a difference."
The article points out that a U.S. law passed in 1990 makes it difficult to get Federal Aviation Administration approval for a flight curfew. But Modder of the Airport Authority said other noise mitigation measures, such as better enforcement of certain flight patterns, could help the problem. Meanwhile, Mayor Carol Hanson said she is not giving up on a curfew and she expects the Airport Authority to apply for a curfew, regardless of the noise study results. Hanson said, "I don't want to hear about 'the FAA this or the FAA that.' The authority needs to be far more sympathetic to the concerns of the community."
PUBLICATION: The Washington Post
DATE: May 20, 1997
SECTION: page Z05
BYLINE: Sandra G. Boodman
DATELINE: New York City, NY
The Washington Post reports that two environmental psychologists at Cornell University, Gary W. Evans and Lorraine Maxwell, have discovered that schoolchildren who are exposed to frequent airport noise do not learn to read well as schoolchildren who study in a quieter environment. Children exposed to excessive and repeated noise learn how to tune out noise, including speech. Impaired speech perception in turn hampers their ability to learn how to read.
The psychologists gathered these results from a study they conducted on 116 first and second graders attending New York City public elementary schools. One school was repeatedly exposed to low-flying planes every 6.6 minutes, sometimes reaching 90 decibels. The children of this school had "signifigant deficits" in reading and speech perception, in comparison to a similar school in a quiet neighborhood. All children were pre-tested for healthy hearing and all natively spoke English. They came from the same economic class and ethnicity.
The psychologists hypothesized that noise pollution may also interfere with parents' and teachers' willingness to use complete sentences or read aloud to the children.
PUBLICATION: Press Association Newsfile
DATE: May 23, 1997
SECTION: Home News
BYLINE: Mike Taylor
DATELINE: Staple, Great Britain
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Dee Cullen, Karen Young, residents
The Press Association Newsfile reports that a Royal Air Force pilot in Great Britain who was court-martialled for "buzzing" his parents' home village of Staple in his Hawk jet, was cleared by the Court of Appeal today.
According to the article, the pilot was Nicholas Paine, a member of 100 Squadron, who had been fined 500 pounds and severely reprimanded in March 1996 for "flying an aircraft in a manner causing or likely to cause unnecessary annoyance to persons on the ground in the vicinity at the time." The incident occurred after a simulated attack on RAF Manston in Kent, when Paine departed from his flight plan and passed low over the village of Staple -- population 600 -- as a "frolic" to show off to his parents, the article reports.
Some residents were extremely upset with the military jet noise, the article says. Dee Cullen, of Animal Farm, Staple, said the sound of the jet was "horrendous," and that it upset her geese, horses, peacock, and other animals. She said if her children had been riding the pony, they would have been thrown off. Cullen complained about the incident, and received a short apology from Paine on her answerphone, the article says. Another resident, Karen Young, was in the garden with her grandchildren when the jet passed over, and said her granddaughter was "clinging and crying" because of the unbearable noise.
However, Paine told the Court Martial that, during his birthday celebrations at Staple, his father asked if he could fly over the house. Paine agreed because it would enable him to do a permitted target run and free navigation training. He said the flying at a low level over the town was a serious part of his attack exercise, and was a far more difficult maneuver task than the "easy" attack on Manston. He claimed his telephone call to Mrs Cullen was made out of courtesy and was not an admission to unnecessary noise.
The article reports that today appeal judge Lord Justice Stuart-Smith, sitting with Mr. Justice Forbes and Mr. Justice Eady, ruled that the members of the Court Martial had been misdirected on the question of the pilot's "intent." The court ruled that, to establish guilt, it had to be shown there was an intention to fly so as to cause annoyance or that the pilot recklessly "couldn't care less" whether he caused annoyance or not, the article says. The judge who had presided at the Court Martial had wrongly directed its members that the proper test was whether the pilot "knew or ought to have known" that what he did was likely to cause annoyance. The appeal judge said this was not the same as establishing a positive intention or recklessness, the article concludes.
PUBLICATION: The Vancouver Sun
DATE: May 22, 1997
SECTION: Editorial; Pg. A16
DATELINE: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Urban Noise Task Force
The Vancouver Sun reports in an editorial that the Vancouver (British Columbia) Urban Noise Task Force recently produced a list of 165 recommendations on ways to quiet the noise of urban life. The list ranged from motorcyclists who rev their engines, to leaf-blowers, to barking dogs, to the beeping of trucks backing up, to the fall of garbage can lids by careless workers. The list suggests controlling the hours one may mow the lawn, turning all parks into quiet parks, and eliminating the West Coast Expressway's whistle. Councillors will be reviewing the list next Tuesday.
PUBLICATION: The Southland Times (New Zealand)
DATE: May 23, 1997
SECTION: News; National; Pg. 15
DATELINE: Arrowtown, New Zealand
The Southland Times reports that an orchard owner in Arrowtown, New Zealand has been asked by a panel to significantly reduce noise levels from a frost-fighting wind machine, or remove it. The panel's decision came in response to neighbors angry about the noise and intrusion into the landscape of the machine.
The article reports that the Wakatipu resource consent hearings panel met yesterday to discuss the application for a retrospective consent for the wind machine. The wind machine is owned by Kay Macalister, who owns an orchard on McDonnell Road, and is 10 meters high. The application was opposed by 12 neighbors, who said the noise of the machine was like a helicopter circling their houses. The chair of the hearings panel, Taylor Reed, said the applicant would have to comply with the approved noise levels and relocate the machine or else remove it, the article concludes.
PUBLICATION: The Northern Echo (England)
DATE: May 19, 1997
SECTION: Pg. 5
BYLINE: Andrew Douglas
DATELINE: Bishop Middleham, England
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Alan Norman, resident; Chris Hoult, section manager of the county council's development control group
The Northern Echo of England reports that a family who lives in Bishop Middleham, England, fears their lives will be ruined if a quarry is allowed to expand near their home. They say they will be tormented by relentless noise and dust.
According to the article, Alan Norman objects to a limestone quarry being extended to within 60 meter of his family's home. Mr. Norman, whose property overlooks the proposed quarry site near Bishop Middleham, says he and five other home-owners will be plagued by noise and dust. The W & M Thompson Company wants to extend the limestone quarry into a further 14.8 hectares of farmland on the outskirts of the village. A public inquiry into the plan revealed that the fate of 74 jobs could depend on the controversial extension being approved. But Mr. Norman, who runs a livery business from his home, is also concerned that any big disruption will affect his horses and his livelihood. He said: "Our value of life will also go. It will devalue our home. I don't think I could live here with all the noise and dust it will create."
The article reports the proposal to extract six million tons of limestone aggregate over the next ten years will be decided by a Government planning inspector after the proposal was rejected by Durham County Council. The land that the company wants to develop lies between the existing quarry and Thrislington Quarry. A previous attempt to extend the quarry was blocked by appeal in 1993. Chris Hoult, section manager of the county council's development control group, told the inquiry that the plan was contrary to a number of policies, including those on mineral strategy and landscape protection. He said: "There is no specialized product from the appeal site which could not be produced from other sites, and claims regarding employment are difficult to substantiate." A 155-name petition signed by villagers in support of the quarry extension has been handed to the inquiry. The proposal also has the backing of the parish council.
PUBLICATION: City News Service of Los Angeles
DATE: May 20, 1997
DATELINE: Burbank, California
The City News Service of Los Angeles reports that consultants for the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena (California) Airport Authority have started to interview community leaders and residents to gather their opinions about airport noise. The interviews are part of the fact finding process in a larger study on noise issues at the Burbank Airport. Noise has been a controversial issue in the fight between the city of Burbank and the Airport Authority over expansion of the airport.
According to the article, consultants Coffman & Associates also are reviewing noise contour maps, inventorying the aircraft stationed at the Burbank Airport, and predicting future aircraft noise as part of an update to the "Federal Aviation Regulation Part 150" noise study, last done in 1989. Mark Johnson of Coffman & Associates said the study update will take about 15 months to complete. Johnson said the company will monitor current noise levels and determine whether the city, airport, and pilots are doing all they can to reduce noise.
The article goes on to report that the Airport Authority wants to triple the size of the 14-gate terminal. Burbank officials, meanwhile, are willing to accept an expansion that includes two more gates, but only if a nighttime curfew and other measures designed to mitigate the added airline noise are left intact. The city has the power to approve or deny the land acquisition needed for the terminal expansion under a section of the California Public Utilities Code, and to veto or approve the Airport Authority's expansion plans, but the Airport Authority has been challenging that law in state and federal court, the article says.
PUBLICATION: Los Angeles Times
DATE: May 20, 1997
SECTION: Metro; Part B; Page 3; Metro Desk
BYLINE: Frank Messina
DATELINE: Laguna Niguel, California
The Los Angeles Times reports that a Laguna Niguel (California) City Council meeting tonight will address a proposal to ban leaf blowers. Nearby Laguna Beach has already banned the blowers, and is the only community in the county so far to do so. Gardeners and residents who oppose the ordinance promise to attend the meeting in droves.
The article reports that gardeners in town are against the ordinance, saying it would cost too much to replace blowers with manual labor. The city alone would have to spend $200,000 each year.
According to the article, 10 other cities in the county restrict the use of leaf blowers on the basis of proximity to doorways and windows, noise levels, and time of use. Local officials said that blower use may be higher in Laguna Niguel because of large areas of open green space that need to be maintained.
PUBLICATION: Los Angeles Times
DATE: May 21, 1997
SECTION: Metro; Part B; Page 4; Zones Desk
BYLINE: Frank Messina
DATELINE: Laguna Niguel, California
ACTIVISTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND GROUPS MENTIONED: Lani Grilles, resident; Eddie Rose, City Councillor
The Los Angeles Times reports that the Laguna Niguel (California) City Council had considered restricting or banning leaf blowers, but rejected the proposal Tuesday night after few residents came to support the proposal.
According to the article, the issue was considered after residents complained about noise from leaf blowers. City councillors decided that the issue wasn't important to many people after seeing the low turnout. Councilwoman Mimi Krogius Walters said, "It has to take more than that for me to put a law into place."
The article reports that the city attorney had found nine cities within the county that restrict the use of leaf blowers, including Laguna Beach's outright ban. 90 cities statewide restrict their use in some way, though complete bans were seldom.
The article goes on to say that landscapers and gardeners protested the proposal, and even warned their customers that the law could raise prices. One gardener at the meeting said "This law would put me out of business. I can't get the same [quick] results with brooms and water."
The article notes that one resident said noise was a problem every day all week long. Only one council member supported the ordinance, saying it was "a quality-of-life issue."
The article concludes noting that Laguna Beach's leaf blower ban has shown officials there that landscapers can do fine without them. Costs that are incurred by increased work hours are offset by savings on purchasing and maintaining the blowers. Now, only a few calls are received because some gardeners don't know about the ordinance.
PUBLICATION: The Times Union
DATE: May 21, 1997
SECTION: Capital Region, Pg. B6
DATELINE: Albany, New York
The Times Union reports that federal officials announced Tuesday a $7 million appropriation to the Albany Airport construction projects and the purchase of nearby homes for noise abatement.
According to the article, the grant will allow the Albany County Airport Authority to buy nine homes north of the airport in order to demolish them or convert them into non-residential use as part of its program to minimize noise in surrounding neighborhoods. Authority CEO John Egan said it had not been determined which homes would be bought, or for how much. The appropriation includes $2 million for noise abatement, $1.3 million for security fencing, and $4 million for road renovations in the area where airplanes taxi and park, the article reports.
PUBLICATION: The Washington Post
DATE: May 20, 1997
SECTION: Health; Pg. Z05; The Cutting Edge
BYLINE: Sandra Boodman
DATELINE: U.S.
The Washington Post reports that two environmental psychologists at Cornell University (New York) have completed a study which finds that children who attend schools that experience frequent airport noise do not learn to read as well as children who attend quiet schools, because they tune out speech along with airplane noise. As a result, these children have trouble learning to recognize and differentiate between speech sounds, a prerequisite to learning to read, the article reports.
According to the article, researchers Gary Evans and Lorraine Maxwell will publish a paper about their study later this year in the journal Environment and Behavior. The study tested 116 first- and second-graders attending two New York City public elementary schools. One school was in the flight path of a major international airport, and experienced noise from low-flying planes every that reached up to 90 decibels every 6.6 minutes. The other school was located in a quiet neighborhood in the same borough. The researchers pre-screened all the children for normal hearing, and chose students who spoke English as their native language. In addition, the median household income for both groups of students was $30,000, and most students in both schools were black. The researchers tested students for their ability to read, and their ability to distinguish words and word sounds under both noisy and quiet conditions, the article reports. The results of the tests were later analyzed taking the mothers' educational attainment into account.
The researchers found that children in the noisy school had "significant deficits" in reading. These deficits remained even when the kids were tested under quiet conditions. The students' ability to read was hampered, the researchers found, because their speech perception was impaired. The researchers concluded that children exposed to chronic noise have learned to tune out all noise, including speech. In addition, Evans and Maxwell hypothesized that chronic noise exposure may affect reading in other ways, the article reports. For example, teachers in noisy schools and parents in noisy environments may be more irritable, and more reluctant to talk as much, to use as many complete sentences, and to read aloud to children.
PUBLICATION: The Weekly of Business Aviation
DATE: May 19, 1997
SECTION: Business Aviation Briefs; Vol. 64, No. 20; Pg. 227
DATELINE: Albuquerque, New Mexico
The Weekly of Business Aviation reports that the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has asked Albuquerque, New Mexico Mayor Martin Chavez to reopen Runway 17/35 at Albuquerque International Airport, saying that during times of strong wind, the runway is the only safe one available. AOPA believes the mayor may have closed the runway because of noise concerns.
The article reports that AOPA said two months ago, Mayor Chavez ordered the runway closed for six months for maintenance, although no maintenance has been done. Bill Dunn, AOPA's vice president for regional affairs, said, "We understand the mayor may have closed the runway because of noise concerns. But, if so, he's prejudging the results of an ongoing [noise] study." AOPA officials say there are ways to mitigate noise concerns and keep the runway open for the times when weather conditions dictate its use, the article says.
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