Residents Near U.S. Naval Air Facility in Atsugi, Japan Complain About Military Jet Noise (Apr. 13, 2000). The Asahi News Service in Japan reports that residents near the U.S. Naval Air Facility in Atsugi are asking the U.S. government to address the noise pollution problems at the base. The residents believe that Japan should not listen to the American government's demand that Japan deal with the dioxin problem in the area until the noise problems at the base are solved.
Attempts to Revitalize Beleaguered Phoenix, Arizona Neighborhood Meet With Opposition From Some City Officials (Mar. 30, 2000). The Phoenix New Times in Arizona reports that some city officials and residents wish to revitalize the neighborhood of Central City South. Residents there are faced with many obstacles, including noise pollution. The plan is getting little support from the city, however.
Belvedere, California Residents Complain About Homeowner's Chicken Coop (Mar. 12, 2000). The Los Angeles Times reports that a resident, Dr. William Rothman, in Belvedere, California has had many complaints lodged against him because of the chicken coop and chickens he keeps on his property. The case has become a controversial symbol of the fight between wealthy newcomers and longtime residents. The city invoked its noise ordinance two years ago when the complaints first started, but they did not pursue that tactic because the hens do not actually make any noise. It's the appearance of the chicken coop that is really bothering those who want the chickens to go.
Residents Near Los Angeles International Airport Are Pushing for Proposed El Toro Airport (Nov. 29, 1999). The Los Angeles Times reports that residents and officials near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) are pushing for the proposed new airport at El Toro in Orange County. They say that it is only fair for Orange County residents, who send about 12 million passengers a year to LAX, to shoulder some of the aircraft noise burden. Opponents say that LAX and nearby John Wayne Airport should be used to their potential before any new airport is built.
Bensenville, Illinois Wins Choice of Which Homes Will Be Soundproofed by Chicago O'Hare Airport Funds; Bensenville Wants to Soundproof By Community, and Accused Chicago's Alternative Home Selections as Discriminatory to Hispanic Neighborhoods (Nov. 6, 1999). The Chicago Tribune reports that Bensenville, Illinois has won the right to choose which homes will be soundproofed in its community by Chicago O'Hare Airport funds. This particular article differs by bringing up the issue of environmental justice in the choice of homes.
Lacey, New Jersey Resident Opposes New Jersey Coalition Against Aircraft Noise's Support of Ocean Routing at Newark Airport; He Says the Route Reduces Safety, Efficiency, and Only Benefits the Affluent (Nov. 3, 1999). The Asbury Park Press prints a letter to the editor that criticizes the New Jersey Coalition Against Aircraft Noise for pushing for "ocean routing" at Newark Airport. The author says that the routing will increase delays, and will only help a few affluent communities with noise, while poorer communities still have it bad.
Electioneering and Religious Festivals in Madras, India Fill the Air with Noise, and Police are Slow to Enforce Limits (Sep. 20, 1999). The Hindu reports that amplified sound from electioneering and religious festivals in Madras, India is getting worse., and the "touchiness" of religion in India means that police are often slow to act. Cars with altered mufflers or loud horns also cause disruption. Laws that exist include rules against cone speakers, and maximum noise levels in different zones.
Three Residents Near San Diego, California's Miramar Marine Base Give Their Opinion on Proposed New Flight Paths for Noisy Helicopters (Sep. 9, 1999). The San Diego Union-Tribune prints three opinions from residents near San Diego, California's Miramar Marine Base about proposed new flight paths for noisy helicopters. The first opinion, from the second district supervisor, centers on the importance of maintaining safety despite any possible noise impacts. She also emphasizes the importance of working together with the military instead of creating a confrontational situation. She says that shoving noise from the North County to the East County is not the solution, and notes that the military will consider Eastern routes but will not guarantee that it will use them in the end. The second opinion focuses on the fact that most people who are complaining about noise knew they were moving near an airport. The third opinion renames MARCH (Move Against Relocating Copters Here) to WHINE (We Hope Itineraries are Nudged East) and says that the more urban North County treat East County residents as if they were hicks; the author says that copters would be far more disruptive in the rural East County than the more developed North County.
Miami, Florida Residents Wait For FAA to Rule On Proposed Flight Paths At Miami International Airport; FAA Concerns Include Environmental Justice Issues (Aug. 30, 1999). The Miami Daily Business Review reports that residents and officials in Miami, Florida are still waiting on the FAA's opinion regarding proposed flight paths From Miami International Airport. A task force of "residents, American Airlines pilots and county officials" has developed flight path proposals, but the FAA has put off its judgement of the proposals for some time. The FAA originally postponed its decision until an environmental review of a proposed fourth runway at the airport was available. After that came through, the FAA said it wanted more information on potential environmental justice issues: notably, if steeper takeoffs would cause more noise for modest-income homes nearest the airport.
Letters to the Editor From Residents East of San Diego, California's Miramar Naval Base Upset Over Proposed New Flight Path for Noisy Helicopters (Aug. 5, 1999). The San Diego Union-Tribune prints a series of letters to the editor from residents who are upset about an eastern flight path for helicopters from San Diego's Miramar military base. The letters allege that the flight path will impact middle-class people more than the rich, and say that just because the flight path will affect fewer people doesn't mean it's better. Residents say that although they knew of the base when they moved in, they didn't know the flight paths would be moved over their heads and be used increasingly for louder aircraft. Some alternative routes are suggested.
Noise Committee Votes to Support New Runway at Boston's Logan Airport; Committee Says Runway Will Help Mitigate Certain Overburdened Communities, While Opponents Say Other Communities Will Be Hurt (Aug. 5, 1999). The Patriot Ledger reports that Milton, Massachusetts' airplane noise committee voted unanimously to support a new $22-million, 5,000 foot runway at Boston's Logan Airport. They say that the new runway will help reduce the percentage of takeoffs made to the west of the airport. Many in South Boston -- traditionally a less wealthy area -- oppose the new runway which would send more flights over their communities. Projections show a 3.4 % increase in flights at Logan, regardless of whether the new runway is approved.
FAA Proposes Rules to Limit Air Tours Over Grand Canyon National Park In an Effort to Restore Natural Quiet (Jul. 9, 1999). The M2 Presswire reports that the FAA has announced its plan to reduce air-tour noise over Grand Canyon National Park as the next step in realizing a 1987 law that calls for restoration of natural quiet in the park. The law calls for at least half of the park to be free from aircraft noise for greater than 75% of the day; currently only 32 percent of the park is quiet that often, and the new plan will increase that number to 41 percent. The FAA has revised air tour routes over the park, modified 'flight-free' zones, and designed a system that allocates limited numbers of flights to individual air tour operators.
Chicago, Illinois Alderman Suggests Easing Noise Ordinance Against Boom-Cars, Claiming Consequence of Car-Impoundment Falls Too Disproportionately on Minorities; City Council Disagrees (Jun. 8, 1999). The Chicago Tribune reports that a Chicago, Illinois City Council committee rejected a proposal to limit the hours that the noise ordinance against boom-cars would apply. Currently, car-owners who play excessively loud stereos can be fined up to $500, and have their car-impounded; getting their car back costs $115. The alderman claimed that violators were disproportionately minorities, and that they were unfairly hindered from going to work. The proposal would have limited the applicable hours of the ordinance to between 9 AM and 9 PM.
Neighbors Trying to Close a Fayetteville, Arkansas Feed Plant Learn Noise Ordinance Applies to Them, Begin Making Noise Complaints (May 8, 1999). The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that neighbors of a Fayetteville, Arkansas Feed Plant, who are already suing the plant because it is a nuisance, have discovered a new weapon in its fight: the noise ordinance. The ordinance has traditionally been associated with downtown's entertainment district, but it applies around the plant as well. Local police have ticketed the plant five times in eleven days for exceeding noise limits. A spokesman for the neighbors said that the residents are 'economically disadvantaged', and were not as likely to know the ordinance applied to them as those in wealthy neighborhoods.
EPA Official Tells FAA that the Proposed New Runway at Boston's Logan Airport is Not Justified (Apr. 23, 1999). The Patriot Ledger reports that John P. DeVillars, the Environmental Protection Agency's regional administrator, wrote a 16-page letter to the FAA saying that a proposed new mile-long runway at Boston's Logan Airport is not justified. He discussed problems such as increased noise, pollution, and environmental injustice, and emphasized the need to encourage a more regional approach to transportation. This approach would include encouraging the use of other regional airports, and promoting the increased use of Amtrak and its soon to be introduced high-speed line between Boston and New York.
Logan Expansion Faces Legislative and Environmental Hurdles as Opponents Rally To Halt Runway Plan (Apr. 23, 1999). The Boston Globe reports that Senator Thomas Birmingham and environmental groups are rallying the EPA to halt the construction of a runway that they say will negatively affect residents of Chelsea and surrounding communities and that a supposed increase in flights does not warrant the construction.
Residents Gather To Express Their Opinion on Growth of Witham Field in Stuart, Florida. (Apr. 20, 1999). The Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News reports that there was a huge turnout for a community meeting held to discuss the future of Witham Field in Stuart, Florida. Residents have become increasingly concerned over the growing number of landings and takeoffs, as well as the increase in noise from large jets.
Residents Near New Orleans Airport Want A Say in the Growing Noise Problem -- They'll Sue If They Have To (Apr. 19, 1999). The Times-Picayune reports that Kenner, Louisiana homeowners, sick and tired of noisy jets, are getting ready to sue airline pilots and airports at New Orleans International Airport for punitive damage under a bill sponsored by state Reps. Glenn Ansardi and Danny Martiny of Kenner.
FedEx Expansion at NC Piedmont Airport will Damage Quality of Life (Apr. 14, 1999). News & Record (Greensboro, NC) published an editorial written in response to a defender of a proposed expansion of North Carolina's Piedmont Triad Airport to accommodate a Federal Express hub. The author, Joan Black, contends FedEx at the airport doesn't mean progress but rather a lower quality of life for residents of Guilford County.
Editorial: Race Track in Haywood, NC, will Mean Noise and Turmoil for Residents (Apr. 12, 1999). The Asheville Citizen-Times published a rebuttal of Vesta Neale's guest column on Friday, March 26, advocating for a race track in Haywood County, North Carolina. Resident Peggy M. Setzer writes:
Foes of Third Runway at Boston's Logan Airport Question Environmental Justice of Project (Apr. 12, 1999). The Boston Globe reports opponents of a third runway at Boston's Logan Airport are wielding a new argument these days: environmental injustice.
Mass. Business Leaders and Politicians Choosing Sides in New Logan Runway (Apr. 8, 1999). The Boston Herald reports Boston business leaders last night stated their support for a new runway at Logan Airport along with Gov. Paul Cellucci and Logan Airport officials while Mayor Thomas M. Menino and some members of the state's congressional delegation strongly opposed the addition.
RI Residents Question Justice of Proposed New Flight Tracks at T.F. Green Airport (Apr. 6, 1999). The Providence Journal-Bulletin reports some Rhode Island residents who will likely hear more noise if proposed new flight paths become a realty at Warwick's T.F. Green Airport questioned last night the justice of such noise distribution.
US Rep. Charges Massport with Environmental Injustice in Plan for Third Runway at Boston's Logan Airport (Apr. 4, 1999). The Boston Globe reports a US Congressman representing districts near Logan Airport has objected to Massport's plan for a third runway on grounds of "environmental injustice," saying noise will be unequally distributed over poor, minority communities.
Roxbury, Mass., is Loser in Noise Turf Battle, Say Residents (Apr. 3, 1999). The Boston Globe reports the Runway 27 Coalition in Massachusetts now has former members saying one faction benefited at the expense of another community in its battle over noise pollution from Logan Airport.
Residents Seek Monetary Damages from Arizona Town, Claiming Lack of Airport Use Disclosure (Mar. 27, 1999). The Arizona Republic reports a group of residents is seeking monetary damages from the town of Gilbert, Arizona, for failing to enforce its own rules about airport disclosure.
Residents Predict More Noise and Isolation with Florida I-4 Expansion (Mar. 21, 1999). The Orlando Sentinel Tribune reports while the effort to rebuild Florida's Interstate 4 focuses on alleviating rush-hour traffic, residents along the highway fear increased noise, and isolation created by sound barriers.
Noise in New Orleans' French Quarter Neighborhood Equal to Industrial Zone Levels (Mar. 16, 1999). The Times-Picayune published a letter written by Winnie Nichols, French Quarter resident, and Paulette R. Irons, State Senator from New Orleans. The writers urge New Orleans city officials to appreciate the toll of noise on residents and take action to protect residents of the historic French Quarter neighborhood:
To Wall or Not to Wall? That is the Question in Salt Lake Valley, Utah, as Noise Walls are Vehemently Opposed by Some, Praised by Others (Mar. 14, 1999). The Salt Lake Tribune reports noise walls are a contentious issue in Salt Lake Valley, Utah. Some residents applaud their effectiveness against freeway noise while others decry their unsightliness.
Noise-Burdened Mass. Neighborhoods Oppose New Runway at Logan, Look to Governor and Mayor for Support (Mar. 2, 1999). The Boston Globe published an editorial suggesting it is time for Governor Paul Cellucci's administration, and Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, to reconsider plans to build a new runway for Logan Airport.
Longboat Key, Florida Fights Plan to Divert Noise from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport Over the Island (Mar. 1, 1999). The Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports while the plan is temporarily on hold, the debate continues about a controversial diversion of airport noise from Florida's Mainland to a section of Longboat Key. Population, economics, justice, and environmental concerns pepper the debate.
Illinois Residents Challenge Traffic Noise Standards to Get Noise Barrier Built along Tollway (Feb. 26, 1999). The Chicago Tribune reports the town of Bannockburn, Illinois, has challenged the state highway authority over noise standards in an effort to get a sound wall built between the community and the highway.
Shooters Say Texas Gun Club Closing Unwarranted, Residents Cite Noise and Safety Concerns (Feb. 26, 1999). The Forth Worth Star-Telegram reports a gun club in Fort Worth, Texas, closed yesterday after a number of lawsuits and noise complaints from nearby residents.
Florida Politicians and Residents Rally at Boca Raton Airport for More Representation on Airport Board (Feb. 20, 1999). The Sun-Sentinel reports protesters gathered at Florida's Boca Raton Airport on Friday to win greater representation on the airport's governing board and more control over noise.
Vote in Chicago Districts Links Midway Airport Noise to Property Tax Relief (Feb. 18, 1999). The Chicago Tribune reports residents of Chicago wards put a non-binding referendum question on a ballot for Tuesday that makes noise pollution from Midway Airport a reason for property tax relief.
Editorial: Despite Political "Mumbo-Jumbo," New Logan Runway Means More Noise for "Working Stiffs" (Feb. 13, 1999). The Boston Globe published an editorial contending that a new runway at Boston's Logan Airport is a done political deal, but only a quick fix. Meanwhile citizens who suffer from airport noise will only suffer more.
Illinois Resident Highlights Health Hazards from O'Hare (Feb. 13, 1999). The Chicago Tribune published a letter from Robert E. Pochron of Park Ridge, Illinois, who highlights the health dangers of air and noise pollution dispersed by O'Hare International Airport. Mr. Pochron writes:
Mass. Moves Forward with Logan Runway Project Despite Objections from South Shore Residents (Feb. 12, 1999). The Patriot Ledger reports the new runway project at Boston's Logan Airport is being touted by the state as an economic boon while residents of at least one South Shore town predict increased noise pollution will be their lot.
US Rep. Appeals for More Aid for Airport Noise Victims in Tennessee (Feb. 11, 1999). The Commercial Appeal reports Rep. Harold Ford Jr. (D-Tenn.) said Wednesday he hopes to re-open the issue of how much to pay noise-suffering residents near Memphis International Airport by increasing federal aid for noise mitigation.
Florida Residents Bemoan Highway Noise and DOT's Refusal to Build Sound Wall (Feb. 9, 1999). The Orlando Sentinel Tribune reports noise and the loss of trees and property are the primary concerns of residents from Longwood, Florida, who live along busy Interstate 4.
Environmentalists Protest Commercial Airport in Homestead, Florida; Noise and Pollution in Nearby National Parks at Issue (Nov. 22, 1998). The New York Times reports plans for turning the Florida's Homestead Air Force Base into a commercial airport have hit turbulence from environmental groups concerned about noise and air and water pollution in two national parks.
While Chicago Chamber of Commerce Pushes Growth at O'Hare, Citizens' Groups Stress Noise and Environmental Impacts (Nov. 10, 1998). The Chicago Sun-Times reports the Chicago region could lose billions of dollars in economic activity if O'Hare Airport is not allowed to expand according to a report commissioned by the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.
House Votes Down Call for Increased Flights at NY's Busiest Airports (Oct. 19, 1998). The Daily News (New York) reports New York City residents in the borough of Queens, subjected for years to abnormally high levels of noise and air pollution, got a break last week when JFK and LaGuardia were denied flight increases.
County Exec. Urges St. Charles to Join Lawsuit Against FAA Over New Runway Plan for Missouri's Lambert Field (Oct. 12, 1998). The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports a St. Charles County leader is advising the county to join a lawsuit to overturn the approved expansion at Missouri's Lambert Field Airport.
New York Rally Protests Airport Noise and Its Health Effects on Children (Oct. 12, 1998). Newsday reports children and adults gathered in Queens, New York, yesterday to protest noise, pollution, and ill health effects from nearby airports.
Bridgeton Files Suit After FAA OK's Lambert Expansion; Various Factions Speak Out (Oct. 1, 1998). The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday approved southwest expansion into Bridgeton at Missouri's Lambert Field. A few hours later, attorneys for Bridgeton filed suit in St. Louis Circuit Court to try to overturn the plan.
Nearby Towns Say the Issue is Noise; Vow to Fight FAA Approval of Expansion of St. Louis, Missouri's Lambert Field (Sep. 30, 1998). The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports if, as expected, the Federal Aviation Administration gives the green light to the $2.6 billion W-1W plan for expanding Lambert Field, the announcement will set in motion legal actions by public officials in St. Charles County.
Federal Appeals Court Supports Noise Restrictions in Grand Canyon (Sep. 24, 1998). The Arizona Business Gazette reports a federal appellate court has refused to set aside new rules designed to curb aircraft noise at the Grand Canyon in the case of Grand Canyon Air Tour Coalition v. Federal Aviation Administration (97-1003).
Political and Social Issues Accompany Leaf Blower Controversies in U.S. (Sep. 14, 1998). The Dallas Morning News reports with autumn comes falling the leaves, and for some residents and workers in states including Texas, Illinois and California, the re-emergence of the heated leaf-blower controversy is likely.
Changes in Lambert Field's Expansion Plan Means More Noise, Critics Charge (Sep. 13, 1998). The St. Louis Post-Dispatch of St. Louis, Missouri, reports opponents of Lambert Field's expansion plan contend that changes made in the proposal would generate more noise south of the airport than originally anticipated.
Some Residents in Bergen County, NJ, Feel No Sympathy for Residents Living Near Noisy Route 287 (Sep. 13, 1998). The Record reports readers in Bergen County, New Jersey, mustered little sympathy for a woman unable to get a noise barrier built just beyond her back yard.
Citizens in Gilbert, Arizona, Demand to be Heard about Noise from Williams Gateway Airport (Sep. 10, 1998). The Arizona Republic published the following letter to the editor from Gilbert, Arizona, resident Nick Champion. In his letter, Champion challenges the town council's position on airport noise and its effects on residents' property values. Champion wrote:
Noise Decreases at Nashville Airport, But Some Tenn. Residents Still Wait for Home Soundproofing (Sep. 8, 1998). The Tennessean reports the Federal Aviation Administration is reducing the size of the noise contour map at Tennessee's Nashville International Airport, saying the airport is quieter than it was in 1993 when the map was made.
Residents of Housing Project Near Georgia Airport to be Relocated (Aug. 6, 1998). The Atlanta Journal reports residents of Lottie Miller Homes public housing project in College Park, Georgia, should soon get relief from airplane noise roaring overhead day and night, a city lawyer said this week.
Proposed Settlement Fair in Tennessee's Memphis Airport Case, Editorial Says (Jul. 2, 1998). The Commercial Appeal published the following editorial contending that the settlement proposed by the Tennessee's Memphis/Shelby County Airport Authority to resolve a class-action lawsuit filed by homeowners is "fair and reasonable." The editorial says:
San Francisco Supervisor Proposes Entertainment District after Residents Make Noise Complaints (Jul. 2, 1998). The San Francisco Chronicle reports San Francisco's Supervisor Gavin Newsom is proposing the city create an entertainment district to balance needs of clubs and residents in the South of Market section of the city.
Letter Says the FAA Fails to Protect Citizens' Interests in Expansion of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (Jul. 1, 1998). The Plain Dealer published the following letter from Matthew Englehart of Olmsted Falls, Ohio. In his letter, Englehart questions the employment of the firm hired to study the impact of expansion of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Englehart also criticizes the FAA for failing to provide checks and balances for airport planners. Mr. Englehart writes:
Memphis Airport Authority Votes to Settle Class-Action Noise Lawsuit (Jun. 27, 1998). The Commercial Appeal reports the Memphis/Shelby County Airport Authority unanimously approved a proposed $ 22 million payment to area homeowners Friday designed to settle a 9-year-old airport noise suit.
Columnist Criticizes Louisville International Airport's Noise Monitoring System (Jun. 23, 1998). The Courier-Journal published a column by Bob Hill that contends officials in charge of the $700 million expansion of Kentucky's Louisville International Airport are deaf to noise pollution concerns of residents.
Resident Says Noise Ruins Lives in English Town (Jun. 23, 1998). The Gloucestershire Echo published the following letter to the editor about the ill effects of noise from a resident of High Street, Cheltenham, England:
Las Vegas Residents and Business Owners Question McCarran Airport's Agenda in Widespread Buyout Tactics (Jun. 15, 1998). The Las Vegas Business Press reports some residents and business owners in areas surrounding Las Vegas are questioning the agenda of McCarran International Airport's seemingly aggressive but selective buyout procedures.
Florida County Commission Sues Nightclub to Reduce Noise (May 20, 1998). The Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports the Manatee County Commission will sue a nightclub to force it to lower the noise level after residents lodged complaints.
Sea-Tac Negotiates with Schools to Pay for Jet Noise Study and Noise Reduction Improvements (May 15, 1998). The News Tribune of Tacoma, Washington, reports school district officials and representatives of the Port of Seattle, which runs the Sea-Tac Airport, say they're trying to negotiate a solution to the long-running dispute over jet noise in Highline classrooms. Both sides say they could have an agreement within the week over how to pay for a noise study.
Vancouver Residents Say Portland Airport Noise Abatement Test Moves Noise from One Neighborhood to the Next (May 15, 1998). The Columbian of Vancouver, Washington, reports complaint calls to the Port of Portland's noise abatement office are rising along with tests of new routes for jets departing Portland International Airport. The tests are being done to in an attempt to shift noise from areas that get a lot to areas whose residents might not notice. Next week, an airport noise committee holds a special meeting, and could cancel the test.
Port of Seattle Agrees to Fund Noise and Soundproofing Study for Highline Schools (May 14, 1998). The Seattle Times reports the Port of Seattle and school officials say they're close to reaching a deal that would begin the process of outfitting schools near Sea-Tac Airport with insulation to muffle the noise of jets.
Navy Jets Practice Landings at Atlanta Base Too Loud for Residents (May 7, 1998). The Atlanta Journal reports many Atlanta, Georgia, residents are annoyed by the noise from the Navy's Blue Dolphins practicing carrier landings at Naval Air Station Atlanta.
Washington School District Sponsors "A Sound Education;" Explores Ways to Reduce Classroom Noise from Seattle Airport (May 6, 1998). The Seattle Times reports the Highline School District in Des Moines, Washington, has hired a firm to measure noise from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and to advise the district on ways to reduce jet noise in classrooms. Teachers have involved students in studying the problem and coming up with solutions.
Revitalization Plans Bring Noise Worries to Residents of Fort Worth Neighborhood (May 5, 1998). The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports while officials and business owners celebrate the steps being made toward commercial progress in a one area of Fort Worth, Texas, some nearby residents worry about traffic and noise. the opening of a Mexican market on North Main Street,
CA Residents Fight for Sound Wall as Shield from Trains (Apr. 30, 1998). The Los Angeles Times reports that in Orange County, California railroad noise has been a problem for many years, and residents have continued to push for noise walls in the area.
Residents Near McCarran Airport Object to Their Homes on New Noise Contour Map (Apr. 15, 1998). The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports some Spring Valley residents are angry their homes could be included in the updated McCarran International Airport Environs Overlay District Maps, possibly classifying their homes as being in a high aircraft noise area.
Residents Along Florida's Tri-Rail Expansion Demand Protection from More Noise (Apr. 14, 1998). The Sun-Sentinel reports residents at a mobile-home community for seniors in Deerfield Beach, Florida, fear current noise and vibrations from trains and rail tracks are about to increase.
Burbank Fights Airport Expansion; Country Watches Outcome (Apr. 12, 1998). Copley News Service reports plans to expand the Burbank Airport are vehemently opposed by the city of Burbank. The rest of the country is closely watching this debate and how if will affect the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court landmark decision that limited local control of airports.
Silence Doesn't Mean Agreement in Charlotte with FedEx Hub at Airport (Mar. 21, 1998). The News and Observer reports that while residents who live near Raleigh-Durham International Airport have voiced their opposition to the noise that a new Federal Express hub would create, residents around Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, one of the four contenders for the project, have not sounded any opposition.
LA Residents Write in About Leaf Blowers and Enforcing the Law (Mar. 16, 1998). The Daily News of Los Angeles published the following letters from residents in the Los Angeles area who cited their views on leaf blowers, the leaf blower ban and its enforcement:
Hayden and Riordan Disagree over LAX Expansion (Mar. 14, 1998). The Daily News of Los Angeles Saturday reports state Sen. Tom Hayden harshly criticized Mayor Richard Riordan's promotion of a proposal to expand Los Angeles International Airport.
Two Minnesota Neighborhoods Fight to Ensure Increased Train Traffic Isn't in Their Neighborhood (Mar. 1, 1998). The Star Tribune reports that two neighborhoods in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area are fighting to ensure that train traffic increases, not in their own, but in the other neighborhood. The Twin Cities & Western freight trains pass through both the working class Blackstone Avenue neighborhood in St. Louis Park and the exclusive Kenwood and Cedar-Isles-Dean neighborhoods in Minneapolis, but only one of the towns will be experiencing a permanent increase in rail traffic. The next vote on the issue will occur Monday in St. Louis Park, the article reports, when the City Council will consider an agreement in which the town gets funds to clean up a contaminated Superfund site in exchange for eventually having the trains pass through their city.
Dallas Church Vows to Fight D/FW Over Buyout (Feb. 11, 1998). The Dallas Morning News reports The Church in Irving blames the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport for its demise as a missionary training and conference center. Now the church, involved in a bitter dispute with the airport, contends the airport is obliged to buy out the 50,000-square-foot church.
Washington, DC's Open Classrooms are Noisy Failures (Jan. 25, 1998). The Washington Post reports that students at Woodbridge High School in Prince William County can't focus because of the noise in classrooms designed without walls or doors. It's one of more than 140 Washington, DC, area schools built in the 1970s in an "open-classroom" design that failed quickly. Twenty-five years later, school districts are still living with the noise.
Cleveland Railroad Will Use Noise-Reduction Plan if Merger Approved (Jan. 23, 1998). The Plain Dealer of Cleveland, Ohio, reports that CSX Transportation's efforts to convince federal officials to approve a railroad merger, includes promises to enhance neighborhoods in Cleveland and East Cleveland, including re-routing some trains and implementing a noise-reduction plan.
Oil Rigs in Brentwood, CA Neighborhood Noisy and Unsightly (Jan. 23, 1998). The San Francisco Chronicle reports that residents in a section of southern Brentwood, California, are upset about the noise coming from oil drilling in their backyards.
To Keep Noise Out, Walls to be Built in Annapolis Open Schools (Jan. 22, 1998). The Capital of Annapolis, Maryland, reports that the city's proposal to construct walls in 25 "open space" schools would cost $17 million and still may not eliminate noise.
Noise from Oakland Airport Enough Already; Residents Oppose Expansion (Jan. 19, 1998). The San Francisco Examiner reports thousands of Alameda County residents, civic leaders and educators in the East Bay of California oppose the Metropolitan Oakland International Airport's plan to more than double the number of flights, passengers and cargo passing through Oakland over the next 10 years.
Neighbors of Proposed In-Home Babysitting Service in Salem, Virginia Worried About Increased Noise and Traffic (Jan. 15, 1998). The Roanoke Times reports that a couple's request to open an in-home babysitting service on Bainbridge Street in Salem, Virginia has met with considerable opposition from their neighbors. Neighbors complained about increased noise, traffic, and decreased property values at a recent Salem Planning Commission hearing concerning the special use permit.
Leaf Blower Ban in Los Angeles, California Pits City's Homeowners Against Workers (Jan. 12, 1998). The Daily News of Los Angeles reports that from the moment the City Council voted last week to ban leaf blowers from Los Angeles, California, the city's class and ethnic divisions split open like an earthquake fault. Before the vote Tuesday, actors Julie Newmar, Peter Graves and others from posh Westside neighborhoods sat on one side of the City Council chamber demanding a ban on leaf blowers that cause air and noise pollution. On the other side sat members of the Association of Latin American Gardeners, clad in green caps and jackets, who pleaded with council members to spare them the basic tool of their trade.
North Jersey Air Traffic Could Increase From Rerouting Plan (Jan. 12, 1998). According to a Wire Services article, the Port Authority plans to reroute air traffic from Newark International Airport to Teterboro Airport in Bergen County using economic incentives to entice air carrier companies. Already subject to the noise from the 4,200 planes that pass over North Jersey daily, the rerouting would increase the frequency and level of unwanted noise, the article stated.
Relocation of Kentucky Neighborhood Near Louisville International Airport is Held Back (Jan. 11, 1998). An article in the Courier-Journal reports that a plan to relocate a Louisville, Kentucky neighborhood affected by recent Lousiville International Airport expansion has been hampered by the unwillingness of nearby affluent communities to take the residents in. The article reports that the Jefferson County legislature has withheld support for a $20 million state allocation to finally move people out of Minor Lane Heights in Lousiville. It has done this in order to pressure the airport authority into dropping another relocation project, in which anybody displaced from any neighborhood by the airport expansion (such as Minor Lane Heights) could be moved to a new 450-home subdivision in the Cedar Creek area. Residents of the Cedar Creek area oppose the new subdivision.
Noise Matters: Ban Leaf Blowers, Buy Rakes (Jan. 10, 1998). The Atlanta Journal reports that noise matters. It points to the clash over leaf blowers in Los Angeles ---a battle that has drawn national attention and counts among its supporters actress Julie Newmar, a leaf-blower hater.
Los Angeles, California Leaf Blower Ban OK'd by City Council (Jan. 7, 1998). The Daily News of Los Angeles reports that the Los Angeles, California City Council voted to begin enforcement of a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers, despite intense opposition from gardeners, including 200 who packed the chambers and 10 who vowed to continue a hunger strike to seek a veto by Mayor Richard Riordan. The council's 9-6 vote created the enforcement rules, setting a maximum $270 fine for people who operate leaf blowers within 500 feet of residences and for the homeowners who hire them.
Los Angeles Gardeners Begin Hunger Strike To Protest Ban On Leaf Blowers (Jan. 4, 1998). Los Angeles Times reports that protesters who oppose a pending ban in Los Angeles, California on gas-fueled leaf blowers have started a hunger strike. The protesters are gardeners.
Kentucky Residents Halt Airport Relocation Plan (Jan. 1, 1998). The Courier-Journal reports that an expected $20 million from the state to relocate neighbors of Louisville International Airport to the Cedar Creek area in southern Jefferson County is in jeopardy.
New Yorkers Number 1 Quality Of Life Complaint Is Noise (Dec. 29, 1997). The Daily News reports that New York City is doing little to reduce noise pollution even though noise is New Yorkers' No.1 quality of life issue.
Virginia Residents Worry About New Runway (Dec. 24, 1997). The Richmond Times Dispatch reports that residents of Hanover County Virginia are concerned about a proposed airport expansion.
Penalties Reduced On Los Angeles Leaf Blower Ban (Dec. 18, 1997). The Los Angeles Times reports that Los Angeles' leaf blower ban lost its teeth when the City Council decided to reduce violations to an infraction from a misdemeanor. Consequently, the fine goes down. Enforcement will begin January 6.
Surprising Allies Rally For A Third Chicago Airport (Dec. 15, 1997). USA Today reports that a suburban Republican conservative and an inner-city preacher's son and Democrat have bonded to get funds and support to build a controversial third airport about 45 miles south of Chicago, the nation's transportation hub.
Atlanta Airport Expansion Disturbs Historic District (Dec. 14, 1997). According to the Atlanta Journal, an airport expansion option released Friday by a committee advising Hartsfield shows the possibility of a new runway north of the existing airport--a runway College Park Mayor Jack Longino believes would direct jets over his house and could mean construction in areas of the city near Woodward Academy, which sits in the historic district.
Committee Wary Of Atlanta Airport Expansion (Dec. 13, 1997). The Atlanta Journal reports that a committee advising Hartsfield International Airport took a preliminary vote Friday against expanding the present airfield, but kept three options for handling growth on the table. Only one of those three calls for a sixth runway ---and it would be built on the north side of the airport.
Public Housing Project in Pennsylvania Produces More Noise Complaints Than Crime Problems (Nov. 28, 1997). The Morning Call reports that the Cumberland Gardens housing project in Allentown, Pennsylvania, contrary to popular sentiment, currently is considerably safer than many other low-income neighborhoods in the city. Although many believe that crime is high in the area, the article says that noise complaints are the most frequent type of complaint received in the area.
County Commissioners Approve Firing Range Near North Carolina Town, Angering Residents (Nov. 18, 1997). The News and Observer reports that county commissioners in Wake County, North Carolina voted Monday to approve a firing range near Holly Springs. The decision angered residents and officials in Holly Springs, who said their town is becoming a dumping ground for facilities no one else wants.
California Residents Are Up in Arms Over Proposed Truck Storage Area in Their Neighborhood (Oct. 23, 1997). The Los Angeles Times reports that residents in the Virginia Colony neighborhood of Moorpark, California say that a proposed truck storage lot near their homes is intolerable because of existing noisy industries and highways already nearby.
Wright Amendment Foes in Texas See Repeal as Economic Boost; Proponents Cry Foul and Cite Noise and Safety Concerns (Sep. 30, 1997). The Dallas Morning News of Dallas, Texas, reports that while some favor the repeal of the Wright Amendment as a way to revitalize the economy of areas surrounding Love Field, others oppose the repeal of the Wright Amendment based on noise and safety concerns. Proponents use the recent revitalization of Midway Airport in Chicago as an example of what Dallas Love Field could be. Opponents say the Wright Amendment has little to do with area's economy.
Canadian Native People Disturbed by Noise From Military Jets (Sep. 23, 1997). The Ottawa Citizen printed the following letter-to-the-editor from Mike Boychyn, a Scarborough, Ontario resident, regarding the nuisance of military flights to the native Innu people:
FAA Refuses to Re-Route California Jet Route Away from Indian Reservation (Sep. 6, 1997). The Press-Enterprise reports that the Federal Aviation Administration has published the final version of an environmental assessment for a flight route proposal that would send as many as 170 jets per day bound for Los Angeles International Airport over California's San Gorgonio Pass and western Riverside County. The FAA's environmental assessment rejects an alternate route proposed by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians that would have routed the planes around the Morongo Indian Reservation. City officials and residents in Norco also opposed the FAA-proposed route, but the environmental assessment report downplays their concerns, the article says.
More Local Laws on Long Island and Around the Country Ban or Limit Leaf Blower Use (Aug. 11, 1997). 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.
Citizens File Lawsuit Over San Jose Airport Expansion (Jul. 16, 1997). The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the group Citizens Against Airport Pollution filed a lawsuit Monday in Santa Clara Superior Court against the San Jose (California) International Airport, the City of San Jose, and the San Jose City Council over an expansion plan for the airport. The group argues that the project would cause traffic gridlock and increased air and noise pollution, and that city officials did not adequately consider the potential environmental impacts. Members of the citizens group said they are not against a bigger airport, but they would like to see a scaled-back expansion plan.
FAA Proposes to Divert L.A. Flight Paths Over California Indian Reservation and Other Communities (Jul. 11, 1997). The Press-Enterprise reports that to accomodate increasing air traffic at Los Angeles International Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration has proposed routing as many as 170 jets per day over the San Gorgonio Pass, which would put the aircraft over the Morongo Indian Reservation, Banning, Beaumont, Moreno Valley, Riverside, and Norco. At a public hearing Thursday at the Morongo Tribal Hall, about 40 residents of Banning and the Morongo Indian Reservation denounced the plans.
Residents Near Vancouver Airport Have No Grounds for Lawsuit, According to Airport (May 10, 1997). The Vancouver Sun reports that a lawsuit filed a month ago by residents of Richmond, British Columbia against the Vancouver International Airport Authority and the federal government claims that residents are entitled to compensation for noise and nuisance from aircraft using the new, third runway of the airport. In response, the airport authority and federal government filed documents this week in the British Columbia Supreme Court saying residents should have been aware of the airport plans for a new runway and there are no grounds for a court to allow a class-action lawsuit on the matter.
Florida Beachside Residents Are Unhappy with Jet Ski Zones (May 10, 1997). The Orlando Sentinel reports that many residents in the New Smyrna Beach, Florida area are unhappy with the "personal watercraft zones" established by Volusia County, because jet skis in the zones are noisy and prevent others from swimming in the area. In response to the complaints, county officials are planning public meetings to talk about creating some new personal watercraft zones that would be rotated with the current zones.
Increasing Air Tours Pollute Our National Parks (Jul.1 1994). National Parks Magazine reports that an increase in tourist air flights, in conjunction with other air traffic, is destroying the peace and solitude which many seek when visiting national parks. More than 100 of the 367 units of the National Park System are being negatively affected by air traffic. The flights are also disturbing the parks' wildlife. Government officials are just waking up to the cause of preserving the peace in our parks. The controversy lies in the fact that the parks do not employ or control the flight operators.
Aircraft Noise
Amplified Noise
Effects on Wildlife/Animals
Construction Noise
Firing Ranges
Health Effects
Home Equipment and Appliances
Industrial/Manufacturing
International News
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
Chronological Index
Geographical Index