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Citizens sound off on FAA noise study
By John J. Hopkins Times
Dozens of residents continue to criticize a Buffalo-Niagara International Airport noise study recently accepted by the Federal Aviation Administration for what they believe are omissions from a list of homes eligible for noise mitigation.
The Niagara Frontier transportation Authority, which operates the Buffalo airport, volunteered for the FAA "Part 150" study, which was undertaken in 2003.
Results from the study were used to project noise patterns during a five-year period and determine homes that would be eligible for noise abatement through federal and state grants.
"Our intention was to see what we could do to improve the quality of life in as many homes through the Part 150," said C. Douglas Hartmayer, an NFTA spokesperson.
The project was submitted to the FAA for approval in 2006, and after the mitigation plan was approved, the NFTA held a meeting in June to discuss abatement procedures.
However, many residents at that time were upset when they learned that their homes were not included among the 1,740 on the list for free noise improvements.
They have since contacted several elected officials, including Supervisor James J. Jankowiak, Councilmember Tom Johnson and Erie County Legislator Tom Mazur.
Johnson noted that many of the complaints are concentrated along six Cheektowaga streets: Marilyn Drive, Rosedale Drive, Evergreen Place, Wellworth Place, Santin Drive and Cherokee Drive.
"It's discriminatory on face value," said Johnson. "The program leaves a gap in credibility."
In a letter to Maria Stanco, on FAA environmental program manager, Johnson said that the "most strident" complaint focused on apparent discrimination between homes, sometimes adjacen to each other.
He enclosed with the letter a list of residents' complaints and observations about the study.
Among these points are: loud and early morning taxiing noise, "wind tunnel" noise effects, low-flying aircraft disturbing tree tops and residents hoping to perform needed house work but wondering if they will be covered by the noise plan.
"Our town staff and I question whether the noise meter readings and corresponding decibel contour maps can possibly be accurate," Johnson wrote in his letter dated July 26. "We believe that the 65 decibel noise impact range is not properly mapped and must be extended to include all properties on affected streets."
A Marilyn Drive resident offered an example of what he believes is a flaw in the study.
The man noted that his home is not eligible for noise abatement, but several homes on his street are. A Maryvale Drive home, directly behind his, qualified for the noise work, he added.
Hartmayer noted that the noise contours were created based on information from the Part 150 study. These guidelines are established by the FAA and have been used by airports across the United States.
"It's a very challenging process, no doubt about it," said Hartmayer. "Our intention was pure."
Several Evergreen Place residents sent form letters announcing their displeasure. One resident stated his belief that the study was performed when the airport was using its backup "Crosswinds" runway to reconstruct its main runway in 2006.
The Times reported in its October 30, 2003 edition that the NFTA earlier that year monitored noise in 15 locations around the airport, including eight in Cheektowaga and Depew to help create the contour map.
Johnson said that John Marriott, who serves on the town's planning board, investigated the locations. Marriott performs professional noise analysis for a private firm.
"There is no way that (Marriott) understands how (the study) discriminated between adjacent homes," Johnson said.
The local sites, the Times reported, included Maryvale Primary School, Maryvale East Senior Complex on Moorman Drive, Sky Harbor West, John Sciole Elementary School in Depew, 600 Cayuga Road, Nokomis Park, the U-Crest Fire Hall and Boll Street.
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