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ROAR News
April 2001
Greetings from ROAR!
No fooling -- there's a lot going on on the airport front this month,
both at the Legislature, and the MAC.
In this issue:
Part 150 home insulation controversy
Aviation and the Minnesota Legislature
Mayoral debates
Webmaster needed
PART 150 HOME INSULATION CONTROVERSY:
As you know, the MAC is currently reviewing their commitment to home noise
insulation under the Part 150 program in the 60 - 64 DNL sound zone. It
appears that the original commitment to noise mitigation is being watered
down due to industry and economic pressures -- but we believe that a promise
was made when the Minnesota Legislature voted to keep the airport operating
in a urban core in 1996. You can read more about it in the Southwest Journal
online:
http://www.swjournal.com/swjournal/myarticles.asp?P=367201&S=212&PubID=6545&
EC=0
The MAC is holding public hearings before their final vote on whether
to follow through on the full insulation package out to the 60 DNL sound
contour. Want to make your voice heard on this issue? ROAR plans to testify
at the public hearing on April 11, 7 p.m., at the Thunderbird Hotel, 2201
E. 78th St. (north of Mall of America on I-494). More from us soon on
what plans are for that date!
Want to write or call
your MAC commissioner, and aren't sure who he/she is or how to get in
touch? MSP's website profiles MAC commissioners, and includes contact
information -- just go to: http://www.mspairport.com
AVIATION AND THE LEGISLATURE:
Some of our freshman legislators have hit the ground running this session,
and are introducing bills which would change the way things are run at
MSP, and with the MAC.
Representative Jim Davnie has introduced legislation that would provide
for legislative oversight of the MAC, thus making it more accountable
to the citizens it serves (HR 1905). Representative Scott Dibble's bill
redesigns the MAC completely, changing the appointment process and giving
more representation to people within the noise footprint of the airport
(HR 1895).
Returning Representative Mark Gleason is introducing a number of bills
concerning the airport this session. HR 0033 would prohibit state employees
from taking night flights into or out of MSP (similar to a resolution
passed by the Minneapolis City Council). HR 1089 would limit the number
of gates at MSP that could be leased to one carrier, thus limiting Northwest
Airline's monopoly at its fortress hub. And HR 1764 seeks to protect the
historic Coldwater Spring site from any possible future airport-related
construction.
Kudos to our legislators for representing folks under the flight path!
For more information on these bills, go to http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/legis.htm
the State's Legislative website. You can also use this site to look up
the address and phone number of your legislators, so feel free to call
and urge them to support this legislation!
INTERESTED IN THE MINNEAPOLIS MAYORAL RACE?
The current crop of mayoral candidates will be appearing at a debate sponsored
by the Southwest Journal and many other neighborhood newspapers at 7:30
p.m. Tuesday, April 24 at Whittier Neighborhood Center, 2600 Grand Ave.
S.
WEBMASTER
NEEDED:
ROAR needs a webmaster willing to take responsibility for the maintenance
of our upcoming website. The time commitment would be a few hours a
month
once the site is up and running. Please contact me directly at sarastrzok@yahoo.com if you're interested in this volunteer opportunity.
Thanks for your time and for reading this far -- more from us soon!
Sara Strzok, Chair
ROAR (Residents Opposed to Airport Racket)
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