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ROAR News
July 2001
Here's a short update on what's going on this summer concerning
airport issues:
In this issue:
New Web Site
Noise Insulation Plan Update
New Capacity Study for MSP
Working with other metro airport groups
ROAR the vote
Sign others up to ROAR
NEW WEB SITE
ROAR, together with its sister organization SMAAC (South Metro Airport
Action Committee), has launched a new web site where you can keep up with
the latest on airport issues. Check us out at
www.quiettheskies.org
As our web site grows, we will add more useful links, as well as a "frequently
asked questions" section. Let us know what you think, and please
forward useful information to us by replying to this e-mail, or e-mailing
our webmaster from the site.
NOISE INSULATION PLAN UPDATE
The Metropolitan Airports Commission will be taking public comment on
a proposal to implement a "customized" noise insulation program
for 10,040 homes impacted by jet noise on Wednesday, July 25 at 7 p.m.,
at the Thunderbird Hotel in Bloomington.
Proposal "6a" was first voiced at the July 10 meeting of the
MAC's Planning and Environment Committee. Under this plan, each house
in the 60 - 64 DNL contour would be tested and insulated individually,
with the intent of reducing indoor noise levels to an average of 45 decibels.
The total cost of the customized approach ranges from $127.7 million to
$245.1 million--much less than the $452 million price tag to provide full
insulation.
The MAC has delayed action on insulation for homes exposed to average
jet noise between 60 and 64 decibels -- insulation which was promised
to residents when the Minnesota Legislature voted to keep the airport
at its current location in 1996. The MAC, under pressure from the aviation
industry, has voted not to provide full insulation to these areas and
is considering less expensive options. As this question is debated, MAC
staff have been on a public relations offensive, talking up the benefits
of the current program, while insisting that new planes and new flight
technologies will actually reduce noise -- and therefore the number of
eligible homes -- in the metro area. This despite huge increases in the
number of flights and a new north - south runway which will direct air
traffic over areas that were previously unaffected by airport noise. (See
this story from July 17 at www.startribune.com "Jet fleet changes
could reduce need for noise insulation")
The MAC's Planning and Environment Committee may vote on staff recommendations
on the program's expansion on August 7. The full MAC board may vote on
the issue at its Aug. 20 meeting. The MAC would then send its recommendation
to the Federal Aviation Administration for final approval.
MAC COMISSIONS NEW CAPACITY STUDY FOR MSP
MAC has begun the process of asking how many years MSP has left before
planners and legislators need to reconsider building a new airport.
Despite the $3 billion expansion of Minneapolis-St. Paul International
Airport and the noise insulation program, the region faces continuing
questions about MSP's long term capacity. Enormous growth in the number
of flights and passengers are at or above the MAC's forecasted range.
The study will probably be completed next year. MAC staff will be working
with HNTB Corp., a consulting firm based in Kansas City, Mo., to update
the 30-year forecasts made in 1993 which were used to justify keeping
the airport in its current urban location.
ROAR and other concerned groups have pointed out that using the same consulting
firm and the same flawed methodology to run the same capacity studies
will likely result in forecasts that are just as flawed as the capacity
forecasts produced in 1993.
ROAR'S WORK WITH ZERO EXPANSION
ROAR and the Eden Prairie airport issues group Zero Expansion hosted a
regional coalition breakfast meeting on Saturday July 21 in Eden Prairie.
Together with Minnesota legislators and other elected officials, our two
grass roots citizen groups identified a number of common concerns for
metro area residents who care about aviation safety, noise and capacity
issues.
ROAR and Zero plan to meet again with Minnesota legislators in September
to begin formulating our aviation legislative agenda for the next session.
ROAR THE VOTE
Not sure which candidates share your views on airport issues? The Southwest
Journal and Southwest Community Education invite you to take part in a
unique pre-primary event: a candidate "bazaar" at Southwest
High School on Aug. 27, 7-9 p.m.
All candidates for
citywide office including Mayor are being invited to participate. Voters
can pick up campaign literature and talk one-on-one or in small groups
with candidates.
For voters, this is
a great opportunity to meet candidates in an informal and useful way.
You can walk from station to station at their your own pace, meeting candidates
you might not otherwise learn about before the primary Sept. 11.
If you want to let
candidates for citywide office know that you care about airport issues,
this is a great way to raise the issue on their radar!
SIGN
OTHERS UP TO ROAR
Do you have friends who are as concerned as you are about airport issues?
Sign them up to ROAR at roar-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
More from us as the summer cools down!
Sincerely,
Sara Strzok
Chair, ROAR
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