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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.3 LivermoreAirportNoise ~ of DlIll 6JQ:~ 1'l~I~~\~ 19~ ~82 ,~, GtJ;IfO'Rf$ CITY CLERK File # Dffil2JEJ]-[5]Q] )( '5~-;S AGENDA STATEMENT CITY COUNCil MEETING DATE: November 15, 2005 SUBJECT: City of Livermore Municipal Airport Support of Noise Reduction Legislation Request. Report Prepared by: Jeri Ram, Community Development Director ATTACHMENTS: 1. 2. 3. Draft Letter to U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer Draft Letter to U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein Letter to U.S. Representative Ellen Tauscher RECOMMENDATIO~ ~. 1. 2. Receive Staff presentation; and Authorize the Mayor to sign the letters to U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstcin requesting new legislation to phase out Stage I and 2 aircraft less than 75,000 pounds at airports in the United States. FINANCIAL STATEMENT: Nonc. DESCRIPTION: Federal regulations determine the types of air traffic that use airports. The United States Congress recognized this to some extent when it passed the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of J 990. The Act called for phasing out Stage I and Stage 2 airl,Taft-those considered the loudest. But Congress onJy applied the Act to aircraft weighing more than 75,000 pounds. While conunercial airlines and others had to develop plans to eliminate those aircraft :from their fleets before the end of a ten-year period, thcre was no proposal or requiremcnt by Congress to eventually discontinue the use of Stage I and Stage 2 aireraft under the 75,000 pound weight limit. The Livennore Municipal Airport is adjacent to sensitive land uses in the Cities of Livennore, Pleasanton and Duh1in. In 2004, the Airport commenced an Update of the Livermore Airport Master Plan. In February, 2005, the Livennore City Council discussed principles for the operation of the Livermore MunicipaJ Airport and directed Statfto stop work on the Airport Master Plan Update and focus time and resources on noise monitoring and reduction. The Livennore City Council further directed that the existing 1975 Master Plan would remain in effect along with the policy that prohibits scheduled passenger scrvlce, and that City of Livermore Staff shall report to the Livermore City Council quarterly on these items. ________________________________.M_M_.__~_._M__________________ø.~~___________________________w~~_______..___ COpy TO: Page I of2 ITEM No._B.:' Based on direction tTom the Livermore City Council, as noted above, the Livermore Municipal Airport is focusing resources on noise monitoring and reduction. The Airport has reviewed studies that have shown that Stage 1 and 2 aircraft under 75,000 pounds account for 50 percent of the noise complaints that are received by airports. Livermore Municipal Airport receives many noise complaints from surrounding sensitive land uses. It is the Livermore Municipal Airport's be1iefthat legislation that would phase out Stage 1 and 2 aircraft less than 75,000 pounds will greatly reduce the impact on sensitive land uses adjacent the Airport. In addition, many ehanges in technology have occurred since 1990, that has caused many airport operators to believe that revisiting legislation so that it would apply to Stage 1 and 2 aircraft under 75,000 pounds is now possible. In Angust, 2005, the Cities of Dublin, Pleasanton and Livermore sent a letter to U.S. Representative, Ellen Tauscher requesting that legislation be sponsored that would phase out Stage 1 and 2 aircraft less than 75,000 pounds. The attached letters (Attachments 1 and 2) embody the same message to U.s. Senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein from the three Cities, Dublin, Pleasanton and Livermore, to support legislation that would phase out Stage 1 and 2 aircraft less than 75,000 pounds. RECOMMENDATION: Staffreconunends that the City Council authorize the Mayor to sign the letters to U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein requesting new legislation to phase out Stage 1 and 2 aircraft less than 75,000 pounds at airports in the United States. ¿;<ðb~ October 20, 2005 The Honorable Barbara Boxer 112 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Boxer, On behalf of the citizens of the cities of Livermore, Dublin, and Pleasanton, my colleagues and I would like to request your support for reducing excessive aircraft noise from aircraft weighing less than 75,000 pounds. For years, this single issue has affected communities in the Tri- Valley and all across the nation. Congress addressed some of our concems when it passed the Airport Noise and Capacity Act (ANCA) of 1990 (Public Law 101-508). However, the Act only applied to aircraft weighing more than 75,000 pounds. With an increase in efficiencies of modern jet aircraft and a significant decrease in the noise they generate, we believe that Congress should revisit the issue and phase out the Stage 1 and Stage 2 jet aircraft that are currently exempt from the provisions of the 1990 Airport Noise and Capacity Act. Aircraft noise has lon9 been one of the most significant challenges facing airport operators and their neighbors. The Tri-Valley is no exception as occasional Stage 2 departures at Livermore Municipal Airport can rattle windows and make airport phones ring off the hook. For people living or working near an airport, the noise generated by Stage 2 operations clearly disrupts their lives. Today, although those aircraft are small in number relative to all aircraft, many airports across the United States report that they account for a majority of noise complaints. At some airports, fifty percent or more of the noise complaints received are related to Stage 1 or 2 aircraft. Theoretically, airports today have the ability to prevent these aircraft from using their facilities- at enormous costs. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines (Part 161) are extremely taxing and perilous for the airport industry. In a recent case pursued by an airport in Naples, Florida, the process produced nothing but lawsuits and loss of federal grants. As an alternative, the aviation industry is eager to work with Congress to develop a rational plan to phase-out certain aircraft on a national basis. t2>:? . ~'D5' ATTACHMENT I ¿),C5()LÞ The Honorable Barbara Boxer October 20, 2005 Page 2 For the above stated reasons, we hope that you will be supportive of legislation to phase out Stage 1 and 2 jet aircraft at the nation's airports. Airport operators and managers have recently formed ·Sound Initiative," an airport.led coalition aimed at reducing aircraft related noise at its source. Sound Initiative has a very informative website on this subject at www.soundinitiative.ora. We support their efforts and thank you for the opportunity to express our views. Sincerely, /h1.H t7) 1l--1~' Dr. Marshall Kamena Mayor City of Liv Janet Lockhart Mayor City of Dublin October 20, 2005 The Honorable Dianne Feinstein Hart Office Building Room 331 Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Feinstein, On behalf of the citizens of the cities of Livermore, Dublin, and Pleasanton, my colleagues and I would like to request your support for reducing excessive aircraft noise from aircraft weighing less than 75,000 pounds. For years, this single issue has affected communities in the Tri- Valley and all across the nation. Congress addressed some of our concems when it passed the Airport Noise and Capacity Act (ANCA) of 1990 (Public Law 101-508), However, the Act only applied to aircraft weighing more than 75,000 pounds. With an increase in efficiencies of modern jet aircraft and a significant decrease in the noise they generate, we believe that Congress should revisit the issue and phase out the Stage 1 and Stage 2 jet aircraft that are currently exempt from the provisions of the 1990 Airport Noise and Capacity Act. Aircraft noise has long been one of the most significant challenges facing airport operators and their neighbors. The Tri-Valley is no exception as occasional Stage 2 departures at Livermore Municipal Airport can rattle windows and make airport phones ring off the hook. For people living or working near an airport, the noise generated by Stage 2 operations clearly disrupts their lives. Today, although those aircraft are small in number relative to all aircraft, many airports across the United States report that they account for a majority of noise complaints. At some airports, fifty percent or more of the noise complaints received are related to Stage 1 or 2 aircraft. Theoretically, airports today have the ability to prevent these aircraft from using their facilities - at enormous costs. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines (Part 161) are extremely taxing and perilous for the airport industry. In a recent case pursued by an airport in Naples, Florida, the process produced nothing but lawsuits and loss of federal grants. As an altemative, the aviation industry is eager to work with Congress to develop a rational plan to phase-out certain aircraft on a national basis. ATTACHMENT 2-. q Dö \.Q The Honorable Dianne Feinstein October 20,2005 Page 2 For the above stated reasons, we hope that you will be supportive of legislation to phase out Stage 1 and 2 jet aircraft at the nation's airports. Airport operators and managers have recently formed "Sound Initiative," an airport-led coalition aimed at reducing aircraft related noise at its source. Sound Initiative has a very informative website on this subject at www.soundinitiative.orCl. We support their efforts and thank you for the opportunity to express our views. Sincerely, /1/l')~'(þ( ~ Dr. Marsha I Kamena Mayor City of Liv rmore .~~ J nnifer Hosterman Mayor City of Pleasanton Janet Lockhart Mayor City of Dublin 5' ub lJ¿ August 17,2005 The Honorable Ellen Tauscher , 1034 l,ongworth House Office Building . Washington, DC 20515 Dear Representative Tauscher. On behalf of the citizens of the cities of livermore, Dublin, and Pleasanton, my colleagues and r would like to request your support for reducing excessive aircraft noise from aircraft weighing less than 75,000 pounds. For years, thie single issue h<;le affected communities ¡nthe Tri- VaJley and all acrose the nation. . Congress addressed some of our concerns when it passed the Airport Noise and Capacity Act (ANCA) of 1990 (Public Law 101-508). However, the Act only applied to aircraft weighing more than 75,000 pounds. With an increaee in efficiencies uf modern·jet aircraft and a ' csigl1fficant decrease in the noise they generate, we believe that Congress should revisit the \¡~:$uè and. phaee out the Stage 1 and Stage 2 jet aircraft that are currently exempt from the ~~vieions of the 1,990 Airport Noise and Capacity Act. ' Aircraft noiee hae long been one of the most significant challenges facing airport operators and their neighbors. The Tri-Valley is no exception as occasional Stage 2 departures at Livermore . Municipal Airport can rattle windows and make airport phones ring off the hook. For people living or working near an airport, the noise generated by stage 2 operations clearly disrupts their lives. Today, although those aircraft are small in number relative to all aircraft, many airports across the United States report that they account for a majolity of noise complaints. At some airports, fifty percent or more of the noise Complaints received are related to Stage 1 or 2 aircraft. . TheoreticaBy, airports today have the ability to prevent these aircraft from using their faciliUee _ . at enOrmous costs., The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guide.lines (Part 161) are extremely taxing and perilQus for the airport industry. In a recent case pUfSuèd by an airport in . Naples, Florida, the process produced nothing but lawsuits and lass of federal grarrt$. As an alternative, the aviation industry Is eager to work with Congress to develop a rational plan to phas~-out certain aircraft on a national basis. ATl~; ~'::JMENr 3 11/07/2005 MON 15: 12 [TX/RX NO 6712] ~002 IQ~LP The Honorable Ellen TaU-5cher August 17, 2005 . Page 2 For the above stated reasons, we hope that you will be supportive of legislation to phase out Stage 1 and 2 jet aircraft at the nation's airports. Airport operators and managers have . tive," an airport-led coalition aimed at reducing aircraft related itiative has a very informative website on thìs subject at support their efforts and thank you for the opportunity to express Dr. Marshall Kamena Mayor City of Liv fad: t Lockhart or of Dublin 11/07/2000 MON 1.&: 12 [TX/RX NO 6712] I4J 003