1990: Sep
1994: Jul Sep
1996: Jun Jul Sep Oct Nov Dec
1997: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
1998: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov
1999: Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2000: Jan Feb Mar Apr
Company in Minnesota Relocates Due to Noise and Vibration from Metal-Shredding Plant. Corporate Report Minnesota reports that the Japs-Olson Company has completed its move away from its office/warehouse space of about 300,000 square feet on the riverfront in North Minneapolis to escape from its neighbor, American Iron and Supply, a metal-shredding plant. Japs-Olson, a precision printing company, decided to move because the constant vibration from the metal shredder disturbed its printing equipment. Now, American Iron and Supply wants to build a five-story "Kondirator," which can handle 100 tons of metal an hour. The article says that the printing company is likely to have an extremely difficult time selling its property next to the metal-shredding company. Meanwhile, the city of Minneapolis is suing the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, saying that the agency didn't fully research environmental hazards of the Kondirator when it issued its permits.
Arizona Town and Kennel Fight Over Noise from Barking Dogs. The Arizona Republic reports that city officials in Paradise Valley, Arizona, a kennel owner, and neighbors of the kennel are involved in a fight over noise from barking dogs. Last spring, the town's code enforcement committee decided that the kennel owner's barking dogs violated a town code and placed restrictions on the kennel. Last week, the committee rejected the kennel owner's motion to hold a re-hearing of the decision. Meanwhile, the kennel owner has filed two lawsuits against the town, the article says.
Dutch Airline Rejects Runways in North Sea for Schiphol. Jane's Airport Review talks about the growth at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and the White Paper that sets down clear limits to the airport's future growth, specifying day- and night-time ' noise zones'; a maximum annual throughput of passengers; freight; and enhanced safety and emissions. The growth of the airport has already outgrown the projections on which the 1990 study was completed.
Florida Residents Want to Hasten Delayed Noise Wall. The Sun-Sentinel of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, reports it could be eight more months before Sunrise residents along Flamingo Road and Northwest 136th Avenue will see a wall shielding their homes from the grit and noise of traffic. Many are angry about the delay.
German Scientists Find that Nocturnal Traffic Noise Negatively Affects Health. The Deutsche Presse-Agentur reports that two German scientists have completed research on the precise health effects of nocturnal traffic noise. According to the article, they have found that nighttime traffic noise not only disturbs sleep but also encourages psychosomatic illnesses, shortens the period of deep, dream-rich REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, lengthens the phase of light slumber, and may cause cardio-circulatory problems. The findings are published in the medical journal "Fortschritte der Medizin."
Maine Residents May Get Sound Barrier to Mask Traffic Noise Along Interstate Highway. The Bangor Daily News reports that the chances of getting noise barriers for residents near Interstate 95's Broadway exit in Bangor, Maine may be improving. The residents' requests of state officials for relief from the rising noise levels have not been addressed, mostly due to a lack of funding, the article says. But a recent letter from the state Department of Transportation to a Bangor legislator said the outlook for federal funding has improved since the middle of September. State transportation officials had previously said federal funds likely could not be used for building a sound barrier, but now it appears the project is eligible for funding from the Federal Highway Administration. If all goes according to plan, the article says, a noise barrier for the Broadway exit could be installed next year or soon after.
Seattle Airport Receives Federal Funding Pledge for New Runway. The News Tribune reports that the U.S. Department of Transportation Tuesday committed $161 million to Seattle, Washington's Sea-Tac Airport for a third runway. That funding, in addition to up to $95 million in other federal money, will provide enough federal funding to complete the controversial project, the article notes. Meanwhile, several lawsuits seeking to stop the project are pending.
Study Likely Will Be Undertaken on Noise Levels at Illinois Airport. The Chicago Tribune reports that officials in Prospect Heights and Wheeling, Illinois likely will commission a noise study for noise produced at the Palwaukee Municipal Airport, in response to complaints by residents. The two communities jointly own the airport, the article notes.
U.S. Airlines Are Ahead of Regulatory Schedule for Quieter Aircraft. M2 Presswire released a press release that says U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater announced today that U.S. airlines are ahead of the federal regulatory schedule for a fifth consecutive year in making their fleets quieter. All airplanes must meet the quieter, Stage 3 noise levels by the year 2000 under the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990, the press release notes.
Connecticut Residents Threaten to Sue the State if Airport Noise Isn't Reduced. The Hartford Courant reports that a group of residents in Suffield, Connecticut are threatening to sue the state if noise from planes using the Bradley International Airport isn't reduced. Residents insist the noise has grown worse this year, and have submitted a petition with 195 signatures asking that the noise be controlled.
Grant Awarded to California City to Reduce Airport Noise. The Los Angeles Times reports that Inglewoood, California received $10.5-million in grant money from the federal government to mitigate noise from Los Angeles International airport. The money will be used to buy residential property affected by noise and rezone it for different use.
Motorcycle Coalition in Vancouver Wants to Help City Reduce Motorcycle Noise. The Vancouver Sun reports in its column "Traffic Jam" that recent articles about noisy motorcycles drew a letter from the British Columbia Coalition of Motorcycles, a group that says it is "lobbying for responsible motorcycle legislation." Coalition members said in the letter that the group wants to work with the city on a proactive education campaign to reduce motorcycle noise.
Residents Near Montreal Area Airport Say Noise is Unbearable, While Officials Show No Sympathy. The Gazette reports that residents living near the Dorval Airport outside Montreal, Quebec are complaining about an increase in jet noise after international flights were transferred from Mirabel Airport to Dorval on September 15. Residents of Dorval, Pointe Claire, and St. Laurent are especially affected by the changes, although communities around Montreal also are experiencing more noise. Last week, more than 80 Pointe Claire residents took over a city council meeting to vent their anger and demand action, the article reports, and the residents expect to do the same at the next meeting. Meanwhile, airport and local officials say the noise is not a problem and so far have refused to take action.
Residents Protest Possible Disappearance of Community Garden Near California Airport. The Los Angeles Times reports that a 22-year-old community garden across the street from Van Nuys Airport may turn into a car dealership if the city goes through with its plan to lease the property to a developer. Residents oppose the idea.
Toronto Airport Loses First Round in Legal Battle to Halt a Subdivision Construction. The Toronto Star reports that the Greater Toronto (Ontario) Airports Authority has lost the first round of a legal battle to stop a subdivision from being built under a flight path in Mississauga. The article says that three Divisional Court judges ruled against the authority's argument that the effects of noise on residents should be a factor in deciding whether the proposed 200-home subdivision in the Meadowvale Village district should be built. The subdivision would be about five kilometers from the airport, the article notes. The authority also had appealed the project to the Ontario Municipal Board, but because of yesterday's ruling, only arguments on planning grounds now can be heard in that court.
Maine Residents Bothered by Noisy ATVs on Railbed. The Portland Press Herald reports that residents in Springvale, Maine are complaining about the all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes that gun their engines and race up and down the former Boston & Maine Railroad rail bed. Police say they can do little to curb the problem, and other local officials do not believe the problem warrants action.
Noise Wall Delay Makes Florida Residents Angry. The Sun-Sentinel reports that residents in Sunrise, Florida who along Flamingo Road and Northwest 136th Avenue attended a City Commission meeting last week to complain about the lack of action in getting an 8-foot noise barrier built to protect their homes from traffic noise and dust. The project has been in the works for more than a year, the article says, and it could be another eight months before the wall is built.
Amsterdam Airport to Exceed Noise Limits. The Star Tribune of Minneapolis, Minnesota reports that Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport - one of Europe's busiest - won a waiver from the government Friday allowing it to exceed noise limits.
California County May Privatize Two Airports Under a Federal Pilot Program. The Los Angeles Times reports that Oxnard and Camarillo airports in Ventura, California may be sold or leased to private companies by local officials. The Federal Aviation Administration is allowing the plan under a pilot program that is trying to determine if private ownership of airports could be a way to deal with decreases in federal funding. The FAA will accept five airports nationwide for the pilot program,
City and County Noise Ordinances in Idaho Prove Effective. The Idaho Statesman reports that two noise ordinances passed this year in Boise and Ada County, Idaho appear to be working, according to officials. Noise citations are up and complaints are down, they said.
Gardener Associations and Leaf Blower Manufacturer Sue Los Angeles Over Leaf Blower Ban. The Daily News of Los Angeles reports that several local gardener associations and one of the nation's largest makers of leaf blowers, Echo Inc., are suing the city of Los Angeles over its ban on gas-powered blowers. The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, and argues that if a ban is set on leaf blowers because of their noise, the ban also should apply to lawn mowers and weed trimmers.
Rhode Island Airport Officials Apply for Federal Noise Study Grant. The Providence Journal-Bulletin reports that officials from the Rhode Island Airport Corporation, which manages the T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, have announced they will apply for a federal grant to study whether the airport should adopt mandatory flight rules that would reduce jet noise. The noise study also would re-draw the noise contours around the airport, the areas in which jet noise is a problem, in order to determine which areas need soundproofing. The Airport Corporation has scheduled three public meetings this month to hear comments on the proposed study, the article says.
Proposal for Nighttime Curfew at Australian Airport Raises Controversy. AAP Newsfeed reports that Australian Democrats Senator Andrew Murray has introduced federal legislation that would impose a midnight-to-6 am curfew at the Perth Airport and a cap on the number of flights using the airport each hour. But Stephen Smith, MHR for Perth and a Labor Member of Parliament, today opposed the plan, saying it will have a negative impact on Western Australia, without improving the lives of residents near the airport.
Lawsuit Over Burbank Airport Expansion Will Clarify Laws on Local Control of Jet Noise. The Los Angeles Times reports the the outcome of a pending lawsuit between Burbank, California and Burbank Airport's airport authority will make it clearer for all airports as to when a local government can regulate aircraft noise at an airport. The first court appearance for the lawsuit will be on the last day in October in county court, although because of its implications the case may end up in the Supreme Court. The article discusses the background behind the fight, and how it will affect other cities authority to curb jet noise and designate land use for airports.
Delta Arrives at New York Airport with Hush Kits for 737's. The Long Island Business News reports that on Oct 1 Delta Express (Atlanta) began service at MacArthur Airport in Islip, New York with 737's equipped with hush kits. Aircraft noise has been an issue for a long time at MacArthur. Although officials believe the facility will become a thriving regional airport, MacArthur's service to limited destinations still forces many travelers to utilize JFK or LaGuardia airports.
Researchers Develop Ways to Reduce the Sound of Supersonic Jets. The Los Angeles Times reports that University of California at Irvine has been studying ways to reduce noise from supersonic jets for four years, with the assistance of NASA funds. NASA will give the researchers lab space in Virginia for larger experiments in February.
Nighttime Curfew Proposed for Australian Airport Meets With Opposition. AAP Newsfeed reports that the Australian Democrat Senator Andrew Murray has proposed federal legislation that would place a midnight-to-6 am curfew at Perth Airport, similar to the curfews at the Sydney, Adelaide, and Melbourne Airports. While members of the public support the legislation, others are attacking it, including officials from Westralia Airports Corporation, the airport's new private-sector owner; Perth MHR Stephen Smith; and John D'Orazio, mayor of the noise-affected Bayswater.
Dallas Residents Say Noise Will Increase as Love Field Restrictions Eased. The Dallas Morning News of Dallas, Texas, reports that residents who neighbor Love Field believe the noise they've learned to live with will increase as restrictions put in place by the Wright amendment are relaxed in other states.
Ohio Resident Scorns Airport Neighbors' Noise Problems. The Dayton Daily News printed the following letter-to-the-editor from Peter Severino, a Dayton, Ohio resident, regarding noise from aircraft over Centerville:
Australian Tourism Minister is Condemned for Insensitive Comment on Airport Noise. The Canberra Times reports that Australian Tourism Minister Trevor Kaine suggested yesterday on a radio interview that residents in Jerrabomberra, a community near the Canberra Airport, who are disturbed by aircraft noise should buy property elsewhere. Yesterday, local Members and the Queanbeyan Mayor angrily condemned Kaine's remarks.
Australian Green Party, City, and Residents Association Unite to Oppose Aircraft Noise. The Canberra Times reports Australia's ACT Green Party, the Queanbeyan City Council, and the Jerrabomberra Residents' Association have formed a coalition to campaign together against the disruption of increased noise from the expanding Canberra Airport. The article says the formation of the coalition was encouraged by the statement of ACT Urban Services Minister Trevor Kaine that residents concerned about the noise could move.
Columnist Believes London's Heathrow Airport Will Face Continuing Expansion Pressures. EIU ViewsWire printed an editorial in which the public inquiry into London's Heathrow Airport expansion, Britain's longest public inquiry ever, is discussed. The editorial writer talks about the disillusionment of all parties in the length of the inquiry, the fact that the airport owner has made two important concessions in the inquiry, and argues that Heathrow will face continuing pressures to expand and a site for a new airport should be considered.
Congress Approves $1.7 Billion for Airport Improvements and Modifies Wright Amendment. The publication Airports reports that the U.S. House and Senate sent President Clinton a fiscal 1998 Department of Transportation funding bill (H.R.2169) last week. The bill includes $1.7 billion for the Airport Improvement Program, which is $240 million over the fiscal 1997 level and $700 million over the administration request. A provision in the bill limited funds for both noise planning and mitigation and the Military Airport Program (MAP). In addition, House and Senate negotiators agreed last week to modify the Wright Amendment, which placed statutory restrictions on commercial service at Dallas Love Field. The House and Senate conferees allowed three additional states to be served without restriction from Love Field.
Federal Aviation Administration Tentatively Approves Funding for California Airport Improvement Program Projects. The publication Airports printed the following list of Airport Improvement Program projects tentatively approved for California by the Federal Aviation Administration:
>Federal Aviation Administration Tentatively Approves Funding for Missouri Airport Improvement Program Projects. The publication Airports printed the following list of Airport Improvement Program projects tentatively approved for Missouri by the Federal Aviation Administration:
Amphitheater Manager in Virginia Continues with Noise Reduction Measures; Residents Still Unhappy. The Virginian-Pilot reports that noise complaints have plagued GTE Amphitheater in Virginia Beach, Virginia since it opened two years ago. At a meeting of the City Council on Tuesday, representatives of Cellar Door, which manages the amphitheater, said they plan to plant trees to cut down on noise, adjust lawn speakers, and consider purchasing better speakers. But City Councilors and residents continued to by skeptical and angry about the problem, the article says.
British Neighbors Near Auto Maintenance Shop Want Peace and Quiet on Weekends. The Northern Echo of England reports that after a public inquiry yesterday that a bid by Kwik Fit, a tire and exhaust fitting chain, to expand its operations near a market town's conservation area would result in an unacceptable disturbance to residents. The district health officer said residents should not lose their freedom from noise on the weekends and holidays.
Editorial Writer Says Aviation Industry Should Promote its Current Commitment to Improving Air and Noise Pollution. Flight International printed an editorial in which the columnist says that the aviation industry should do more to show how it is already making strides against air and noise pollution unless it wants to be faced with "increasingly irrational, and occasionally impossible," regulation. The writer goes on to discuss the new air emissions surcharge at the Zurich Airport and the new flight restrictions due to noise problems at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport as cases in point.
Florida School Teacher Lobbies to Get Walls Built to Divide Open Classrooms. The Florida Times-Union reports that Jackson Lanehart, a teacher at the Mayport (Florida) Middle School, has been trying since 1977 to get walls added to the open classrooms in the school, arguing that the background noise is distracting to students. Last week the Duval County School Board voted in favor of the improvements, but funding has not yet been found for the project, the article says.
Netherlands Government Allows Amsterdam Airport to Violate Noise Standards Till End of 1997. Flight International reports that the Netherlands Government agreed October 3 to allow Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport to violate its noise standards till the end of the year, but has said the airport will have to meet those standards in 1998.
Residents Complain About Increased Noise from Commuter Train in Massachusetts. The Patriot Ledger reports that a meeting was held yesterday in Braintree, Massachusetts commuter-train station between residents, elected officials, and representatives from the MBTA to discuss the noise problems produced by Red Line and Old Colony trains. The meeting was arranged by State Representative Joseph Sullivan (D-Braintree), who is chair of the House Transportation Committee, and was held at the station platform so MBTA officials could hear the noise produced. Residents of Hawthorne Place condominiums, Georganna Street, and French Avenue complained that the new commuter trains are adding to noise already caused by the Red Line and freight trains.
Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport Wins Noise Lawsuits. Aviation Daily reports that Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport and the Dutch government were the victors in lawsuits brought against the airport for not following noise regulations.
California Judge Makes Two Preliminary Rulings Siding With Airport Opponents' Concerns in Proposed Air Base Conversion Suits. The Orange County Register reports that San Diego Superior Court Judge Judith McConnell said in a tentative court ruling issued Wednesday that the City of Irvine's plans to develop the El Toro Marine Base failed to analyze development restrictions that protect Marine landing and takeoff zones. She also indicated that the city should have considered how its plan fits with county air-safety and noise restrictions. In another lawsuit filed by airport opponents against the county regarding the proposed conversion of the El Toro base into a commercial airport, McConnell tentatively ruled Friday that the county artificially minimized the impact an airport would have on noise, traffic, and air quality. Final rulings in both cases are due in 90 days.
Grain Elevator Near Illinois Homes Causes Many Noise and Air Pollution Problems. The Pantagraph printed the following letter-to-the-editor from Dave Ellis, a rural Chenoa, Illinois resident, regarding the noise and air pollution caused by a grain elevator near his home:
Residents Applaud Massachusetts Water Authority's Decision to Build Deep-Rock Sewage Tunnel. The Patriot Ledger reports that the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority voted unanimously to build a deep-rock tunnel instead of a marine pipeline in Fore River to relieve sewage overflows in Braintree and Weymouth. The decision has pleased residents in the nearby area, who feared massive construction impacts from the marine pipeline option.
Workers Sue Steel Company in Missouri Over Noise Levels that Caused Hearing Damage. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that a lawsuit was filed recently in Madison County (Missouri) Circuit Court against Granite City Steel Co. by 200 workers who say they have hearing loss and that the company allowed noise levels to be about 50% higher than federal safety standards permit.
Auto Speedway Approved with Contingencies in Maryland as a Result of Citizen Input. The Baltimore Sun reports that officials in Baltimore County, Maryland said yesterday that they would support a proposed auto speedway in Middle River only if the developer helps build wide roads to handle traffic. In response, the developer warned that such restrictions might make the project impossible. Meanwhile, residents who have strongly opposed the track worked with county officials to get many of their concerns reflected in the county's offer to the developer.
British Government Drops Commitment to Cut Noise Levels at Heathrow Airport. The Evening Standard reports that the British government has dropped its commitment to cut noise levels at London's Heathrow Airport, on the grounds that an improvement in noise levels cannot be guaranteed. The news came through civil service evidence in the public inquiry into the proposed fifth terminal at Heathrow. The news shocked residents opposed to the expansion, the article says
British Government is Accused of Caving on Aircraft Noise. The Daily Telegraph reports that the British government was accused of caving in to pressure from British Airways yesterday after dropping a 12-year-old commitment to seek continual noise reductions at London's Heathrow Airport. The inspector leading the public inquiry into the planned fifth terminal at Heathrow and residents opposed to the development both criticized the Labor government for its action.
Czech Recycled Noise Barrier Manufacturer Secures Contracts with Sweden, Possibly Germany. CTK Business News Wire reports that Bohemiaelast, a Czech producer of noise barriers made from recycled tires, has secured contracts with Sweden and currently is holding talks with the German area of Saxony, according to Zdenek Bohdanecky of Bohemiaelast.
Flight Restrictions to Address Noise at Amsterdam Airport Will Cost the Airlines. The ANP English News Bulletin reports that according to the airline KLM, the flight restrictions imposed at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport to reduce noise pollution could cost the airline as much as 1.2 billion guilders in eliminated flights under a worse-case scenario. The restrictions are scheduled to take effect January 1. Meanwhile, the article says, the officials from the National Aviation and Astronautics Laboratory said they have found a way to reduce noise by 50% with a combination of technical adaptations and new methods of taking off and landing.
Florida Airport Officials Say City's Growth is Fueling Air Traffic Growth. The Sun-Sentinel reports that a joint meeting between the Boca Raton (Florida) City Council and the airport authority was held Thursday to discuss noise problems at the airport. At the meeting, airport officials said the city's growth is the major reason for the increase in plane traffic. Nevertheless, airport authority officials agreed to create a report gauging what impact the expansion of Boca Aviation, the airport's sole maintenance operator, will have on the airport and nearby neighborhoods. The article says that Boca Aviation plans to build 38 new hangars, new offices, and an 8,000-square-foot jet maintenance center.
Florida City Council Candidates Give Opinions on Moving Municipal Airport Due to Noise Problems. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports that the six candidates running for Venice (Florida) City Council gave mixed opinions about moving the Venice Municipal Airport at a candidate's forum on Thursday. According to the article, the incumbents said they would reserve judgment until they see the results of a study being conducted on the topic. The new candidates, for the most part, are opposed to the idea, the article says.
Neighbors of Florida Stadium Expect Increased Noise and Traffic During World Series. The Sun-Sentinel reports that residents surrounding the Pro Player Stadium in north Dade County, Florida are bracing for an onslaught of traffic and noise during the World Series between the Marlins and Cleveland Indians.
New Jersey Residents Oppose Construction of Supermarket and Accompanying Sound Wall. The Asbury Park Press reports that the Planning Board in Shrewsbury, New Jersey postponed a decision on a proposal to build a 58,000-square-foot Edwards supermarket off Newman Springs Road till November 6. At a meeting Wednesday night, residents who live near the proposed site continued to protest the plan, the article says, and have hired a lawyer to help them fight the proposal. Residents object both to the presence of a supermarket and to a 14-foot sound barrier the developer has proposed building to cut down on noise from the supermarket.
Sound Barrier Prevents Deadly Wreck in Maryland. The Baltimore Sun printed the following letter-to-the-editor from Ada Schultz, a Towson, Maryland resident, regarding a noise barrier in her neighborhood that helped stop a truck accident from causing widespread damage in the neighborhood:
Florida Theatre is too Disruptive for the Neighbors. The Orlando Sentinel reports that residents in Lake Helen, Florida are speaking out about the nuisance of a theatre in their neighborhood. They told City Commissioners at a meeting Thursday that the theatre generates too much noise and traffic for a residential neighborhood. In response to residents and the theatre manager's comments, Commissioners decided to review about seven years' worth of records to determine whether the theater's existence is in violation of any city codes.
One-Third of Traffic Police in Bangkok Have Hearing Problems. The Deutsche Presse-Agentur reports that according to Saturday's Nation paper, nearly one-third of all traffic police in Bangkok, Thailand have hearing problems because of their continuous exposure to noise levels above 70 decibels. The percentage of officers with hearing problems increases the longer they have been with the force, said Monthip Srirattana, director of the Science Ministry's environmental research and training center. All of the officers who have held their jobs for more than ten years have hearing problems, Monthip noted. The article notes that the Science Ministry will join with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to create stricter noise control laws and extend "no- noise zones" to deal with the problem, according to Monthip.
Resident Argues that Overseas Jets are Quieter than Domestic Planes Over Montreal. The Gazette printed the following letter-to-the-editor from Mike McDonald, a Dorval, Quebec resident, regarding noise from the new overseas flights taking off from Montreal's Dorval Airport:
Residents Oppose Outdoor Amphitheater in Florida. The Florida Times-Union reports that a debate over whether the City of Jacksonville, Florida should build an amphitheater in Metropolitan Park is heating up. At a meeting Monday of the Southwest Citizens Planning Advisory Committee, two residents expressed their opposition to the proposal on behalf of a citizens group. City representatives did not attend the meeting, the article reports.
Residents Say Noise at Florida Airport Isn't Getting Better, Despite Attempts to Mitigate It. The Orlando Sentinel reports that noise complaints are rising at Florida's Orlando Sanford Airport. A group of residents brought their concerns this week to the airport's Sanford Noise Abatement Committee, saying it appears there will be no end to the noise problems because the city, the county, and the airport authority continue to solicit more airport activity. Residents from prestigious neighborhoods in Lake Mary said they may consider legal action if the noise doesn't decrease.
British Residents Seek Solutions to Deal with Noisy Neighbors. The Sunday Times reports that due to poorly regulated residential property conversions in England in the 1960s, many people find themselves in the situation of being disturbed by the relatively quiet activities of their neighbors. The article goes on to interview several residents with problems, and to suggest measures that can dampen noise.
Debate Continues About Proposed El Toro Airport in California. The Los Angeles Times printed the following letters-to-the-editor from several residents in Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Newport Beach, and Santa Ana, California regarding the proposed conversion of the El Toro Marine Corps Base into an international airport:
Idling Trains in Chicago Suburbs Disturb Residents. The Chicago Tribune reports that idling freight trains in Wheaton and Glen Ellyn, Illinois have been disturbing nearby residents, who are annoyed at the fumes and noise from the trains. After meeting with administrators from the two suburbs, Union Pacific Railroad officials said they will consider moving the idling trains away from residential areas.
Montreal Resident Decries Jet Noise Problem and Insists Opposition Will Grow. The Gazette printed a letter-to-the-editor from John MacLeod, a Beaconsfield, Canada resident, regarding a recent newspaper article about the increasing noise at the Montreal area's Dorval Airport:
Neighbors of California's Universal Studios Mount Increasing Opposition to Noise and Expansion Plans. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that neighbors of Universal Studios in the Los Angeles, California area are mounting an opposition over the studio's plans for a multi-billion-dollar expansion. Residents already have been disturbed for years by the lights, noise, and continuous action from the studios, and now they say the expansion plans are too much.
New Plans for Mall in Northern Virginia Upset Residents; County Board Postpones Decision. The Washington Post reports that 950 residents in Countryside, Virginia have signed petitions opposing a proposed 1.2 million-square-foot mall at the intersection of Routes 7 and 28. Residents say they are not opposed to a mall in principle, but are alarmed at the proposed changes in the mall's plans that would cause it to be more intrusive in their rural area, bringing noise, pollution, and glaring lights. Due to resident opposition, the County Board of Supervisors has postponed a decision on the requested changes and have agreed to hold a town hall meeting on the issue early next month.
New York City Neighborhood Escapes Most Urban Bustle Except JFK Airport. Newsday reports that the Queens neighborhood of West Hamilton Beach in New York City is a veritable paradise to those who live there, except for a major drawback: its proximity to JFK Airport. The neighborhood is considered part of Howard Beach, and residents have been able to retain their independence and anonymity, the article says. But the nearby airport is considered by many of the residents to be an environmental and safety hazard, subjecting them to unhealthy levels of noise, air, and water pollution.
Noise Levels at Construction Sites Tested in Singapore. The Singapore Straits Times reports that newspaper reporters visited construction sites in Singapore to test noise levels, and found a variety of noise levels, but found no workers wearing ear protection.
Soundproofing Measures Exist for Insulation Against Neighbor Noise. The Independent reports that according to the World Health Organization, noise is probably the most widespread of pollutants in Great Britain, and noise from neighbors seems to be the most common environmental complaint. The article notes that there were 164,000 noise complaints to local authorities during 1995-96, an increase of 24% over the previous year, according to figures released by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health. The article goes on to discuss technical solutions to mitigating noise from neighbors.
Village Councilor in Florida Criticizes Plan for High-Speed Railroad Between Orlando and Miami. The Jupiter Courier printed the following letter-to-the-editor from Alexander Cameron, a Tequesta, Florida Village Councilor, who criticizes a proposed plan for a high-speed train between Orlando and Miami:
Virginia Citizens Like Waterfront Gathering Area; Some Residents Dislike its Noise. The Virginian-Pilot printed an editorial regarding a recent "Vision 2005" meeting in Portsmouth, Virginia Thursday to discuss Portside, the downtown waterfront gathering place. The columnist said a standing-room-only crowd showed up to give both positive and negative comments on the area. While some nearby residents spoke against the gathering place on the grounds of noise, many residents gave positive comments. The columnist argues that the area provides a needed community space, and that the noise impact on the surrounding area can be mitigated.
Australian Resident Advises Building an Airport Between Sydney and Canberra. The Canberra Times printed the following letter-to-the-editor from Dr. Colin Doy, a Kaleen resident, regarding a proposal to build an airport between Sydney and Canberra to solve the problem of noise and development at the Canberra Airport:
Bangkok Authorities Will Start Enforcing Noise Standard on Boats Traveling in City Canals. The Bangkok Post reports that residents in the Klongside area of Bangkok, Thailand will get some relief from the noise generated by boats on the city's canals when authorities begin strong action against them in December. Boats which violate the noise standard of 100 decibels, as specified in the 1992 Environment Act, will face a fine of 1,000 baht, according to Sirithan Boriboon, director general of Pollution Control Department. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Pollution Control Department, the Harbour Department, and the police will combine efforts to instigate the crackdown, the article says.
California Residents Frightened Over Detonation of Old, Newly Discovered Bombs. The Sacramento Bee reports that eight military bombs were detonated Sunday at the rail yard in Roseville, California, damaging homes and disturbing hundreds of residents. The Vietnam War-era bombs were discovered in the rail yard by workers of the Union Pacific Transportation Co.
Local Garbage and Recycling Experiment in Canada Developed to Reduce Costs and Noise. The Ottawa Citizen reports that a west-end neighbourhood in Ottawa, Canada has developed a neighborhood experiment in which residents place all their garbage on one side of the street and all their recycling on the other side of the street in an attempt to reduce the number of truck trips through their neighborhood. The citizens say their project will save money and reduce noise and truck exhaust.
Malaysian Resident Complains About Noise From Supermarket Air Conditioner. The New Straits Times printed the following letter-to-the-editor from Luke Teoh Ipoh, a Malaysian resident, who discusses why Asians often fail to enforce noise and other types of regulations, and complains about the inaction on solving a noise problem resulting from a supermarket air conditioner near his home:
New York City Resident Argues That the City's New Noise Ordinance is Meaningless. The New York Times printed the following letter-to-the-editor from Adrienne Leban, a New York City resident, who says that the city's recently passed ordinance that raises the fines for noise violators will not work for several reasons:
Airport Noise Abatement Information Made Available on the Internet. The publication Airports reports that BCS International of Costa Mesa, California has upgraded its Bridge Reports decision support software for managing noise abatement programs to allow airports to provide access to noise abatement programs over the Internet. The article says that according to the company, reports, data, and graphics can be displayed on an airport's website or e-mailed in response to an individual request.
Colorado City Councilor Challenges Proposed Annexation Plan Due to Jet Noise Under Parcel. The Rocky Mountain News reports that a City Councilor in Greenwood Village, Colorado challenged a proposed 80-acre annexation Monday, saying it makes no sense to build 499 homes beneath a flight path for Centennial Airport. The issue was raised during a public hearing on the proposed annexation, which would annex South Peoria Street, Cherry Creek Drive, and parts of Peoria Street and East Belleview Avenue. The developer, Cherry Creek Holdings Partnership, sought annexation to Greenwood Village after the Arapahoe County commissioners rejected the housing plan, based largely on concerns about aircraft noise. Meanwhile, the article reports, three studies have reached different conclusions about the impact of aircraft noise on the site.
Florida City Residents Complain About Jet Traffic Over Their Homes. The Orlando Sentinel reports that officials from the Deltona, Florida City Commission met with officials from the Orlando Sanford Airport Monday to discuss problems with jet noise over Deltona. Residents turned out to complain about increased jet traffic over the city.
Idaho Residents' Concerns About Proposed Party Facility Causes Entrepreneur to Withdraw Idea. The Idaho Statesman reports that the Boise City Planning and Zoning Commission approved a request for a conditional-use permit for a commercial reception center in a residential neighborhood in Northwest Boise. But the prospective buyer who requested the permit said she will not go forward with plans for the facility because nearby residents are opposed to it. Residents have said they are worried that the center would create noise, congested traffic, and parking problems.
Neighbors of Sex Club in Hollywood Try to Shut it Down Due to Noise and Parking Problems. The Daily News of Los Angeles reports that residents in a Hollywood, California neighborhood are seeking to shut down a gay sex club that is operating without a permit because of problems with noise and parking. However, the article reports, Los Angeles Councilor Jackie Goldberg is working to keep the club open. The operators of the club are seeking a conditional use permit that would allow the club to stay open, even though it is next to a residential neighborhood and near an elementary school. The City Council's Planning and Land Use Management Committee is to consider the proposal today, the article says.
North Carolina Residents Still Oppose Proposed Firing Range, Despite Revised Plans. The News and Observer reports that a revised, smaller proposal for a firing range near Holly Springs, North Carolina, owned by Wake County, was presented to county commissioners Monday. However, the article reports, many residents continue to oppose the firing range, saying the site is inappropriate.
Residents in Arizona Town Oppose Potential Move of the State Fair to Their Neighborhood. The Arizona Republic reports that the Arizona State Fair, currently located in Phoenix, intends to relocate in a few years, and residents living near a possible new site in Gilbert are in an uproar over the possible relocation to their neighborhood. They oppose the move because they believe the fair would drive down property values, increase crime and vandalism, clog up streets, and cause too much noise, the article says. As a result of resident sentiment, the Gilbert Town Council unanimously passed a resolution last month opposing the fair's move to the area. Meanwhile, residents living near the fair's current location don't want it to leave, saying the fair has mostly been a good neighbor, and they are worried about what might locate on the land parcel if the fair isn't there.
Two California Environmental Groups File Lawsuit to Block Golf Course and Amphitheater. The Los Angeles Times reports that the Environmental Defense Center and the California Native Plant Society have filed a lawsuit against the Ventura County, California to stop a golf course and a 16,000-seat amphitheater from being built at the 320-acre Camarillo Regional Park. Members of the group believe the environmental study of the project's impacts is inadequate and doesn't fully address the problems the project would cause related to air quality, noise, traffic, wetlands, and biological habitat.
Angry Rhode Island Residents Turn Out at Meeting to Discuss Airport's Plans for Noise Mitigation. The Providence Journal-Bulletin reports that a meeting was held last night in Warwick, Rhode Island by the Airport Corporation to explain plans for noise mitigation efforts at the T.F. Green Airport. Many officials and politicians attended, as well as about 100 residents. Public turnout was down, the article says, compared to two earlier anti-airport-noise meetings: one held last month by U.S. Representative Joseph McNamara, and one held in August by Peg Magill, an anti-noise activist from Cowesett, which drew about 400 people.
Florida Nightclub Begins Court Hearing With City Over Noise Limit. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports that the City of Sarasota, Florida started its hearing with the Lemon Coast Grill Monday, in the first stage of a lawsuit filed by the nightclub. The nightclub owners argue that the city's noise ordinance was enacted improperly, and that the city did not give the public proper notice, according to city prosecutor Michael Perry.
Local and State New Jersey Politicians Urge Crowd of 250 to Continue the Fight Against Increased Jet Traffic at Airport. The Record reports that officials who represent south Bergen County, New Jersey at the local, county, and state level asked residents Tuesday to continue their fight against a proposed increase in corporate jet traffic at the Teterboro Airport. The article says that a crowd of more than 250 attended the meeting in Little Ferry and heard mayors from Moonachie, Teterboro, and Little Ferry, Bergen County freeholders, and state legislators urge them to sign petitions, write letters, and make phone calls protesting the proposed air traffic increase.
New Jersey Residents Sue Landfill Company Over Noise and Smell. The Legal Intelligencer reports that residents in New Jersey's Florence Township are suing Waste Management Inc. of Bensalem, claiming the company's landfill in Tulleytown, Pennsylvania is causing noise, odor, and other problems that are damaging the enjoyment of their property.
New York City Resident Wants New Noise Ordinance to Include Fines for Helicopters. The New York Times printed the following letter-to-the-editor from Arun Malhotra, a New York City resident, asking the City Council to add fines for noisy helicopters to the city's recently passed noise ordinance:
Noise Restrictions at California Airport Approved by Airport Commission. The Daily News of Los Angeles reports that the Los Angeles Airport Commission Tuesday approved a plan to impose restrictions on jets at Van Nuys Airport to cut down on aircraft noise. The restrictions would ban flights by noisy jets starting at 10 p.m., instead of the current 11 p.m. curfew, and prohibit any more of the older, noisier, Stage 2 jets from joining the Van Nuys fleet. The article notes that the proposal still needs approval from the Los Angeles City Council, but that approval seems likely.
North Carolina Town Lobbies the Navy to Send its Military Jets There. The Virginian-Pilot reports that residents and officials of Havelock, North Carolina are lobbying Navy officials to send 180 Hornets to the Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station in Havelock. The comments came at a hearing Tuesday held by the Navy to gather public input on where to transfer the jets when they are removed from the soon-to-close Cecil Field Naval Air Station in Florida. The Navy has recommended sending the jets to Virginia Beach, Virginia, but Havelock is an alternative location still under consideration. The article notes that about 75 people turned up for the hearing, and about 25 spoke, none of them opposing bringing the jets to North Carolina.
Proposed Indoor Gun Club Brings Up Noise and Safety Concerns in Massachusetts. According to The Patriot Ledger of Quincy, Massachusetts, some Brookline residents are in favor of opening an indoor gun club in Quincy Center for the training of law officers and for recreational shooters. But Sgt. Robert Perchard, chief of firearms inspections for the police department, questioned the appropriateness of the downtown location, citing safety and noise concerns.
Road Extension in Kentucky Town Leaves Some Residents Unhappy. The Courier-Journal reports that about 70 people went to the Okolona, Kentucky fire station last week to examine the final design plan for the road extension to Jefferson Boulevard. Although there was widespread opposition to the extension earlier, many residents seem to have accepted the plan, the article says. However, some residents still oppose the extension. Meanwhile, officials from the Jefferson County Public Works Department said hearings will be held to explore the types of noise barriers that could be erected between the road extension and the residential areas.
Still No Relief from Dust and Noise for Tennessee Residents. The Knoxville News-Sentinel of Knoxville, Tennessee, reports that some Lonsdale residents are seeking help from the city to force owners of a slag-processing operation to follow previously made agreements that would give residents some relief from noise and dust.
Texas Town Opposes Changes to the Wright Amendment That Would Bring Increased Air Traffic. The Dallas Morning News reports that officials in Highland Park, Texas are opposed to possible changes in the Wright Amendment, which they say would increase air traffic at Dallas Love Field. Congress recently approved changes to the Wright Amendment, and the changes are awaiting presidential approval. Meanwhile, Highland Park has been acting as an information clearinghouse, providing information to residents about the proposed changes.
Universal Studios Loses Bid to Build Hotel and Golf Course in Orlando After Neighbors Complain About Increased Noise and Traffic. The Orlando Sentinel reports that a group of residents in south Orlando, Florida opposed a project by Universal studies to build a hotel and golf course near their homes and won Tuesday when the city's planning board denied the request. The residents opposed the project based on the increased traffic and noise they believed would result.
Village in New York Passes Nighttime Noise Ordinance Targeting "Unreasonable" Noise. The Buffalo News reports that the Sloan, New York Village Board recently adopted a nighttime noise ordinance that targets "unreasonable" noise. The ordinance carries fines of up to $250.
Virginia County Considers New Zoning Ordinance Intended to Reduce Conflicts Between Suburban and Agricultural Uses. The Roanoke Times & World News reports that a public hearing will be held tonight to draw comments on Montgomery County, Virginia's proposed new zoning ordinance. The changes to the ordinance have been proposed in an attempt to reduce potential conflicts between agricultural uses and suburban residential uses of land. Suburbanites in the past have complained of certain agricultural uses which they say cause noise and odor problems. Meanwhile, farmers are find it increasingly difficult to use their land for agricultural uses as suburban sprawl surrounds them.
California Residents Are Up in Arms Over Proposed Truck Storage Area in Their Neighborhood. 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.
Environmentalists and Mobile Home Park Residents in California Oppose Plan for Minor League Baseball Games. The Los Angeles Times reports that a minor league baseball team wants to play on a field at Oxnard College in Oxnard, California. Residents worry that noise and traffic would result from their base there. The team, the Pacific Suns, planned to talk with college officials on Tuesday but the issue was postponed until next month's trustees meeting.
Georgia County Commission Decides to Test Noise Levels From Firing Range in Response to Resident Complaints. The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reports that Eugene Holder, a resident of Cobb County, Georgia, has been lobbying county officials to do something about the noise from a firing range that opened near his home three years ago. Last week, Cobb County commissioners voted to spend $16,503 for experts to analyze how loud the gunfire is when it reaches Holder's neighborhood.
New Jersey Airport Manager Skips Meeting About Plan for More Jets at Airport, Angering Officials and Residents. The Record reports that Phil Engle, manager of New Jersey's Teterboro Airport, abruptly canceled a presentation before the Bergen County freeholders where he was scheduled to answer questions about the possible 20% expansion of corporate jet traffic at the airport. The move has angered freeholders and others, and has intensified concerns over the airport's plans, the article says.
New Jersey Residents Sue Landfill Company over Noise and other Forms of Pollution. The Solid Waste Report tells about a class-action suit brought against a Waste Management Inc. (WMI) landfill in Tullytown, Pennsylvania. According to papers filed, bird droppings, dust and noise that have made miserable the lives of New Jersey residents who live downwind from the company.
New Runway at Louisville Airport Will Change Flight and Noise Patterns. The Courier-Journal reports that officials at the Louisville International Airport in Louisville, Kentucky will hold four neighborhood workshops to offer previews of the ways flight patterns and aircraft noise will change when the second new runway opens on December 1. Officials said the workshops will include examples of the ways in which jets will sound in the affected neighborhoods.
New Zealand Man Threatens to Shoot Down Air Force Jet Because of Noise. The Dominion reports that a man in Palmerston North, New Zealand who threatened to shoot down a noisy air force jet flying over his home was given a 12-month suspended sentence in Palmerston North District Court.
Noise Consultant to Speak to New Jersey Citizens About Effects of Aircraft Noise. The Record reports that Arline Bronzaft, an author, researcher, and noise consultant, will speak to the public about aircraft noise in south Bergen County, New Jersey. Bronzaft was asked to speak by a citizens group, the Alliance of Municipalities Concerning Air Traffic, which is fighting possible plans to re-route corporate jets to the Teterboro Airport. Bronzaft will discuss a recent study that found that children living or going to school in areas that experience aircraft noise have poorer reading skills and slower cognitive development, on average.
Our Noisy World is Resulting in Increased Hearing Problems. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that millions of Americans knowingly or unknowingly expose themselves to sounds loud enough to damage hearing. The article goes on to describe hearing hazards and hearing loss, discuss the latest technologies in hearing aids, and outline President Clinton's recently confirmed hearing loss.
Re-routing Highway through Park Divides Minnesota Candidates; Noise an Issue. The Star Tribune of Minneapolis, Minnesota, reports that in the renewed debate over the impact of routing Highway 55 at Minnehaha Park, the potential casualties are many, city politicians as well as alleged quality of life issues including noise
Texas Residents Oppose Fast-Food Restaurant Partly Because of Noise From Drive-Through Window. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that the Trophy Club, Texas Town Council voted to approve the use of a drive-through window for a proposed Wendy's franchise in the Tetco building on state highway 114. Public opposition to the fast-food restaurant was strong, based mostly on the feeling that a fast food restaurant was not in keeping with the affluent, leisure-class image of the community. Increased noise and traffic problems were also brought up, the article says.
Amsterdam Airport Announces Increase in Passengers. AP Worldstream reports that officials from the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam announced Friday that more than 23 million passengers passed through the airport in the first nine months of 1997, an increase of 13.6% over the same period last year. Meanwhile, freight traffic increased 8.2% to about 845,000 tons in the same period. According to the article, more flights to North and Latin America, Africa, and Europe fueled the passenger growth, airport officials said. Environmentalists have decried the airport's continued growth, the article notes, saying that the increase in passenger numbers means more noise pollution for residents near the airport. The Dutch government acknowledges the problem, the article says, but doesn't want to harm the airport's growth. Various ideas are being considered to allow growth but control noise, the article concludes.
City Council Candidates in Rhode Island Town Make Noise a Campaign Issue. The Providence Journal-Bulletin reports that some of the candidates in the November 4 City Council election in Central Falls, Rhode Island say that reducing neighborhood noise would be a priority if they are elected. The article goes on to discuss each candidate in the three wards in which there are challenges to the incumbents, and the issues each candidate believes is important.
Editorial Criticizes Airport Official's No-Show at Meeting About Increased Jet Traffic at New Jersey Airport. The Record printed an editorial which criticizes Phil Engle, the manager of New Jersey's Teterboro Airport near New York City, for abruptly canceling an appearance at a meeting where he was scheduled to talk about possible increased air traffic at the airport. According to the editorial, the Port Authority has proposed to increase corporate jet traffic at the airport by as much as 20% in order to relieve congestion at Newark International Airport. Residents are justifiably concerned about the proposal, the writer says, and deserve to hear from officials.
Environmental Group Joins Appeal of Homestead Air Force Base Permit in Florida. The following wire report was released by US Newswire of Washington, DC, about the National Parks and Conversation Association's recent action regarding a permit for the re-development of Homestead Air Force Base in southern Florida.
Navy Officials Say Moving Military Jets to Virginia Would Have Little Impact on Coastal Bombing Range. The Virginian-Pilot reports that Navy officials said at a meeting Thursday night in Manteo, Virginia that if 180 F/A-18 aircraft are moved from Florida to Oceana Naval Air Station near Virginia Beach, there would be only a slight increase in activity at the Dare County Bombing Range, and no impact on the surrounding environment. Navy officials' comments were made at an informational meeting, followed by a public hearing regarding the draft environmental impact statement on the proposal to shift the jets to Virginia. The article notes that only one Dare resident attended the meeting.
New Jersey Residents Living Near Quarries Demand Stricter State Regulations. The Record reports that residents living near quarries gathered in Haledon, New Jersey Thursday night to tell elected officials and quarry owners that they are fed up with the noise, dust, and blasting shocks they experience, and that they want stricter state quarry regulations and enforcement.
North Carolina County Commissioners Reject School Site Partly Due to Airport's Proximity. The News & Record reports that Guilford County (North Carolina) Board of Commissioners Thursday narrowly rejected a purchase of land proposed by the school board for the Northwest Middle School. The Commissioners voted down the proposal because it the land parcel was too expensive, too large, and too close to the Piedmont Triad International Airport, the article says.
Residents in California Town Are Angry About Constant Train Horns. The Press-Enterprise reports that residents in Colton, California are increasingly complaining about the train whistles from the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroads, which pass through the town near Sixth and Eighth streets. The mayor has asked the railroad companies to find ways to quiet the whistles.
SunJet Airlines Suspends Flights From California Airport While Searching for Planes that Meet the City's Noise Regulations. The Los Angeles Times reports that SunJet International, which offers chartered jets from Long Beach, California's airport has temporarily stopped operating at the airport in an attempt to find aircraft quiet enough for local noise regulations. The company has 118 noise violations since July of 1995, and had 28 just in September.
British Man Convicted of Damaging His Wife's Hearing. The Guardian reports that a British man was convicted yesterday of damaging his wife's hearing by yelling, causing her bodily harm. Sentencing in the case was deferred, the article says.
California Schools Win Court Case Against Development Plan Due to Noise and Air Pollution Impacts. The Daily News of Los Angeles reports that California's Second District Court of Appeal invalidated a plan Friday that would allow the Warner Center in Woodland Hills, California to double its commercial and office space. The court found that the city failed to adequately address noise and air pollution impacts on nearby schools.
Car Companies Develop Electric Cars that Use Gasoline. CNN reports that car companies are developing a technology in which electric cars can run on gasoline. The technology would allow vehicle owners to gas up at gas stations, but their cars would emit less pollution, no noise, and would get better mileage. In related news, Honda announced this week that it has developed a new, ultra-clean gas engine that will make electric cars unnecessary.
North Carolina Resident Asks Residents Near Firing Range to Get Over Their NIMBYism. The News and Observer printed the following letter-to-the-editor from John Posthill, a Garner, North Carolina resident, regarding a meeting for a proposed firing range in Holly Springs:
Arizona Stadiums and Neighborhoods Don't Mix. The Arizona Republic of Phoenix, Arizona, published the following editorial from Mesa resident Diana Pfaff, who objects to a proposed stadium. She expresses her concerns about the stadium's impact on the quality of life for neighboring residents who are already inundated with noise, traffic, and other forms of pollution.
Columnist Pokes Fun at New York City's New Noise Violation Fines, Saying Enforcement is Impossible. The Denver Post printed an editorial which ridicules the new law that triples the fines for repeat offenders of noise violations in New York City. The columnist says that the goal of reducing noise pollution is laudable, but it will prove impossible to catch offenders and prove that they're violating the law.
Florida Commission Incumbents Face Criticism During Campaigns About Not Reducing Aircraft Noise. The Orlando Sentinel reports that two Commission incumbents in Lake Mary, Florida are facing criticism over their lack of action on reducing aircraft noise from the Orlando Sanford Airport. The criticism came during a recent debate with their opponents in preparation for the November 4 elections.
Love Airfield in Dallas Looks to Chicago's Midway Airport for Growth Strategies. The Chicago Tribune printed an article in which an in-depth comparison is made between the Love Airfield in Dallas, Texas and the Midway Airport in Chicago, Illinois. Both airports are located in inner-city neighborhoods, and both play second fiddle to two of the world's largest airports. While Midway has experienced a small, but promising revitalization in recent years, Love Field's re-development is in an earlier stage. However, Congress currently is debating whether to make changes to the Wright amendment, a federal law that restricts flights from Love Field to destinations within Texas and its four neighboring states. Changes to the Wright amendment could improve the revitalization prospects for Love Field. Meanwhile, some Dallas residents oppose any increase in flights to and from Love Field because of increases in noise, pollution, and congestion.
National Parks Chief in Thailand Bans Motor Rally From Nature Reserve. AP Worldstream reports that according to newspapers on Sunday, Chamni Saisuthiwong, chief of the Mae Wong National Park in Thailand, banned a fleet of off-road vehicles from entering the wilderness core of the nature reserve on Saturday. The 127 vehicles in the "Caravan" motor rally were stopped from traveling along a 28-kilometer (17-mile) dirt track inside the park. According to the English-language daily, The Nation, local environmentalists had complained that the loud noise and music from the car rally would frighten the park's wildlife.
Off-road Vehicles Prohibited from Thailand Park; Noise Said to Scare Wildlife. The Bangkok Post of Bangkok, Thailand, reported that about 300 off-roaders were barred yesterday from entering Mae Wong National Park by forestry officials who feared they would damage the environment and scare wildlife with their noise.
Pennsylvania Homes Get Soundproofing Against Aircraft Noise in Demonstration Project. The Morning Call reports that ten homes surrounding the Lehigh Valley International Airport near Allentown, Pennsylvania are receiving free soundproofing in a project to demonstrate the effectiveness of soundproofing homes against aircraft noise. After work is completed, noise levels will be measured inside the homes, and the data will be used to apply for more federal funding to expand the program.
Pennsylvania Should Build Sound Barrier for Residents, Says Representative Murphy. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, reports that Democratic state representative Tim Murphy said that the state of Pennsylvania should pay $750,000 for a sound barrier to keep noise from Interstate 279 away from 22 houses in Green Tree.
United Airlines Installs Headsets That Decrease Flight Noise. The Houston Chronicle reports that starting this month, first-class and business-class passengers on United Airlines' international flights will be able to reduce flight noise with special anti-noise headsets. The airline is the first to purchase and install headsets with the technology, which creates sound waves that cancel out sound waves from the engine.
California Residents Complain of Noise and Congestion from Trucks. The Daily News of Los Angeles, California, reports that commuters who travel Highway 118 complain about trucks slowing rush-hour traffic to a crawl, while residents and business owners from Moorpark complain about the noise from ''jake brakes'' used to slow the big rigs.
Factions will Speak for and against Relocation of Navy Jets to Virginia Beach; Noise is one Issue. The Virginian-Pilot of Norfork, Virginia, reports that the Navy will holds the first of two public hearings in Hampton Roads to ask residents if they want the Hornets as their new neighbors. For Virginia Beach, the proposed relocation of 180 Hornets to Oceana, raises a number of issues. For Virginia Beach, a lot is at stake: economics, noise, safety, traffic congestion and water supply.
California Commisioner Urges Residents to Vote No on Measure U or Lose Public Input. The Press-Enterprise of Riverside, California, published the following editorial by John Harrison who talks about the quality of life in Redlands and the threat of Measure U to close public debate around such issues as land use, noise, and traffic.
Columnist Worries That New York's New Noise Violation Fines Will be Hard to Enforce. The Village Voice printed an editorial in which the writer discusses New York City's proposed new noise ordinance, which would set expensive fines on noise violations. The writer describes the ordinance and goes on to worry that it will be difficult to enforce.
Minnesota Noise Wall Divides Residents. The Star Tribune of Minneapolis, Minnesota, reports that West Richfield residents will lose their view of Woodlake Nature Center in order to block the noise from Interstate Hwy. 35W.
No-Noise Advocates No Longer Quiet in New York City. The Christian Science Monitor recently printed the following editorial whose subject was noise and the resulting "quiet crisis."
Noise and Safety are Issues for Virginia Residents in Navy's Relocation of Jets. The Virginia-Pilot of Norfolk, Virginia, reports that a large group of residents at a public hearing in Virginia Beach opposed the Navy's plan to bring 180 jets to Oceana. While city and state officials Monday night made a strong case for the Hornets, citizens asked the Navy for: peace, quiet and safety.
Residents Near Dallas's Love Field Say Their Noise and Safety Issues Ignored as Wright Amendment Debated. The Dallas Morning News of Dallas, Texas, reports that a number of residents who live near Love Field Airport say their noise and safety concerns are being disregarded while a congressional debate about changing the Wright Amendment which would allow expansion at Love Field proceeds.
Senator McCain Sponsors Bill to Further Competition in Aviation. The following press release was published in Washington, DC, by Senator John McCain who is sponsoring a bill to enhance aviation competition.
The International Union of Railway's Action Plan Includes Quieter Passenger Trains. M2 Presswire published a press release from The International Union of Railway (UIC) announcing its Action Plan for the 21st Century in Europe. The UIC plans to focus on increasing freight business and satisfying its rail passengers with lower noise levels among other accommodations.
Washington State District Strives for a Sound Environment for Education Near Airport. The Seattle Times reported that officials for the Highline School District of Burien, Washington, met yesterday with a public-relations firm to figure out how to deal with noise problems caused by air traffic at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Wisconsin Resident Says Noise Complaints Near Randall Stadium Legitimate. The Capital Times of Madison, Wisconsin, ran the following editorial written by a reader. The reader is Chuck Erickson, member of the Vilas Neighborhood Association zoning committee. Mr. Erickson responded to a recent column published in the newspaper about the city cracking down on noise from bars near Camp Randall Stadium. Mr. Erickson takes exception to what he saw as a mocking tone of the writer of the column in reference to residents who have complained about the noise.
Alternate Truck Route Makes for Quieter North Carolina Town. The Chapel Hill Herald of Durham, North Carolina, reports that after years of complaints about noise and exhaust of huge trucks rumbling through downtown, Hillsborough merchants and residents now hope to reclaim their streets. State planners have said that as many as 600 trucks may pass through Hillsborough in a day's time. In six weeks, the N.C. Department of Transportation will give Hillsborough the authority to restrict large trucks from traveling on Churton Street -- N.C. 86 -- through downtown. Since 1991, town officials have been asking the state to find a way to route truck traffic away from Churton Street. But until now, the state said there were no alternate routes.
British Columbia Residents Object to New Bus Route on Grounds of Noise and Congestion. The Vancouver Sun reports that the British Columbia town of Coquitlam has received a 500-name petition calling for the shut-down of a Town Centre bus service. The residents of Town Centre Boulevard complain that the bus service adds noise, congestion and the potential for crime in the area.
Expansion of New Zealand Airport Raises Noise Issues. The Southland Times reports that a hearing into controversial air noise and runway issues at Queenstown Airport in New Zealand was delayed when the Queenstown Airport Corporation asked for more time to put its case together. The corporation had been scheduled to present technical evidence in relation to air noise boundaries and flight paths.
Hong Kong Residents Complain About Army Shooting Practice. The Ping Kuo Jih Pao of Hong Kong reports that residents in the New Territories have complained about shooting practice noise from the People's Liberation Army [PLA] Hong Kong Garrison. Recent shooting practice, conducted day and night, makes it difficult for them to get to sleep. Residents are also concerned about other dangers from the firing range. Despite their complaints, the police are at a loss to know what to do.
In a Twist, Texas Neighbors and Activists Support Noisy Business. The Austin-American Statesman of Austin, Texas, reports that neighborhood residents in East Austin gathered to demand that the city award its 30-year curbside recycling contract to their old nemesis, BFI's Bolm Road recycling plant. In the past, the recycling plant has left wind-blown trash onto their lawns, annoyed them with crashing trash containers and sent trucks past their houses as many as 100 times a day. But residents and East Austin environmental activists urged the city to choose BFI, because the company has promised the neighborhood that it will move out if it gets the contract. BFI holds the current city contract, but it says the city's increasing recycling load would force it to move to a bigger facility if the contract is renewed.
London Mayor should have Power to Regulate Aircraft Noise from Heathrow. London's Evening Standard reported that Labor MP Tony Colman advocated that the new mayor should get the power to limit aircraft noise in the capital. Colman also urged London Minister Glenda Jackson to ban all night flights.
Maine Wood Chip Mill Owner Wants to Expand; Residents Already Complaining About Current Noise Levels. The Kennebec Journal reports that Jack Carrier, owner of the wood chip mill on Town Farm Road in Farmington, Maine, wants to double production and install more equipment in spite of noise complaints and the deterioration of the road leading to the mill, according to one Farmington selectmen.
Minnesota Resident's Letter Supports Councilwoman's Stance on Noise Issues. The Star Tribune of Minneapolis, Minnesota printed a letter from a resident who supports City Council Member Dore Mead. He sees her support of noise reduction and abatement with regards to the Metropolitan Airports Commission as one of her most important stances.
Noise Found to be Most Prominent Pollution in Prague. CTK National News Wire reports that forty percent of the Prague, Czechoslovakia, population is exposed to noise levels exceeding 65 decibels during the day, compared to between 20 and 30 percent in other large towns in the Czech Republic, according to an Environment Ministry report submitted to cabinet and released to the press today. The report, which covers the year 1996, says that most noise pollution is caused by road traffic.
Not a Good Idea to Overturn the Los Angeles Warner Center Plan. The California Daily News of Los Angeles (Valley Edition) recently printed an editorial expressing its views on a decision by a state court of appeal to overturn the Warner Center Specific Plan. Noise pollution at the schools is an issue. Herein follows the editorial:
United Airlines Offers Quieter Flights In First and Business Class. The Dayton Daily News of Dayton, Ohio, reports that United Airlines is installing an electronic noise signal to the headset at each seat in the first- and business-class sections of its 747, 767 and 777 widebodied jets. This new electronic feature should cancel out the noise from the airplane.
Virginia Politicians Oppose McCain's Airport Legislation. The Washington Post reports that at a Capitol Hill hearing yesterday, Virginia Sens. John W. Warner (R) and Charles S. Robb (D), along with Rep.James P. Moran Jr. (D), bitterly renounced a proposal to relax federal flight controls at National Airport. They said this bill would mean more noise and congestion at the busy airport.
Virginia Residents Say More Navy Jets Incompatible with Human Life. The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk, Virginia, reports that at least 150 Chesapeake residents turned out for the Navy's final hearing on its plan to transfer up to 180 F/A-18 Hornets to Oceana Naval Air Station. The majority of the 15 people who spoke made it clear that more jets would not be welcome. The Navy's jets fly so close you can tell how recently the pilot shaved, one resident here complained. Others said the noise gets so bad they plug their ears when they go outside. And some residents worried that more jets would mean a greater danger of a crash in their neighborhoods.
California Neighbors Complain of Noisy All-Night Religion Ceremonies. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that Cathy Giorgi of Fallbrook, California, was arrested and ordered to appear in court on a noise issue. Giorgi, a follower of Delbert "Blackfox" Pomani, a Hunkpapa Dakota Indian, built a teepee in her front yard, where she and other followers worship regularly from dusk to dawn. As a member of the Native American Church, Giorgi insists she has a constitutional right to practice her religion. But some of her neighbors object, saying all-night singing, drumming and chanting are disrupting their sleep.
Dallas Resident Questions Love Field Article with Regards to Noise. The Dallas Observer printed a letter from a Dallas, Texas, resident who responded to an earlier article by Ann Zimmerman, titled "The (W)right to Fly," an article concerning Dallas' Love Field Airport. Here follows the letter written by Dallas resident, Ed Frick.
Florida Residents Object to Dog Kennel, Fearing Noise and Stench. The St. Petersburg Times reports that residents of Stonehedge on the Hill in Tarpon Springs, Florida, are upset about the possibility of a dog kennel opening in a building north of their mobile park. Previously, this building housed a fish-packing plant that that caused residents to complain of a foul odor. Next the building housed a nightclub that residents say blared music until all hours of the night.
Foundry in New Mexico Ordered to Cease Noisy Outside Work. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that neighbors of a foundry won a partial victory in their pursuit of peace and quiet . For the past five years, neighbors have complained about the noises coming from the Shidoni foundry in Tesuque, New Mexico. The foundry is located in a primarily residential area. On Tuesday night, David Dougherty, whose property borders Shidoni's, and other unhappy neighbors, won their noise battle. The city-county Extraterritorial Zoning Authority upheld an earlier ruling banning the foundry from working on its sculptures outdoors.
New Zealand Residents Object to Coal Terminal, Say Proposed Site Would Endanger Animals and Pollute Neighborhood. The Press of Christchurch, New Zealand, reports Granity residents are opposed to a proposed West Coast Coal Terminal site. Yesterday, these residents were given the opportunity to address the hearing for the proposal. Residents cited a number of concerns ranging from endangerment of wildlife to increased noise and air pollution.
Noise Complaints in New Zealand Prompt Council to Rule Against Dog Owner. The Evening Post of Wellington, New Zealand, reports that Lower Hutt dog owner, Michael Edney was ordered to remove all dogs from his property after numerous complaints from neighbors. After Edney's objection, he was told he could keep one dog. But Edney is not happy at having to put a collar on his dog that gives it an electric shock when it barks.
Phoenix Residents Use Political Clout to Win Noise Concessions from Developers. The Arizona Republic reports that after months of negotiations, developers at the Camelback Esplanade have struck a deal with neighbors and are pushing ahead to build two more office towers. Neighbors fought the project because of the noise and traffic associated with an office complex the size of the Esplanade. "It was certainly a long process, and the neighbors used all of their political clout to get what they wanted," said Tom Roberts, president of one of the developers, OpusWest. "But at the end of the day, it worked out." Opus West and other developers of the project have agreed to nearly $1million in concessions, including planting trees and building speed bumps. When the development is completed, it will have five office towers, two parking garages, two hotel towers, a 24-screen movie theater, shops and restaurants.
South Carolina Activist Works to Clean Up Pollution, Appointed to National Advisory Board. The Post and Courier of Charleston, South Carolina, reports that resident turned activist Delbert DuBois has taken action on several environmental problems, including noise and industry contamination, in his Four Mile Hibernian neighborhood. And now DuBois will get the chance to influence environmental decisions nationwide. Starting in November, DuBois will serve as an adviser on the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council, a branch of the EPA.
Sunjet Planes too Loud for Long Beach, California; Flights Suspended Until Quieter Planes. The Seattle Times reports that Sunjet, a public charter airline operated by World Technology System of Atlanta, is suspending flights between Seattle and Long Beach, California, tomorrow because its airplanes don't meet noise regulations in the city of Long Beach. Service will be reinstated when Sunjet can get three aircraft that can operate within the local noise ordinance, Sunjet spokesman Hank Ernest said.
Tennessee Residents Object to Road that Will bring Noise, Pollution, and Danger. The Commercial Appeal reports that many East Collierville, Tennessee, residents are working hard to persuade state officials to keep the proposed Collierville-Arlington Parkway as far away from them as possible. To the more than 1,000 citizens in East Collierville, the new road will mean pollution, noise and potential danger to themselves and nearby school children.
Virginia Residents Move to Limit Construction Noise. The Washington Post reports that Fairfax County, Virginia is considering enforcing weekend and evening restrictions on construction-related noise, due to a surge of building in older, established neighborhoods.
Wisconsin Opponents Prompt Reduced Hours for Shooting Range. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that a shooting permit request by the McMiller Sports Center, located in Eagle, Wisconsin, was revived when McMiller agreed to trim hours and days of operation for a clay pigeon range after a year-long dispute over gunfire noise from the center.
Airport Critic Pushes Pennsylvania's Lehigh Airport to Evaluate Five-Year-Old Noise Reduction Measures. The Morning Call of Allentown, Pennsylvania, reports that the Lehigh Valley International Airport agreed to re-examine its efforts to reduce aircraft noise after complaints from longtime critic, Walter Lysaght. At issue is what can be done to steer jets away from residential developments.
Canadian Residents Protest Noisy Teen Smokers. The Calgary Herald of Calgary, Alberta, reports that residents of a southeast Calgary neighborhood will seek legal advice in an effort to rid their lawns and streets of hundreds of noisy teen smokers.
Citizens Action Committee Urges Dallas Mayor to Update Love Field Noise Studies. The Dallas Morning News reported that Dallas, Texas, Mayor Ron Kirk will ask the City Council to consider updating the city's noise and traffic studies of Dallas Love Field Airport. Behind the Mayor's request to update 5-year-old studies was the Love Field Citizens Action Committee. The Committee of residents have concerns about the impact of expanded airline service on their neighborhoods, specifically noise, traffic and safety issues. More flights are possible, according to this article, because Congress recently added Kansas, Mississippi and Alabama to the list of destinations allowed under the Wright amendment, which had previously limited passenger service from Love Field to destinations in Texas and its four neighboring states.
City of Burbank Gets Control of Airport Expansion. City News Service reports that a Superior Court judge ruled that the city of Burbank, California, has authority over a proposed passenger terminal expansion by the Burbank Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority. The Airport Authority says it will appeal the decision.
Denver City Council Incumbent Concerned about Noise at Centennial Airport. The Rocky Mountain News printed an article about a three-way City Council race in Denver, Colorado's populous northeast corner between two incumbents and one challenger. The lone incumbent , Clark Upton, is opposed to expansion at Centennial Airport. This is the only contest on District 4's Nov. 4 ballot.
Lake Tahoe Jet Ski Ban Challenged by Manufacturers. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the nation's jet ski industry filed suit in federal court in Sacramento, California, against Lake Tahoe's ban on personal watercraft. Watercraft manufacturers challenged the suit by arguing that the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency exceeded its authority when it adopted the ban, to take effect in June 1999. According to this article, the Lake Tahoe case is of particular importance because as "one of the nation's natural jewels," Lake Tahoe gives this fight "great visibility and importance."
Some Wisconsin Residents Say Peace and Quiet Shattered. Others Urge Compromise. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that some residents of Eagle, Wisconsin, are upset about a proposal from a private gun club, the McMiller Sports Center, to use state land for a sporting clay pigeon range. The land is in the Kettle Moraine State Forest.