More Noise Over the Shawangunks?
Public hearing on a major redesign of metropolitan air traffic
April 10, 7 pm, Holiday Inn Kingston

In the late 1980s a major rerouting of New York City air traffic brought new noise to sensitive parklands and quiet residential areas of Ulster County. The FAA re-routed air traffic to Newark and Westchester airports at lower altitudes without any environmental assessment of impacts. Ulsterites Fight Overflight Noise Inc. (UFO Noise) and the Woodstock Overflight Focus Group developed to response to these impacts.

UFO Noise and Woodstock Focus have argued for protecting places that serve the public need for quiet. At numerous public forums and in communications with our congressional representative and with FAA officials we have advocated for better assessment and abatement of impacts in areas with low background levels of noise.

As a result of this advocacy, supported by Congressman Hinchey and many non-profit and local government groups, the FAA has had to become more environmentally accountable when making large scale re routings. Residents now have the opportunity to comment on a proposed redesign of the metropolitan airspace that will determine how noisy our skies will be in the years ahead.

Considerations:

• Assessment and abatement of noise impacts over Minnewaska and Sam's Point Park Preserves on the Shawangunk Ridge because of their value as publicly protected places of quiet, the elevation of the ridge, and their proximity to Stewart Airport.
• Better assessment of impacts in the Catskill Park Preserve and quiet residential areas by factoring in the low levels of background noise.
• Protect places of natural quiet where people can escape the noise and stress of metropolitan life. (As per congressional Grand Canyon legislation of 1987)
• Keep planes as high as possible for as long as possible when approaching New York City airports (a win-win since flying high is more fuel efficient and less costly for the airlines).

Public input is important because the Noise Office of EPA is now defunct, and the FAA's goal of enhancing the capacity of airspace is inherently at odds with promoting the public's right to natural quiet.

Make your views known by attending the hearing or by sending your comments to:
Steve Kelley,FAA-NAR, c/o Nessa Memberg
12005 Sunrise Valley RD. C302
Reston,VA 20191