Registering their concerns about aircraft noise

Opinions from residents to elected officials were positive about the purpose of the first public workshop meeting held by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration and noise study consulting firm Environmental Science Associates (ESA) on June 17.
The meeting focused on the ESA’s work in conducting a noise study referred to as Part 150. The goal is to measure aircraft noise levels and create noise level maps of communities surrounding John F. Kennedy International Airport, and find ways to develop airport-community land usage to abate air and noise pollution.
At the workshop, representatives from the ESA and Port Authority were on hand to allow the public to ask questions to gather understanding about how long the study will take, what tools are being used to gather aircraft noise information, and how that data would be used.
Ron Marsico, a Port Authority spokesman, said that they have been working with ESA since last fall. “The Governor called for the Part 150 study in the fall of 2013,” he said. “The entire Part 150 Study from start to finish will take approximately three to four years to complete.” He added that the Port Authority has measured noise levels in the past and will continue to do so in the future.
Betty Braton, the chairperson from Community Board No. 10 in South Ozone Park, Queens, said she thought the study was “a good thing” being done. “As a long-term project, this is good because we will get more noise data from it,” she said. “The study of noise with this project could do something to regulate it in the future. If nothing else, it could generate fresh data.”

East Rockaway resident Karen Calma said she was glad she came because she and her husband, Charlie, wanted to see specific information about flight patterns over their Bay Park neighborhood.
“By participating in this forum, maybe we can have planes taking off in a different place,” she said. “I’m submitting an observation. After we lost our home from [Hurricane] Sandy, we stayed at our friends’ house in Floral Park. I couldn’t believe the noise level of planes overhead.”
Village of Cedarhurst Mayor Benjamin Weinstock said that he attended the meeting to make it clear to Port Authority officials that decreasing aircraft noise is an important issue. “Unless we become more proactive on the South Shore, we’ll be the unhappy recipients of more aircraft noise,” Weinstock said. “I think that the goal of such a meeting is to pay attention to learn more about the study and be better informed. If you go to make noise, that’s good, but to go, learn what’s happening and have a say in the study and in monitoring aircraft noise, that’s the most ideal.”
Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky (D-Long Beach) said he was glad that the Port Authority held the information session. “Many residents in my district are extremely frustrated at the increased airplane traffic and resulting noise disturbances,” he said. “In April, I wrote to the Federal Aviation Administration with Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages (D-Elmont) urging them to hold a community meeting to discuss how these changes in flight patterns have impacted residents.”
For more information about the study, visit www,panynjpart150.com. To submit a formal comment, send an email to nypart150@panyny.gov.