Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy Calls for Airplane Noise Complaint Hotline.

In response to complaints from her constituents about excessive airplaine noise in the area, Rep. Carolyn McCarthy is calling on federal and state authorities to work together to address the problem.

McCarthy wrote to officials earlier this month, asking them to clearly delineate their jurisdictions and create a joint toll-free hotline for noise complaints, which she says would help citizens cut through the red tape of two large agencies and resolve the problem of increasing airplane noise.

In the Oct. 7 letter to FAA Regional Administrator Carmine Gallo and Port Authority Director of Aviation Susan Baer, McCarthy wrote, “I have heard from residents all over my district expressing their concern regarding the number of airplanes that fly over their homes."

The residents told McCarthy that they have noticed an increase in the volume of planes in recent months and an increase in flyovers in the middle of the night.

The issue is constantly brought up by members of the Inwood Civic Association, who recently expressed concerns that complaints from other communities might lead to flight plan changes that have more planes fly over the community.

"It is imperative that all related agencies take part in mitigating noise levels," McCarthy wrote, requesting the two agencies attend the Oct. 24 meeting of the Town-Village-Aircraft-Safety & Noise Abatement Committee (TVASNAC) with responses to her inquiries.

“We can all agree, as public servants, that one of our goals is to preserve and improve the quality of life for the people we serve," she wrote. "Reducing aircraft noise is one example of where we can achieve this goal."

In the past, McCarthy has taken multiple legislative actions to address aircraft noise abatement, she said, including successfully sponsoring an amendment to the FAA Reauthorization Act that encouraged the Port Authority to conduct a noise study focusing on the areas surrounding JFK and LaGuardia Airports. She also introduced H.R. 6364, the Noise Reduction Act, which would have provided a tax credit for the installment of noise abatement technologies for individuals who wish to soundproof their homes.

http://fivetowns.patch.com

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