JANUARY 2019 – OAK NOISE FORUM RESPONSE LETTER TO THE FAA SEPTEMBER 2018 UPDATED RESPONSE
Click here here to read the Oak Noise Forum response letter.
SEPTEMBER 2018 – FAA UPDATED RESPONSE
Click here to read the frustrating and disappointing response.
APRIL 2018 – OAK NOISE FORUM RESPONSE TO THE FAA INTERIM REPORT
Click here to read the OAK Noise Forum Response
Click here to read the Oak Noise Forum NextGen Subcommittee presentation
Click here to read the OAK Airport Noise Consultant, HMMH, presentation
FEBRUARY 2018 – FAA INTERIM REPORT HAS ARRIVED!
Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s pressure on the FAA to provide a response to the OAK Noise Forum’s NextGen aircraft noise mitigation proposal has worked. The FAA’s Interim Response to Oakland Airport-Community Noise Management Forum’s Recommendations has arrived, but there’s not much to it. It basically tells us to keep waiting, while the FAA continues to “evaluate” the mitigation proposals.
The good news is that the FAA didn’t reject the mitigation proposals outright. SOSEB has seen “wins” in other communities affected by NextGen, and is optimistic that the East Bay will eventually score noise mitigation wins here too. Our hope lies in the fact that the FAA agreed with the South’s Bay’s request to move a noisy NextGen flight to its pre-NextGen path and seems to have plans to do so sometime in 2018. This decision shows that the FAA can move on noise issues.
Out of the 33 mitigation requests, the FAA did not endorse one. The ‘un-endorsed’ proposal requested using the OAK ‘HUSSH’ departure route 24 hours a day. This ‘HUSSH’ route currently flies planes over the Bay for night-time noise abatement, only. Despite the fact that this mitigation was not ‘endorsed’ by the FAA, it will continue to be studied to see if it can be implemented, since the Noise Forum reserved the right to open a dialogue with the FAA if there were differing opinions on the mitigation proposals.
The mitigation proposals that remain under evaluation are:
- re-routing the noisy 24-hour a day WNDSR arrival route into OAK that currently goes down the Berkeley and Oakland Hills
- restoring SFO departures to echo their historically more dispersed routes
- modifying OAK departure procedures to provide noise relief to Alameda.
What Happens Now?
The Oakland Noise Forum’s NextGen subcommittee has reviewed the FAA’s Interim Response as has Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s office. Both are preparing a response and are frustrated with the lack of concrete information in the FAA’s response and the absence of any mitigation time frame.
The FAA stated that they will continue their review of the Noise Forum’s mitigation proposals. Meanwhile, the dialogue will also continue between the Oakland Noise Forum, the communities, and the FAA. SOSEB will continue to push for a timely mitigation plan.
Click here to read the FAA’s Interim Response.
MARCH 2017 – OAK NOISE FORUM NEXTGEN NOISE MITIGATION PROPOSALS SENT TO THE FAA
After much deliberation, debate and research, the Oakland Airport-Community Noise Management Forum has sent a detailed and comprehensive NextGen aircraft noise mitigation proposal to the FAA. It’s titled Supplemental Proposals to Revising the Northern California Metroplex For Alameda County/Contra Costa County, and the additional time it took was worth it. The list of professionals, writers, editors and supporters include:
- Landrum & Brown aviation consultants for the Noise Forum who reviewed the proposals and made constructive suggestions to clarify the document
- A Letter of Support from Oakland City Officials: Mayor Libby Schaaf, City Council President Larry Reid, and Vice Mayor Annie Campbell-Washington
- A Letter of Support from Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley
- Significant input and support from airplane noise advocacy groups from Save Our Skies East Bay, Alameda (C.L.A.S.S), and Berkeley (Keep Jets Over the Bay) who were all instrumental in formulating mitigation solutions with the Noise Forum
SOSEB deeply appreciates and thanks all who were involved in supporting and in getting this proposal from the Oakland Noise Forum to the FAA. We especially thank:
- Congresswoman Barbara Lee for being instrumental in encouraging the FAA to work with our community.
- The Cities of Oakland, Berkeley, San Leandro and Alameda deserve thanks for adopting resolutions urging the FAA to fix the noise problems.
- Huge thanks to the Oakland Noise Forum and its NextGen Subcommittee for drafting the proposal.
- The Oakland Airport for their support and help.
Can I Read the Proposal?
Yes!
And, since the proposal is technical and complicated reading, you might prefer to read the proposal summary that was presented at the January 2017 Noise Forum Meeting.
Click here to download the Powerpoint presentation of the proposal summary
Click here to read the whole technical proposal