Friday, April 14, 2000
Jets' noise to be gauged
BY Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HEBRON — Portable jet noise monitors will be used in Kentucky and Ohio after a proposed new runway is built, according to a plan expected to be approved Monday by the Kenton County Airport Board.
When the north/south runway opens, the monitors would be used to determine the homes, businesses and schools eligible for improvements to reduce noise, Barbara Schempf, the airport board noise abatement manager, said Thursday.
The monitors will also help airport officials make sure jets are following flight tracks designed to affect as few homes and communities as possible, Ms. Schempf said.
“The portable monitors are good because we have the flexibility to push them around and use them in different areas,” she said. “And we'll do pre- and post-testing of areas before and after the runway opens to determine the buildings, including schools, that need sound insulation.”
The airport board's Government and Technical Affairs Committee passed a recommendation Thursday that the full airport board approve the plan.
The plan would then go to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which must approve the runway before it can be built. The airport's plan to manage jet noise created by the new runway will be considered as part of the FAA's approval process.
If approved this year, construction of the runway will begin in 2003 with the runway opening in 2005. Before the work begins, however, the airport will buy more than 200 Boone County homes in the construction path of the runway.
The noise plan also diverts most night flights away from residential areas in Florence.
Florence Mayor Diane Whalen, who attended Thursday's meeting along with officials from Boone County and Cincinnati, said she was largely pleased with the noise plan.
“I would have preferred a couple of permanent noise monitors in Florence and Boone County so they wouldn't be moved around,” Ms. Whalen said after the meeting.
“But I do think that overall the (airport board) has made a good show of faith to show they're listening to concerns about noise,” she said.
Also attending was Cincinnati City Councilman Todd Portune, who has pushed the airport board to open more of a dialogue with local Ohio officials.
Mr. Portune has also asked that communities on the west side of Cincinnati, including Sayler Park, and Hamilton County be considered for noise monitoring and sound mitigation.
Ms. Schempf has previously said that St. Aloysius and Sayler Park elementary schools in Sayler Park would likely be eligible for sound insulation once the runway opens.
“We've taken a couple of baby steps but we don't know if we can walk yet,” Mr. Portune said.
Airport board member Mark Guilfoyle said the board is “committed to continuing the dialogue.
“This is the kind of positive development that can come from an open dialogue and a willingness to listen,” Mr. Guilfoyle said.
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