By James Pilcher
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HEBRON - Officials with the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport are looking for public comment about noise and the possible changes, now that the airport's board has approved a new noise study.

The Kenton County Airport Board on Monday unanimously approved going ahead with the nearly $1.1 million study, which is expected to take 18 to 24 months.

"We do welcome the opportunity and as much from the public as we can get," said Gary Bockleman, chairman of the board's government and technical affairs committee, which oversees the noise program.

The result of the study could mean expansion of the boundary that demarcates where residential housing can be located. Since 1990, the last time a full-blown study was done, the airport has spent more than $132 million to soundproof affected homes, to provide purchase assistance or to outright buy out more than 1,000 affected homes.

This time, the study will examine the affects of a new runway and runway extension, expected to open in late 2005, as well as possible changes at DHL Airborne Express, an air freight company that could be in line for a major expansion here because of a merger.

In addition, the Federal Aviation Administration is testing new nighttime runway patterns, and could change how the airport is used late at night.

More than five public workshops and hearings will be scheduled for the study, which will also include feedback from the airport's Aviation Noise Advisory Committee. A Web site will be created to give up-to-date information to the public.

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E-mail jpilcher@enquirer.com