KUOW story re third runway noise

Here's a news story broadcast on KUOW about the new noise from the third runway. This went on the air before this morning's deluge of snow.


Third Runway Noise Battle

12/18/2008
Leaders from South Seattle cities plan to meet with the Port of Seattle today (Thursday). The goal is to hash out what can be done about noise and air pollution from the new third runway, that's vexing nearby neighbors. KUOW's Jamala Henderson has more.


AFTER YEARS OF LAWSUITS AND COST OVERRUNS, SEA'TAC'S NEW THIRD RUNWAY FINALLY OPENDED LAST MONTH.

BUT NOW THAT'S UP AND RUNNING, DES MOINES MAYOR BOB SHECKLER SAYS:

SHECKLER: "People are being adversely affected by it, primarily by noise and air pollution, and they're complaining, in droves."

SHECKLER CALLED TOGETHER THE GROUP OF ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM AIRPORT NEIGHBORHOODS TO DISCUSS THEIR CONCERNS WITH FAA AND PORT OFFICIALS. HE SAYS THE ORIGINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT SAID THE RUNWAY WOULD ONLY BE USED A SMALL FRACTION OF THE TIME.

SHECKLER: "and so the mitigation for the third runway had this in mind. And so a lot of the homes that would have normally been insulated or sound proofed, were never addressed."

PORT SPOKESMAN PERRY COOPER SAYS THE PORT DID ADDRESS RESIDENTIAL MITIGATION WITH INFORMATION FROM AN UPDATED NOISE STUDY DONE IN 2002. HE SAYS THE PORT INSULATED 87 HOMES, AND BOUGHT ANOTHER 52, BASED ON THAT DATA.

COOPER: "Those are questions we get to our noise program folks all the time. And we encourage folks to call up and say hey, are we within the noise barriers where we could get some more insulation. Those are very specific limitations that come from the FAA."

THAT AGENCY, COOPER SAYS, WON'T BE MAKING THE MEETING TODAY (THU). COOPER CALLS THAT DEVELOPMENT DISSAPOINTING. BECAUSE IT'S THE FAA THAT CONTROLS TRAFFICKING THE RUNWAY. HE SAYS THE PORT DOESN'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO RESTRICT HOW THE FAA CONTROLS FLIGHT SCHEDULES.

MAYOR SHECKLER SAYS HE HOPES THE GROUPS CAN WORK SOMETHING OUT. BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T LIKE WHAT THEY HEAR, THERE COULD BE MORE LITITGATION IN THE FUTURE.

JAMALA HENDERSON, KUOW NEWS.

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