Members of the public were invited to attend a community workshop on the aircraft noise impact study being conducted by the Bob Hope Airport Wednesday night. This is an update to the Airport’s 1998 “Federal Aviation Regulation Part 150 Study,” which evaluates current and future aircraft noise impacts on communities near airports.
“The workshops are designed to allow members of the community to express their opinions and concerns, provide input, and learn more about the process of noise compatibility planning surrounding the Bob Hope Airport,” said Mark Hardyment, Director of Noise and Environmental Programs for the Airport.
The noise study is referred to as an FAR Part 150 Study after the section of the federal code under which it is authorized, and will analyze the current and a five-year forecast for aircraft-generated noise conditions at Bob Hope Airport. The primary purpose for conducting the study is to continue to obtain federal funding assistance for the Airport’s ongoing Residential Acoustical Treatment Program. This sound insulation program so far has insulated more than 2,220 residences and four local schools at a cost in excess of $100 million.
The FAR Part 150 Study process is comprised of two fundamental components – a “Noise Exposure Map Update,” and a “Noise Compatibility Program Update.” The Noise Exposure Map component documents the forecasted level of incompatible aircraft noise expected over a five-year period.
The Noise Compatibility Program component is a comprehensive list of noise mitigation and abatement measures that should be implemented to reduce the impact of noise on the surrounding community and is prepared after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approves the completed Noise Exposure Map.
The Noise Exposure Map Update component is under way with Coffman Associates, Inc. providing technical assistance to the Airport. At each step in the process, Coffman Associates will prepare working papers documenting its analysis and findings. This information will be made available for public review and comment via public workshops, of which the Wednesday night’s event is the second, and the Bob Hope Airport website.
The workshop was conducted in an open house format and included a variety of displays that explain and summarize the FAR Part 150 process, the project schedule, inventory of existing conditions, aviation forecasts, and draft noise exposure contours. Airport executives and their consultants were on hand to explain any technical details and respond to questions and queries.
After this workshop, the next step in the process will be to compile all comments to the draft materials and prepare the Noise Exposure Map Update document for Bob Hope Airport.
In addition to two public workshops, the Airport Authority staff and consultants have reached out to a broad base of interested parties and formed a Study Advisory Committee (SAC) to provide input and feedback to the study process and technical study material. The SAC is comprised of local residents, homeowners, association members, local planning agencies, airport users, and representatives from the aviation and business communities, as well as state and federal agencies
Funding for the FAR Part 150 Study is provided by the FAA and the Airport Authority.
