Three New York Congress members recently sent a letter to Evelyn Martinez, manager of the FAA Airports District Office in Jamaica, New York, urging the agency to hold a public meeting on overhead noise near Westchester County Airport.
Residents living near the airport have complained about an increase in noise from planes landing and departing. The Congress members’ letter is a follow-up to a request made by Westchester County Executive George Latimer for a meeting to be held in Westchester.
The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 included several provisions requiring the FAA address the issue of aircraft noise for communities located near airports and directed the FAA to conduct a study on health risks that noise and aircraft flights may pose to exposed residents.
Language in the Fiscal Year 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Bill requires the FAA to evaluate the existing noise standards.
The Westchester County Executive’s Office has extensive data from its noise monitors and flight records that Congress members hope the FAA will use.
The letter was signed by U.S. Rep Nita Lowey (D-NY) and U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
Lowy is a member of the Quiet Skies Caucus and has cosponsored of several bills addressing the study and reduction of airport noise.