Homeowners Opposed : Van Nuys Airport to Ask Noise-Study Aid

Despite opposition from two homeowner associations, the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners on Wednesday authorized the general manager of Van Nuys Airport to apply for federal funding for an airport noise study.

The board also allocated $50,000 to be used for the $500,000 study. If the FAA approves the grant request, the airport would receive the remaining $450,000 from federal funds.

The five commissioners, who cited pressures for federal budget cuts mandated by the Gramm-Rudman budget-balancing law, agreed that any delay in applying for federal noise study funds may mean not getting any money at all.

“The quicker we get our application in, the better we are in line to get the money,” Clifton A. Moore, airport general manager, told the commissioners and the 40 people who attended the meeting at Van Nuys Airport.

Opposed by Associations

But spokesmen for two Valley homeowners associations opposed the study, saying it would be too time-consuming, and that it would not accomplish much because it would be advisory only.

“We want to stop studies. We want action,” said Gerald Silver, president of Homeowners of Encino.

Other homeowners, also fearing that recommendations based on the study would not be followed, suggested that the board wait for results of a federally funded noise study at Burbank Airport before authorizing money for a similar study at Van Nuys.

Burbank Airport’s noise study, started under a $282,000 FAA grant authorized in December, 1984, has produced more than 20 recommendations for noise reduction.

“If a major portion of the 20-plus recommendations are approved, then the . . . noise study at Burbank will be deemed successful,” Don Schultz, president of Ban Airport Noise, told the board.

FAA Survey in Burbank

But so far, a survey conducted by FAA consultants in Burbank has given little weight to noise problems reported by residents, Schultz said. He said he fears that the proposed Van Nuys Airport study, which would also be conducted by FAA consultants, might also minimize the noise problem in Van Nuys.

Although assuring homeowners that the board will monitor the Burbank Airport study, board President Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. told them that it was important to involve the federal government in the noise abatement process, and that one way to do it is to apply for the federal grant.

Burt Pines, chairman of the Van Nuys Airport Citizens Advisory Council, agreed. “If the commission deferred the application, it would signal to the FAA that this is not a high priority,” he said.

“It’s very important that efforts on a local level to reduce noise be made in conjunction with the FAA,” Pines said. “Otherwise, we would encounter resistance.”