Airport submits noise plan
Paul Clinton
AIRPORT DISTRICT -- Seeking to appease an administrative law judge in
a state noise proceeding, Burbank Airport has filed a plan listing future
measures it will take to reduce jet noise on surrounding homes.
“This plan is an attempt to satisfy the judge that we are making our
best possible effort to meet the state noise standards,” said airport
spokesman Victor Gill.
Among other things, the plan calls for the airport to eliminate
unacceptable noise levels by 2015, continue soundproofing 2,300 eligible
homes and lobby the federal government for a mandatory curfew on flights.
The airport will also eliminate the noisier Stage 2 jets by 2005 and
strictly enforce the existing noise rules.
In Aug. 1998, Judge Samuel Reyes gave the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena
Airport Authority one year to assemble a comprehensive plan to address
the ongoing problem of aircraft noise.
To comply with state regulations, the authority participates in a
Noise Variance Hearing every three years. While the Federal Aviation
Administration has the final word on noise measures, the airport also
seeks to meet state standards imposed in 1971, Gill said.
Burbank is a party in the hearing, but city officials were reluctant
to comment on the plan.
“I have not read it yet,” Ovrom said. “We can’t pass any judgment on
it until we’ve had a chance to review it.”
Peter Kirsch, Burbank’s special counsel on airport issues, said he had
read the plan but refused to say whether it meets with city approval.
Kirsch also said the city will file a response to the plan with Reyes
-- acting on behalf of Caltrans -- before the judge releases a ruling.
That ruling is expected within 90 days.
One of the plan’s more controversial elements calls for Burbank to
assist the airport in reducing noise by using the city’s land-use powers.
Gill said the city could establish stricter noise-impact guidelines and
require sound insulation for new development near the airport.
“We can’t leave any stone unturned,” Gill said.