(no subject)
I got an email today about this and figured that everyone in Rockland needs to at least hear about it.
Dear Friends,As you may know, the Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) has recently been discussing a proposal to change flight patterns to and from Newark Liberty International Airport. As part of the proposal, there could be up to 200 more flights over Rockland County each day, which would cause a significant increase in noise and pollution. So far, this decision is being made without any hearings for public comment from Rockland.
The overall goal of an airspace redesign sounds reasonable. The FAA undertook this project to reduce flight delays for travelers flying in and out of New York metropolitan area airports. However, the idea that the FAA would try to change flight routes without public comment from some of the people most affected by the redesign is appalling to me. And although the FAA claims that the increased noise level will be no more than a whisper, I find it difficult to believe that during peak flight operations an additional 15-20 planes per hour flying as little as a mile overhead won’t create significantly more noise for our community.
In addition to noise concerns, this redesign has the potential to create a large increase in pollution. According to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), any federal agency that takes a major action must consider the environmental impact which would stem from that action. Flying 200 additional flights a day over Rockland would create much more air pollution in a region that already has high levels of pollution from traffic on the Tappan Zee Bridge and the NYS Thruway. The FAA must also consider this issue before moving flight paths over our county.
I made my views known to FAA Administrator Marion Blakey in a letter and telephone call to her office immediately after learning of Rockland residents being excluded from the review process. I have attached a copy of the letter below. I asked Administrator Blakey for a hearing for public comment to be held in Rockland and that the hearing be scheduled within 30 days. Despite meetings being held elsewhere, it is time for the FAA to come to Rockland and explain their plan to our community and hear from the affected residents.
I also want to assure you that I am following this matter closely and will keep you updated on the situation as it progresses.
If you have any questions or comments for the FAA, please feel free to contact them at 1-866-TELL-FAA (866-835-5322) or click here for more contact information.
Sincerely,
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Eliot L. Engel
MEMBER OF CONGRESS
June 29, 2007
Marion C. Blakey
Administrator
Federal Aviation Administration
800 Independence Ave, SW
Washington, DC 20591
Dear Administrator Blakey:
As a follow up to the conversation I had with your office, I remain dismayed to have to read about public meetings scheduled in New Jersey regarding the FAA’s proposed NY/NJ/PHL airspace redesign project. As you may know, the proposed redesign would cause a significant increase in noise and pollution in Rockland County, which is located in my congressional district. The FAA failed to schedule even one public meeting in Rockland, despite all the negative effects that would be forced upon us.
It is outrageous that you are proposing a change that will affect hundreds of thousands of people in this county without so much as soliciting comments from them. Furthermore, you scheduled two additional meetings (for a total of three) in New Jersey, without adding any to Rockland County or anywhere else in New York. It is an affront to the nearly 12 million New York residents in the 11 affected counties, to fail to have any additional meetings in New York State.
In addition, it is unacceptable that a federal agency would fail to contact federal elected officials representing the affected area with information about a change in flight routes which adversely affects my constituents’ quality of life.
Local affected areas deserve to have a locally scheduled meeting. My constituents in Rockland deserve a voice in this matter, and they are entitled to a local meeting in order to state their opinions. I request a meeting in Rockland County be scheduled within 30 days, so the FAA can hear firsthand from our affected communities.
I look forward to receiving your favorable response to my request.
Sincerely,
Eliot L. Engel
Member of Congress
Dear Friends,As you may know, the Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) has recently been discussing a proposal to change flight patterns to and from Newark Liberty International Airport. As part of the proposal, there could be up to 200 more flights over Rockland County each day, which would cause a significant increase in noise and pollution. So far, this decision is being made without any hearings for public comment from Rockland.
The overall goal of an airspace redesign sounds reasonable. The FAA undertook this project to reduce flight delays for travelers flying in and out of New York metropolitan area airports. However, the idea that the FAA would try to change flight routes without public comment from some of the people most affected by the redesign is appalling to me. And although the FAA claims that the increased noise level will be no more than a whisper, I find it difficult to believe that during peak flight operations an additional 15-20 planes per hour flying as little as a mile overhead won’t create significantly more noise for our community.
In addition to noise concerns, this redesign has the potential to create a large increase in pollution. According to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), any federal agency that takes a major action must consider the environmental impact which would stem from that action. Flying 200 additional flights a day over Rockland would create much more air pollution in a region that already has high levels of pollution from traffic on the Tappan Zee Bridge and the NYS Thruway. The FAA must also consider this issue before moving flight paths over our county.
I made my views known to FAA Administrator Marion Blakey in a letter and telephone call to her office immediately after learning of Rockland residents being excluded from the review process. I have attached a copy of the letter below. I asked Administrator Blakey for a hearing for public comment to be held in Rockland and that the hearing be scheduled within 30 days. Despite meetings being held elsewhere, it is time for the FAA to come to Rockland and explain their plan to our community and hear from the affected residents.
I also want to assure you that I am following this matter closely and will keep you updated on the situation as it progresses.
If you have any questions or comments for the FAA, please feel free to contact them at 1-866-TELL-FAA (866-835-5322) or click here for more contact information.
Sincerely,
Eliot L. Engel
MEMBER OF CONGRESS
June 29, 2007
Marion C. Blakey
Administrator
Federal Aviation Administration
800 Independence Ave, SW
Washington, DC 20591
Dear Administrator Blakey:
As a follow up to the conversation I had with your office, I remain dismayed to have to read about public meetings scheduled in New Jersey regarding the FAA’s proposed NY/NJ/PHL airspace redesign project. As you may know, the proposed redesign would cause a significant increase in noise and pollution in Rockland County, which is located in my congressional district. The FAA failed to schedule even one public meeting in Rockland, despite all the negative effects that would be forced upon us.
It is outrageous that you are proposing a change that will affect hundreds of thousands of people in this county without so much as soliciting comments from them. Furthermore, you scheduled two additional meetings (for a total of three) in New Jersey, without adding any to Rockland County or anywhere else in New York. It is an affront to the nearly 12 million New York residents in the 11 affected counties, to fail to have any additional meetings in New York State.
In addition, it is unacceptable that a federal agency would fail to contact federal elected officials representing the affected area with information about a change in flight routes which adversely affects my constituents’ quality of life.
Local affected areas deserve to have a locally scheduled meeting. My constituents in Rockland deserve a voice in this matter, and they are entitled to a local meeting in order to state their opinions. I request a meeting in Rockland County be scheduled within 30 days, so the FAA can hear firsthand from our affected communities.
I look forward to receiving your favorable response to my request.
Sincerely,
Eliot L. Engel
Member of Congress