From the Regional Commission on Airport Affairs, we received this letter (posted also on their blog) regarding Wednesday night’s (Feb. 24th) “Part 150″ airport noise workshop put on by the Port of Seattle:

Congratulations to those who attended last night’s kick-off workshop for Sea-Tac Airport’s Part 150 study!

Despite a restrictive format, the public delivered a loud & clear message spelling out major issues that concern us all.

After an initial presentation, the attendees (estimated at about 200) crowded around the whiteboards in 15 break-out groups.

We heard over & over that the attendees do not believe that the FAA’s 65 DNL noise assessment has anything to do with noise as it is actually experienced.

We heard over & over that single-event noise –not averages — is what intrudes on people’s lives.

Sharp questions were raised about the five-year planning horizon:  the study needs to look long-term.

And what will the Airport look like, what will it sound like, at its maximum?

At the concluding, wrap-up session, there was widespread spontaneous applause for comments that the region needs two more airports, & for the suggestion that if the present noise cannot be fixed, the airport should be moved.

Less-controversial comments included pleas for more noise insulation, more buy-outs, more sellers’ assistance programs.

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Bothered by Airport Noise?

Wonder just how loud airport noise is in your neighborhood and/or other areas around Sea-Tac Airport?

Want to support efforts to monitor airport noise levels and obtain independent measurements?

For the past several months, the Regional Commission on Airport Affairs (RCAA, www.rcaanews.org) has been monitoring and recording noise in the areas adjacent to Sea-Tac Airport. This data, gathered independently of the Port of Seattle’s noise monitoring, may be useful to citizens concerned about airport noise levels, particularly noise increases resulting from the third runway.

On Friday July 17th, RCAA will be holding a community meeting; here are the details:

WHAT: RCAA Community Meeting on Sea-Tac Airport Noise

WHEN: Friday, July 17th, from 7pm to 9pm (drop by at any time, presentation will be at 7:30)

WHERE: North SEA-TAC Park Picnic Shelter, located at 129th and Des Moines Memorial Drive

INFO: Light dessert and beverages will be served.

TOPICS:

• See the noise meter in action
• Learn about noise readings taken in your area in the winter (all three runways in use) and summer (two runways)
• Discuss Port of Seattle noise complaint line caller locations (obtained via Freedom of Information Act)

PRESENTERS:

• Stuart Jenner
• Mike Jacob
• Chas Talbot

RCAA is partly funded by local cities. Donations of $5 – $10 per person would be greatly appreciated to help support specific costs of the noise monitoring, including calibration.

According to the RCAA website:

We pledge our best efforts to compel the Airport to obey the environmental rules that are supposed to govern the operation of SeaTac Airport including the new third-runway. Ordinary operations at the Airport continue to contaminate the streams that flow from its campus through neighboring communities & into Puget Sound, in violation of the permits that supposedly protect us. Safe, clean water is a vital concern to the communities near the Airport.

For more information about the noise monitoring email stuartjenner@comcast.net or call 206-241-0101 (9am to 9pm), or visit their website at www.rcaanews.org.