County Airport Noise Study Meeting – Monday, November 14, 6 – 8 PM
As you may be aware, the Dane County Regional Airport is currently in process of updating its noise mitigation plan as a result of the 115th Air National Guard transitioning from F-16s to F-35s. This is FAA Part 150 process used to determine eligibility for and fund sound mitigation inside the airport’s mapped noise contours.
The second open house of the noise study will be held Monday November 14th from 6-8pm at the Dane County Regional Airport (between terminal doors 1 and 2). Information about the study process and materials from the first open house are on the DCRA’s noise mitigation plan (Part 150) webpage.
While this is a Dane County Regional Airport led process, we want to make sure you are aware in the event you wish to attend. We want to be sure they include the Air National Guard noise in their study.
Last spring, the Dane County Airport began updating its noise abatement plan to address the impacts of the incoming F-35 fighter jets. They had an open house last spring to explain the study procedures. Presumably this November 14th meeting will present the results of noise modeling to determine who falls within the daily average 65 decibel DNL noise contour and might qualify for noise abatement funding.
A similar study in Burlington, Vermont to accommodate their F-35 jets had a budget of $163.5 million to purchase or insulate homes in the 65 decibel noise impact area considered incompatible for residential housing. The 65 decibel threshold is based on annoyance, over 50 years old, currently being updated by FAA, and doesn’t account for health or educational impacts of noise exposure.
The Madison teachers union and several neighborhood associations wrote to county exec Joe Parisi and the county airport asking for improvements to the noise study such as including all schools on the east and north sides of Madison, and evaluating peak noise levels rather than the daily average. Here is the teachers union letter.