Update on MSP Airport Noise Abatement The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) has released the final report and recommendations of its "MSP Aviation Noise Blue Ribbon Panel," an ad hoc committee entrusted with the task of devising a new organizational framework for the MAC's airport noise pollution advisory committee. In October 2000, representatives of Northwest airlines and other commercial aviation entities resigned from the 30-year old Metropolitan Aircraft Sound Abatement Council (MASAC), alleging committee bias in favor of community interests. As a result, the 38-member advisory body was unceremoniously disbanded. The newly proposed airport noise pollution committee will be trimmed to 12 members and be known as the MSP Noise Oversight Committee (NOC). If ratified, the new committee will be seated using a formula that attempts to balance commercial and community interests. The City of Minneapolis will be represented by one committee member.
The full MAC will consider the panel's report on August 19th. Currently, there are no provisions for public comment on the proposed noise pollution committee. Here's the link to read the full report, which is in the form of a 14-page PDF file: http://www.macavsat.org/pdf_files/misc_reports/brp_report.pdf The Star Tribune also ran a story on the NOC proposal in its August 7th edition: http://www.macavsat.org/misc/whats_new/noc_article.htm How this initiative will affect airport noise abatement is anybody's guess. The most recent MSP Technical Advisor's Report (May 2002) notes that monthly carrier jet operations are only 3.4% below last year's count (May 2001). Dennis Jon Fuller/Tangletown - Sixth Park District _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
