Agenda Packets - 1999/04/05 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Metropolitan Aircraft Sound Abatement Council Airplane noise is a problem for neighbors of all major airports, including MSP. The Federal Aviation Administration estimates that 2.7 million people across the nation are exposed to significant aircraft noise. A new national aircraft noise policy is aimed at reducing that number by 85%,to 400,000 people, by 1999. The MAC also has been working for the past 20 years to reduce the effects of aircraft noise on people who live and work in areas surrounding MSP. The results of the MAC's voluntary noise reduction agreements with the airlines have exceeded expectations. In every month since the program began in June 1997,the Average Daily Noise Energy has been lower than the limits set forth in the program. The MAC has also taken steps to distribute noise away from densely populated areas and more equitably among neighboring communities. This effort included the creation of the Metropolitan Aircraft Sound Abatement Council (MASAC) in 1969. Since that time, 17 noise abatement directives have taken effect. MASAC is a private non-profit organization dedicated to the control and alleviation of aircraft noise at and around the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. Since its inception, MASAC has served in many different capacities, including advising the MAC, evaluating established noise policies, recommending and instituting new policies and studying the noise abatement programs in use around the world. Through the cooperation and commitment of many dedicated individuals MASAC is achieving and accomplishing its objectives in the area of aircraft noise relief. • MASAC's first objective is to study and evaluate complaints originating with the residents of neighboring communities concerning aircraft noise. This is accomplished through a complaint phone line which is in operation 24 hours a day. Each complaint is recorded and examined by the MAC director of sound abatement and environmental affairs. At the end of each month,the file is reviewed and statistics are compiles as to the number and location of complaints received. The results are then presented at the monthly MASAC meeting. • MASAC's second objective is the realization of an effective noise abatement program at the Minneapolis/ St. Paul International Airport. MASAC is responsible for the study and evaluation of existing noise control policies and the proposal and initiation of new programs. This requires that all council members are well informed on a wide range of noise abatement procedures and plans. In order to keep abreast of the most recent technical innovations and noise relief programs, MASAC holds membership in national and regional noise abatement organizations. The council also sponsors its own research and study programs and sends MASAC representatives to noise abatement conferences. • A final objective of MASAC is to conduct a program of public education. MASAC sponsors public meetings and informational sessions in order to explain current noise abatement policies and to discuss the possibilities for future programs