"DIA noise bill: $25 mil"

Thursday, October 31, 2002

DIA noise bill: $25 mil
The Associated Press


Denver and Adams County have settled a lawsuit over noise from Denver
International Airport for $26 million, officials announced today.

Denver Mayor Webb Wellington and Bruce Baumgartner, airport manager, said
the city settled the lawsuit because it wants to be a good neighbor.

"The cooperation that begins today opens the door to future cooperation
between Denver and its Adams County neighbors," Webb said.

Adams County officials were on hand for a news conference announcing the
settlement, which will place $26 million, plus interest, in the registry of
the Jefferson County District Court.

The money will be used to reduce noise from the Denver airport.

Adams County and its cities sued Denver, claiming the city violated an
agreement in which Denver pledged the airport would not exceed maximum noise
standards. The lawsuit was filed in 1996, a year after the airport opened
east of Denver on land that Adams County voters allowed Denver to annex.

The settlement covers payments for noise violations from 1996 to 2000.
Payments for 2001 will be waived.

A system was set up to monitor aircraft at about 100 locations around the
airport. A noise boundary was also established around the airport that could
lead to additional violations.

The Colorado Supreme Court in January upheld a decision ordering Denver to
pay $5.3 million in damages and other penalties for violating the noise
agreement.

 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?conf=DCConfID8

*****************************************