"Congressman Will Continue To Push For A Federal Airport Curfew"

Thursday, September 23, 2004

Crowley Will Continue To Push For A Federal Airport Curfew
by Paul Menchaca
The Queens (NY) Chronicle
 
 
A soon-to-be released study by New York University on noise and air
pollution around LaGuardia Airport has revealed the noise levels for
residents living near the airport exceeds what is healthy for people
sleeping at night. 

The study's results, which Congressman Joseph Crowley discussed on Thursday
night at the Astoria Community Civic Association meeting, essentially
supports the arguments that residents near the airport have been making for
years. That is, it is too loud and the air is too polluted.  

Crowley, who is expected to formally announce the results of the study
within the next few weeks, has asked his staff to re-submit legislation that
would create a federal airport noise commission. In addition, the
congressman continues to push for an 11 p.m. curfew for LaGuardia Airport. 

"I don't think it's unreasonable to ask that the airport should cease
operating flights after 11 o'clock," said Crowley, noting that an exception
would be made for flights that have been delayed because of weather, or
other reasons. "They should stop the invasive late-night flights." 

It is currently against federal law for a United States airport to enforce a
curfew, according to Lou Martinez, a spokesman for the Port Authority for
New York and New Jersey. The law was enacted by Congress as part of the 1990
Airport Noise and Capacity Act. 

The Port Authority discourages airlines from scheduling flights between
midnight and before 7 a.m., Martinez said. If an airline does schedule a
flight during these hours, the agency asks that it use newer, quieter
aircraft. 

"That is what we're suggesting, but the airlines will do what they want," he
said. "It's a congressman who wants this, but it was Congress that passed
the law." 

Crowley wants to see the Port Authority follow through on a provision within
the Transportation Equity for the 21st Century bill that strongly recommends
a study about how noise impacts individual residences around LaGuardia
Airport. 

"The Port Authority has continued to drag its feet on that," said Chris
McCannell, Crowley's chief of staff. 

The NYU study, which was conducted through funding secured by Crowley,
focused on a five mile radius surrounding LaGuardia Airport. It found that
pollution from the airport was especially worse during the summer months,
contributing to a more than 50 percent increase in particulate matter. 

"There's no question the airport is a major contributor to air pollution in
the area," Crowley said. 

The congressman noted that two additional studies are being conducted, but
it is unclear when they will be completed. A study conducted by KeySpan
Energy found that 60 percent of the air pollution around LaGuardia comes
from airplanes, while the remaining 40 percent is from a combination of
taxis, buses and other vehicles. 

Because of this, Crowley will seek to make the buses that operate to and
from the airport use natural gas. He also wants federal funding to
soundproof schools, houses of worship and residential homes. 

Rose Marie Poveramo, president of the United Community Civic Association, is
not interested in having to wait for another study, saying the
long-suffering community needs help now. 

"There's a lot of gray-haired people here," she said. "We don't need another
study. We are choking to death." 

Crowley, however, noted that although the findings from the studies may seem
obvious, they are necessary to have when fighting to pass legislation, or
pushing for funding. 

"We need the statistics to make the changes effective in Washington," he
said. "We need to make a case for it." 

He also pointed out that many of the homes in the surrounding neighborhoods
actually pre-date LaGuardia Airport, which opened in 1939. "The community
was here first," he said. 

When the city reached an agreement last October with the Port Authority to
extend the airport leases through 2050, it was announced that $50 million
would be set aside for capital projects. Poveramo wants to see this money
used for soundproofing and other protective measures in the neighborhoods
surrounding LaGuardia Airport. 

"This community suffers every day," she said. "This community needs help.
For 25 years I have been fighting for monies to protect us."


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