Town-Village Aircraft Safety & Noise Abatement Committee

TOWN-VILLAGE AIRCRAFT SAFETY & NOISE ABATEMENT COMMITTEE ONE WASHINGTON STREET  HEMPSTEAD 11550  (516) 489-3296 Town of MINUTES OF MEETING HEMPSTEAD Meeting Date: February 26, 2018 Villages of ATLANTIC BEACH In Attendance: CEDARHURST Carl Baessler, Village of Atlantic Beach FLORAL PARK Kurt Langjahr, Village of New Hyde Park Andrew Weiss, Village of Floral Park GARDEN CITY Laurence Quinn, Village of Garden City HEWLETT NECK Sean Wright, Village of Valley Stream Akiva Lubin, Village of Lawrence LAWRENCE Larry Hoppenhauer, Village of Malvern MALVERNE NEW HYDE PARK In absence of an Executive Director, the meeting was called to order by STEWART Committee member Andrew Weiss. Mr. Weiss led the Committee and audience members in the Pledge of Allegiance. MANOR VALLEY STREAM Kurt Langjahr noted the recent passing of Donald Barbieri, Trustee of the Village of New Hyde Park. Mr. Langjhar proposed that the TVASNAC WOODSBURGH meeting be held in honor of Trustee Barbieri. A motion was made by Committee member Baessler to dedicate the February 26, 2018 TVASNAC meeting in memory of Trustee Barbieri; the motion was seconded by Committee member Langjahr. (Included as an attachment to these minutes is a copy of the announcement of Trustee Barbieri’s passing as posted to the Village of New Hyde Park website.) The minutes of the prior meeting (January 22, 2018) were reviewed and a motion made by Committee member Baessler to adopt the minutes. The motion was seconded by Committee member Langjahr and approved by all Committee members present. Committee member Weiss introduced and invited the Hon. Brian Curran (NYS Assembly District 21) to the podium to address the Committee. Assemblyman Curran provided an update regarding legislation he is sponsoring (A08283) which directs the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), with the assistance of the NYS Department of Transportation (DOT), to conduct a study on the environmental and human health impacts of John F. Kennedy international airport and LaGuardia Minutes of Meeting Page 2 airport. A full copy of the text of the proposed legislation is included as an attachment to these minutes. Assemblyman Curran noted that aircraft noise is not only a quality of life issue but is also a health issue; though the actual science may not currently exist that proves the health impacts. This legislation is intended to provide the scientific link between aircraft noise and associated negative health impacts; and force the FAA and Port Authority (PA) to take the issue more seriously. Committee member Weiss asked Assemblyman Curran, if the legislation is passed and the resulting study proves the connection between aircraft noise and negative health impacts, what is the mechanism for forcing the FAA and PA to make changes? Assemblyman Curran answered that it was possible that based upon the study results, the NYSDEC could promulgate regulations regarding noise that the FAA and PA must then comply with. Committee member Hoppenhauer asked for clarification regarding the agency proposed to conduct the study. Assemblyman Curran indicated that NYSDEC would take the lead and work in conjunction with the NYSDOT. Assemblyman Curran noted that his proposed legislation is modelled upon similar legislation that is nearing passage in the state of Illinois (HB3248 – AIRPORTS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT). Committee member Langjahr asked several questions, including: if noise is a known fact, why the study is needed (Hon. Curran response that the direct scientific link does not exist); will the proposed study conflict with the ongoing Part 150 study (Hon. Curran response was no, there would not be a conflict, the proposed study is to consider health effects); and, requested that a copy of the proposed legislation be provided to NYS Senator Elaine Phillips (Hon. Curran said he would provide a copy to her office). Committee member Weiss thanked Assemblyman Curran for the update and taking the time to attend the TVASNAC meeting. Committee member Weiss than asked Mr. Bill Huisman to the podium to provide an update regarding general matters as concerns the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and the John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport 14 CFR Part 150 Study. Mr. Huisman provided the following informational update:  JFK Master Plan Update: still in the early stages of the Master Plan development, i.e. figuring out how to take the Advisory Panels January 4, 2017 recommendations to the Governor (the Vision) and turn it into an implementable plan. PA has retained the services of Mott MacDonald to assist in that process and of late have been focused on updating standards, untangling on paper the Central Terminal Area roadway network, meeting and collaborating w/ both the MTA and NYSDOT on airport access Minutes of Meeting Page 3 improvements and also in early dialog with the terminal operators and airlines on possible individual development proposals that are consistent with the Vision. We are also keeping a tight rein on the $1B that is in the Port Authority's approved 10 year Capital Plan. There is a lot of infrastructure to address (roadways, utilities, parking, security) and limited dollars in the bank. The answer if questioned about aeronautical improvements, like a new runway, the answer is not no, it's that the $1B certainly doesn't cover it, so there is obviously nothing in the short term (next 5 to 7 years) plans that would suggest it. But as the Master Plan evolves, we will have a better understanding of what is needed to continue JFK's growth Regarding the Master Plan, Committee member Hoppenhauer asked if there was an established deadline for completion. Mr. Huisman responded that there was not.  Eastern Regional Helicopter Council (ERHC) “Fly Neighborly Program” Kick-Off Meeting is Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at the Melville Marriott (1350 Old Walt Whitman Road, Melville, NY 11747) from 9 am to 12 noon. Attendees will include ERHC member operators, airport managers, FAA, community members and elected officials to discuss helicopter noise abatement procedures for upcoming summer 2018 season.  FAA Funding Cuts: The Trump Administration's FY2019 budget will cut funding to the NextGen upgrade program from $1.1B to $952M. The Aerospace Industries Assoc. has urged Congress to reject the FY2019 budget for FAA and request reinstatement of former estimate of $1.1B. Additionally, the FAA's research and development program for NextGen Environmental Research, Aircraft Technologies, Fuels & Metrics would be reduced from $27.2M to $7.6M.  FAA Urged to reanalyze noise impact of RNAV departure on historic district. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) recommended in a recent advisory opinion that FAA should reanalyze and address the noise effects of a controversial RNAV departure procedure out of LaGuardia Airport on homes listed on the National Register of Historic Places and should initiate a Section 106 consultation process under the National Historic Preservation Act. ACHP is an independent federal agency that serves as the primary federal policy advisor to the President and Congress on historic preservation. FAA had issued a CATEX (categorical exclusion) under the National Environmental Policy Act for the NextGen departure procedure out of LaGuardia, known as TNNIS FOUR, because FAA's noise analysis indicated that the Broadway- Flushing Historic District would not experience a significant increase in noise or be added to the DNL 65 dB contour. But FAA did not initiate a Section 106 consultation process under the National Historic Preservation Act for the TNNIS departure procedure. TNNIS FOUR was implemented in 2012 and moved aircraft Minutes of Meeting Page 4 over parts of the New York City Borough of Queens and the Broadway- Flushing Historic District, a tranquil, tree-lined community of over 1,700 homes, almost all over 100 years old and of notable architecture. “In 2012, the FAA's decision to implement the NextGen flight pattern for departures from LaGuardia Airport essentially took all the tranquility and quiet away from a century old and historically recognized neighborhood," Maria R. Becce, vice president of the Broadway-Flushing Homeowners Association, told the ACHP. "It was done without notification to anyone or impact studies of any kind, other than the issuance of a CATEX. I can assure you there has been a tremendous and unequivocal negative affect to the level of noise, vibration, and general disruption since 2012."  The PA has retained a firm (headed by Former United States Secretary of Transportation Ray Lahood) to review the issues experienced at JFK during the early January 2018 snow storm. Committee member Hoppenhauer asked if there was a timeframe for the review. Mr. Huisman stated that there was not. Mr. Huisman provided additional details regarding the PA’s use of private firms (“terminal operators”) for the daily operation and maintenance of each airport terminal. The terminal operators in turn lease/rent space within and adjacent to the terminals to various vendors and airlines. The update provided by Mr. Huisman’s was appreciated by all present. At this time, Committee member Weiss, open the meeting to any questions from the public. There were no questions from the public. Committee member Hoppenhauer requested that an invitation be extended to the Supervisor to attend a future TVASNAC meeting. Member Langjahr made a motion to adjourn the meeting, which was seconded by Member Baessler. The next regularly scheduled TVASNAC meeting will be held on Monday March 26, 2018 at 7:00 pm at the Nathan L. Bennett Pavilion, Town Hall, One Washington Street, Hempstead, New York. Prepared By: Joseph L. Davenport Secretary, TVANAC March 17, 2018