TagAirport Noise Law(36)

This 1979 Washington State legislative act amends the definition of an 'impacted area' for aircraft noise abatement purposes near airports. It expands the eligible zone from three to six miles beyond the paved end of any runway, and from fifteen hundred to thirty-three hundred feet from the runway centerline, within which port districts may undertake noise mitigation programs. Areas meeting these geographic criteria are officially designated as 'impacted areas' subject to noise investigation and abatement efforts.

A 1978 Washington State House of Representatives bill analysis outlines proposed legislation to limit airport noise, giving local governments that own airports the authority to restrict aircraft use and flight times to keep residential community noise levels below 65 decibels. Airports with more than 30 scheduled flights per day would be required to take action to meet this standard, with special attention to reducing noise during evening and nighttime hours. A public hearing on the legislation was held on December 7, 1978, at the Burien Public Library near Sea-Tac Airport.

This document presents F.A.A. Density Guidelines for North Sea-Tac Park, a neighborhood near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. It maps out population density limits across different zones, ranging from 1.5 people per acre in the Clear Zone closest to the airport, to 2 people per acre in the Extended Clear Zone, up to 20-40 people per acre in areas farther from the runway. The guidelines reflect FAA safety and noise policy restrictions that limit how many residents can live in areas most directly affected by airport flight paths.

Minutes from a June 28, 1973 Air Transportation Committee meeting on the Sea-Tac Communities Plan, held in Burien, Washington. Representatives from the Port of Seattle, FAA, Highline School District, and local community groups discussed the history of Sea-Tac Airport's expansion, the impact of aircraft noise on nearby schools and neighborhoods, and ongoing efforts to measure and reduce noise exposure. Key topics included new comprehensive noise measurement methods, federal agency roles in noise regulation, and strategies for noise abatement such as modified flight procedures and sound-absorbing materials.

This 1971 report, prepared by Wyle Laboratories for the California Department of Aeronautics, provides the technical supporting information behind California's adopted noise regulations for airports. It documents the research and methodology used to establish noise standards governing aircraft operations at California airports. While focused on California, the report represents an early example of state-level regulatory efforts to address airport noise impacts on surrounding communities.