TagAirport Noise Report(10)

This document summarizes community responses to a questionnaire distributed as part of the Sea-Tac Communities Plan, asking residents near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport about preferred noise mitigation strategies. Respondents most commonly favored acquiring and removing existing buildings for noise-compatible uses, purchase guarantees for residential properties, and other locally-suggested ideas. The survey also captured opinions on open space use, environmental controls, and neighborhood improvement priorities such as greenbelts, parks, and street improvements.

This document summarizes a Policy Advisory Committee meeting for the Sea-Tac/Communities Plan, covering recommendations to improve local creek water quality through sewer hookups, tree planting, and holding ponds. It also describes a University of Washington study on how nighttime aircraft noise disrupts sleep for residents near Sea-Tac Airport. Additionally, a proposed Bi-Centennial parkway project linking Burien's waterfront to the airport was presented, with a request for the committee's full endorsement.

Vincent Mestre is a California-licensed Professional Engineer with over 40 years of experience in noise control and acoustical engineering, specializing in airport noise studies, environmental impact analyses, and computer modeling. He founded Mestre Greve Associates in 1978, later joined Landrum & Brown, and has conducted noise compatibility studies at more than two dozen U.S. airports, including international consulting work for governments and airport authorities worldwide. His published research and leadership roles in professional organizations have contributed to shaping national and international airport noise policy and monitoring standards.

ABCx2, LLC submitted Invoice #1244 to Arlington County on February 5, 2022, for $4,687.50 in Phase II consulting services related to airport noise mitigation and flight procedure analysis. The work, covering January 2022, included community meeting preparation, review of GPS approach procedures and Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs), and meetings with county officials and aviation stakeholders. The invoice represents part of a larger $150,000 Phase II project, of which approximately $133,249.50 had been billed through January 2022.

A European study called RANCH examined how aircraft and road traffic noise affects reading comprehension and attention in nearly 3,000 children aged 9-10 in the UK, Netherlands, and Spain. Results showed that higher aircraft noise exposure was significantly linked to poorer reading comprehension, while road traffic noise showed no such effect; neither type of noise impacted sustained attention. The findings suggest aircraft noise poses a greater risk to children's cognitive development than road traffic noise, with implications for school siting and noise exposure policies near airports.