TagNoise(193)

Washington state law defining requirements for port commissions to investigate and monitor aircraft noise impact before initiating abatement programs. Establishes geographic boundaries for “impacted areas” where port districts may undertake noise programs, with specific distance limitations from runway ends and centerlines.

This document explains how aircraft noise is measured using decibel-based metrics such as DNL, CNEL, and SEL, and highlights that the FAA's accepted noise threshold of 65 dB exceeds the World Health Organization's recommended limits of 50–55 dB outdoors and 30–35 dB indoors. It also notes that standard metrics like SEL fail to capture the cumulative impact of repeated aircraft overflights. The international aviation body ICAO recommends a four-part 'Balanced Approach' to managing airport noise, encompassing noise reduction at the source, land-use planning, operational procedures, and operating restrictions.

A large study of nearly 75,000 female nurses living near 90 U.S. airports found that those exposed to higher levels of aircraft noise were more likely to have higher body mass index (BMI) and greater weight gain since age 18. Women exposed to the loudest aircraft noise (55 decibels or more) had an 11% higher chance of being obese and a 15% higher chance of falling into the highest category of weight gain compared to those in quieter areas. The findings suggest that chronic aircraft noise exposure — such as that experienced by residents near Sea-Tac Airport — may contribute to obesity risk, potentially through stress-related pathways including disrupted sleep and hormonal changes.

This document is an invoice and monthly status report from Vianair Inc. to the City of Alexandria for consulting services performed between December 17, 2023 and January 16, 2024, totaling $22,375. The work included flight procedure design, SID/STAR analysis, website development, DCA noise report preparation, and software analysis services performed by consultants Jim, Jason, and Garry. The invoice was approved by representatives from Fairfax County DPD and Prince George's County Department of the Environment.

The City of Burien and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the SR 509 Completion Project Stage 2, which extends the highway from S 188th Street to 24th Avenue South, with portions running through Burien's city limits. The project includes construction of a shared-use path, two roundabouts on S 160th Street, and short noise wall segments adjacent to highway on-ramps. WSDOT is responsible for costs associated with the proposed design and construction, while Burien bears costs for any changes it requests beyond standard design requirements.

This supplemental material accompanies a research study examining whether aircraft noise exposure is linked to poorer sleep among women in the Nurses' Health Study, a large U.S. health cohort. The study measured nighttime and day-night aircraft sound levels near 90 U.S. airports and analyzed their association with self-reported short sleep duration and poor sleep quality. Researchers used detailed statistical methods, including directed acyclic graphs and multivariable models, to account for confounding factors and assess exposure-response relationships.