Boston-area residents fighting noise from planes heading in and out of Logan Airport are applauding US Senator Elizabeth Warren’s introduction of legislation that would require the Federal Aviation Administration to listen to the concerns of communities affected by runway and flight path changes.
Warren’s bill mirrored legislation filed in the House last fall cosponsored by US Representatives Stephen Lynch, Michael Capuano, and Katherine Clark. Among the provisions is a requirement that the FAA name an advocate for communities affected by air traffic.
“We would directly benefit from the legislation,’’ said Myron Kassaraba, Belmont’s representative to the Logan Airport Community Advisory Committee and Massport Community Advisory Committee. “It would give communities such as Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge, and Watertown that have been working together to try to get departure procedures reexamined, a strong legislative basis to require the FAA to respond to our requests.’’
“Any efforts by the federal legislators are very helpful to us,’’ Milton Selectwoman Kathleen Conlon said. “Anything they can do to help is appreciated.’’
Charles H. Gessner, who represents Marblehead on the advisory committees, said he’s particularly pleased with the advocate feature of the legislation and the idea that communities’ concerns will be on a “level playing field with the airlines and airport operators.’’
Warren also filed legislation asking the federal Government Accountability Office to study the impact of new flight paths designed by the FAA’s Next Generation Air Transportation System on people living beneath the air routes.
The system is geared at improving safety and energy efficiency, but residents and officials in a number of communities around Logan Airport say that the computer-generated flight paths concentrate planes in narrower corridors that produce steady and maddening amounts of noise below.
Selectmen in Milton sent a letter to the FAA in March complaining that between March 13 and March 16 the town “experienced virtually constant’’ noise’’ for 91 hours. Residents complained of interrupted sleep, anxiety, and other health impacts, and the selectmen asked for a meeting to try to find a solution to the ongoing problem, the letter said.
“There has been a tremendous increase in airplane noise in communities near Logan Airport, and local residents deserve to have their concerns heard,’’ Warren said in a release about her legislation.
“This bill will provide communities in Massachusetts and other affected states with a real voice in the FAA’s decision-making process, and will require the FAA to reconsider flight routes that are exposing residents to unacceptable levels of noise.’’
Conlon said Milton planned to ask Warren to change one line in her legislation — moving back a date to require the FAA to reconsider flight path changes that affect the town. But overall, she said the town applauded Warren’s action.
Johanna Seltz can be reached at seltzjohanna@gmail.com.
