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The Tribune
New Albany, IN
Sunday, October 21, 2001
Front page
Floyd County could soon become noisier
By JON REITER CNHI News Service
Members of a volunteer study group looking to reduce noise from the Louisville International Airport for some may instead increase it, for others - including residents in the west end of Louisville and in Floyd County.
The Airport Noise Compatibility Program Study Group is recommending the airport shift flights taking off from and coming into the airport to its western runway, which would bring many of the planes in from and out to Floyd County and the west end, according to Greg Gapsis, chairman of the Floyd County Plan Commission.
In speaking to the study group's members recently in a meeting at Masterson's Restaurant, Gapsis -said the group is ignoring the wishes of the University of Louisville, among others.
He said the noise study doesn't take into account the over 20,000 students, faculty and staff at U of L that will be affected by the noise if the study group recommends to the Airport Authority the western alternative.
"You need to make rational decisions based on acceptable data," Gapsis said.
"It seems to me that you're trying to catch up the alternatives with the data that supports them."
Other members of the study group were criticized by residents of the West End of Louisville. Members of the study group admitted noise data was not collected in much of the West End, and that residents hadn't approached them to be a part of the study.
Ninth District Alderwoman Denise Bentley said that West End residents already have Rubbertown, the Metropolitan Sewer District and trains running
through their part of town.
"Our way of life is already compromised," Bentley said.
Study group chairman Mike Clancey said West End residents hadn't participated in the study. The group is made up of volunteers largely unrelated to the aviation industry.
"This process is open to everyone," he said. "We haven't been invited to the West End."
Clancey later said that the group would hold one meeting in the west end before the year was done. But the group, made up of over 100 volunteers,
dearly are favoring the western alternative. Bob Slattery, who handles noise
complaints for the Regional Airport Authority, said after the meeting the flight paths should go over where there are the least residents, and that noise mitigation plans would be made for those areas where the flight paths go.
"We have to look at the best solution for the problem," Slattery said.
Gapsis maintained that residents in Clark and Floyd Counties would be affected by the western alternative. Study group members said that it considers "problem noise" to be at a level of 65 decibels or higher, and that Clark and Floyd Counties would not see problem noise.
But Gapsis pointed to the fact that only five members from the study group
were from southern Indiana as evidence that participation in the study was
slanted against the Noise collection the study was collected only at one site in Clark and Floyd Counties in Clarksville.
"The participation isn't reflected on both slides (of the river), Gapsis said.
Of those five members on the study group's eight committees, four are from Floyd County, with only one coming from Clark County.
The study group said it will make a recommendation to the Federal Aviation
Administration on which alternative would create the least noise possibly by the end of the year, Clancey said.