Airport Noise Basics

1. Airport Noise Basics Noise Analysis Overview 2010 Hershey Conference Chris Osburn, Env. Protection Specialist, WAS-ADO March 3, 2010

2. Noise Quality issues • Why is noise important • Brief overview of required noise analysis • Common needs/supplemental needs • What we are seeing • What we would like to see • Additional resources • What is new in noise • NextGen trends Note: This presentation relates to simple NEPA projects, such as Short Form EAs and EAs. Not those requiring significant Impact Analysis or NCP development

3. Why is noise so important • It’s the law – Federal, State, and/or Local • Manage community expectations on noise issues • Noise has the potential to influence multiple additional areas of NEPA analysis

4. Brief overview of required noise analyses • Remember what FAA Order 1050.1E says….(Paragraphs 14.6a and 14.6b), regarding triggering aircraft types and activity levels for analysis • But don’t forget the highly controversial caveat • Threshold of significance is an estimated noise increase of 1.5 dB at or above the DNL 65 dB • An increase from DNL 63.5 dB to DNL 65 dB is a significant impact • A 3.0 dB increase within the DNL 60 dB, is not necessarily a significant impact

5. Common noise needs • In most cases an analysis using either the FAA Area Equivalent Method (AEM)* and/or Integrated Noise Model (INM), expressed in DNL, is all that is needed • A rationale no-build and/or alternative comparison cases, with same forecast of operations modeled for all cases Note: AEM should not be used to illustrate a shrinking noise environment Source: DCA RSA EA – Ricondo and Associates, 2010

6. Supplemental metrics use • Supplemental Metrics can play a role in supporting the analysis, but are largely unnecessary for the majority of noise analysis • Maximum A-weighted Sound Levels - (Lmax) • Sound Exposure Level - (SEL) • Equivalent Sound Level - (Leq) • Time Above a Specified Sound Level - (TA) • Sound Pressure Level - (SPL) • Remember the FAA selects the appropriate supplemental analysis when necessary, therefore prior to utilizing supplemental metrics in any noise analysis FAA approval is required

7. What we are seeing in recent documents • When to model noise and when noise analysis is not required • AEM, used to screen decreases in noise impacts where the forecast is falling • Inconsistent use of appropriate noise metrics • Inconsistent levels of analysis by consultants • Development of a practical comparison contour

8. What the FAA would like to see • Simple and consistent analysis in the use of GIS and depiction of land use data in accordance with FHA Standard Land Use Coding Manual • Avoid saying to much or too little so as to prevent confusion of the audience, “Keep it Clear” • Follow Chapter 17 “Noise” in the Airports Desk Reference • Work with the FAA to determine additional analytical needs • Coordination with ATC for towered facilities on flight procedures and usage • Beware of apples and oranges comparisons when describing noise

9. Additional resources to consider • FAA Order 1050.1E – Appendix A – Section 14 • FAA Airports Desk Reference • FICON/FICAN Federal Agency Review of Selected Airport Noise Issues, 1992 • FAA-AEE Website • TRB-ACRP Reports 15 and 16 • NOISEQUEST • Your ADO Hint… Hint…

10. What is new in the World of Noise • INM 7.0b release – October 2009 • Aircraft type and performance database changes • Corrections from 7.0a • FAA AC 150/5020 Update – 2010 • Additional guidance on supplemental metrics use • Revised mitigation boundary guidance

11. NextGen Trends on Noise Publications are available via the FAA NextGen Integration Office, JPDO, FAA-AEE, and DOT-VOLPE, TRB-ACRP, PARTNER-COE, and NEXTOR Popular Topics include: • Potential changes beyond the 65 DNL? • New Analysis Tools – AEDT • RNAV/RNP – OPD/CDA Procedures • NASA N+2 / FAA CLEEN Aircraft Technologies Source: FAA-AEE

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