Measuring Airport Noise

1. Measuring Airport Noise Kevin Terrell Katana Consulting March 2014

2. Agenda 1. Background and FAA outreach 2. The noise metric Day-Night-Level 3. Understanding alternative noise metrics 4. Applying alternative metrics at MSP 5. Summary and action plan

3. 1 | Under RNAV, SW Minneapolis and Edina would have had a 5x increase in noise and number of departures, with 23% of ~580 daily departures. 2012 Departure 2012 Landing 70 12% 100 17% 98 17% Key road Proposed departure track 3 1% # daily RNAV flights % of daily total 4 1% 98 17% • SOURCE: • www.macnoise.com/flightracker for Tuesday, July 10th 2012 6am + 8 hours • Runway 30L/R RNAV departure tracks • Katana analysis 135 23% 50th Street 27 RMT 173 30% 30R Penn Ave 30L Xerxes Ave

4. 1 | For RNAV, FAA’s outreach will advise you that there is a Finding of No Significant Impact or “FONSI” relative to a noise limit of 65 dB DNL. SOURCE: FAA Airports Desk Reference, Chapter 17

5. 1 | The 65 dB line the FAA uses for a FONSI extends at most about 1.5 miles from the end of runways 30L and 30R. France Ave 50th Street Penn Ave 30R 30L Xerxes Ave

6. 1 | Locally we use the 60 dB line to decide if the MAC must provide noise mitigation. The FAA does not heed that community guideline for a FONSI. France Ave 50th Street Penn Ave 30R 30L Xerxes Ave

7. Agenda 1. Background and FAA outreach 2. The noise metric Day-Night-Level 3. Understanding alternative noise metrics 4. Applying alternative metrics at MSP 5. Summary and action plan

8. 2 | DNL is the modeled logarithmic average of noise exposure over the course of a year, adjusted for our extra sensitivity to nighttime noise. Daytime Nighttime + 10 dB SOURCE: Overview of Noise Metrics at www.hmmh.com

9. 2 | However, noise experts recognize that DNL as a measurement is flawed. Limited explanation Missing factors Not representative “Reducing noise exposure to a single value of DNL does not convey to the public the extent of the impact upon them” “A DNL contour map does not tell residents how many times airplanes fly over them, at what time of day, what type of airplanes, or how those flights may interfere with activities, such as sleep and watching television” “If the number of aircraft noise events above the minimum threshold that an individual finds annoying increases, then the noise environment for that person has increased” SOURCE: What’s In Your DNL?, Wyle Laboratories, 2006

10. 2 | DNL does not account for real world perceptions of noise. SOURCE: Harris Miller Miller & Hanson “Basic Aircraft Terminology”

11. 2 | The application of DNL is based on 40 year old research showing 13% of the population is highly annoyed by 65 decibels of average noise. % of People Annoyed by Aircraft Noise % 1972 Highly Annoyed Average Noise Exposure (dB) SOURCE: EC Position Paper on Dose Response 2002, Katana analysis

12. 2 | Current research on plane noise indicates that a 55 dB contour line is a more appropriate place to draw that “FONSI” line. % of People Annoyed by Aircraft Noise 2002 Highly Annoyed % 1972 Highly Annoyed Average Noise Exposure (dB) SOURCE: EC Position Paper on Dose Response 2002, Katana analysis

13. 2 | Additional research indicates that average noise levels over 55 dB can have a noticeable impact on the reading skills of schoolchildren. SOURCE: European Environment Agency report No 11/2010

14. Agenda 1. Background and FAA outreach 2. The noise metric Day-Night-Level 3. Understanding alternative noise metrics 4. Applying alternative metrics at MSP 5. Summary and action plan

15. 3 | California uses a more nuanced logarithmic measurement called CNEL that accounts for evening noise. Lden is similar and is used in Europe. Daytime Evening + 5 dB Nighttime + 10 dB CNEL @ MSP = ~ DNL + 1.5 decibels

16. 3 | Many countries use the 55 dB CNEL contour to restrict uses due to health concerns, and all of Europe is required to show the 55 dB contour. 55 dB contour lines required 55 dB limit on noise SOURCE: Methods of Assessment of Airport Noise, NJS Burton, London South Bank University

17. 3 | N70 is an easy to understand measurement developed in Australia. It is calculated using the same noise model that the FAA uses for DNL. SOURCE: Expanding Ways to Describe and Assess Aircraft Noise, Department of Transport and Regional Services, Australia

18. 3 | These additional noise measures are already approved by FAA. SOURCE: FAA Airports Desk Reference, Chapter 17

19. 3 | Summary of noise measures DNL CNEL, etc N70 Flawed, logarithmic measurement + 65 dB DNL line for noise studies is based on 40 year old research Updated & slightly better logarithmic measurement + 55 dB contour line is required in EU and used by some to limit impact A simple, linear measurement = How many times a day can I not hear you because of a plane?

20. Agenda 1. Background and FAA outreach 2. The noise metric Day-Night-Level 3. Understanding alternative noise metrics 4. Applying alternative metrics at MSP 5. Summary and action plan

21. 4 | Recall that the FAA uses the 65 dB contour as the area to analyze for a FONSI. France Ave 50th Street Penn Ave Xerxes Ave SOURCE: www.macnoise.com

22. 4 | Other countries use the 55 dB contour. Here, that extends to Penn Ave, beyond Lake Harriet and encompasses thousands of additional people. France Ave 50th Street Penn Ave Xerxes Ave SOURCE: MAC PBN Overview map, www.macnoise.com; Katana analysis

23. 4 | Beyond Lake Harriet, departing flights from medium aircraft typically exceed 70 decibels, and would be counted as part of the N70 metric. Altitude SOURCE: www.macnoise.com

24. 4 | With RNAV the N70 map to the northwest of MSP would likely blanket Minneapolis, Richfield & Edina with 100+ count tracks & the contour extends. Number of daily flights greater than 70 dB (N70) N70 100+ N70 50+ 2 55 dB DNL 1 Key road France Ave 50th Street 27 Penn Ave Xerxes Ave SOURCE: www.macnoise.com; Katana analysis; 55 dB line is estimated based on current RMT data

25. 4 | Arrivals would continue over the lakes, as is the case today. Number of daily flights greater than 70 dB (N70) N70 100+ N70 50+ Arrival path 2 55 dB DNL 1 Key road France Ave 50th Street 27 Penn Ave Xerxes Ave SOURCE: www.macnoise.com; Katana analysis, 55 dB line is estimated based on current RMT data

26. 4 | The 55 dB CNEL contour and N70 would affect 19 more schools than the FAA addresses today, including 1/3 of Minneapolis’ total public enrollment 1 2 8 Local schools Lake Nokomis Our Lady of Peace Hale Community Roosevelt High Windom Annunciation Ramsey Field Community Washburn High Kenny Anthony Armatage Carondelet Lake Harriet Upper Southwest High Carondelet Lake Harriet Lower Barton Open Pilgrim Lutheran Lake Country Burroughs Academy of Holy Angels 29 O H R P Q C S B D T N I U G M F 27 L A J K E N70, 100+ 7 55 dB CNEL, est. V 65 dB DNL 29 RMT SOURCE: MAC PBN Overview, www.macnoise.com; Katana + community analysis; 55 dB CNEL based on 2011 RMT data

27. Agenda 1. Background and FAA outreach 2. The noise metric Day-Night-Level 3. Understanding alternative noise metrics 4. Applying alternative metrics at MSP 5. Summary and action plan

28. 5 | Summary Outdated metrics New metrics available We just need to ask Those new metrics are available to us – we just need to demand action from our representatives The FAA’s FONSI is based on an outdated metric and a 40 year old understanding of the impact of noise There are more current, more accurate and easier to understand ways to express the impact of noise on our community This is OUR community – not the FAA’s

29. For further information • Contact: • Kevin Terrell • kevin@katanaconsulting.com • www.katanaconsulting.com • Board Member, Lynnhurst Neighborhood Association (Minneapolis) • Co-Founder, MSP FairSkies Visit www.mspFairSkies.org for a more complete and narrated version of this and other presentations