Select Board Issues Letter to Massport Objecting to Proposed Airplane Noise Reduction Proposal
SWAMPSCOTT – The Swampscott Select Board today issued a letter to Massport representatives citing serious concern regarding a recent Massport proposal to change the flight pattern over Northshore communities, including Swampscott.
The Block 2 Procedure Recommendation for Boston Logan Airport Community Noise Reduction was released in June 2021 by MIT in response to ongoing concerns about airplane noise over dozens of cities impacted by air traffic from Logan Airport. Proposed changes to Runway 22L – the runway responsible for flights over the Nahant Causeway – will redirect flights from the south and east over the coast of Swampscott, Lynn, and Nahant instead of over populated areas north and northeast of the airport.
While the relocation seeks to relieve tens of thousands of people exposed to daytime and nighttime noise, the proposal results in thousands of negatively impacted residents and visitors in Swampscott and other communities – most significantly during evening hours.
“We don’t believe this study goes far enough in considering how to eliminate the entirety of noise impact on all residents of Massachusetts,” said Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald. “We are seeking more information from Massport regarding why these paths can’t be directed further over the water to ensure that our residents and beach-goers experience the quality of life they deserve.”
The letter, signed by the entire Select Board states, “This proposal would negatively impact the quality of life of Swampscott residents - particularly during the evening hours – as well as expose hundreds of thousands of North Shore residents to noxious fumes and noise pollution from increased air traffic. If noise reduction is the goal, it is troubling to us that the proposal does not redirect flights further over the ocean and limit the impact to residential and recreational areas. Thus, while we understand the efforts to disperse flights and achieve a more equitable noise distribution, we oppose the current proposal and recommendations for Runway 22L.”
The letter further requests that Massport perform a full environmental review on the impact on residents and the coastal resource area, and requests that representatives from Logan Airport meet with Swampscott officials. Read the entire letter.
Flight noise over Massachusetts communities has been an ongoing issue, prompted by recent developments in navigation and surveillance technology which, though effective in reducing fuel consumption and streamlining air traffic control, centralize flights over specific published tracks with effects on underlying communities.
Any procedural recommendations will be required to go through the formal FAA 7100.41 procedure design review and approval process and undergo an environmental review, particularly procedures carrying significant effects.