Politician Contends Chosen Plan Violates Environmental Policy Act

New York's Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef said Thursday the county is going to file a lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration over its decision to redesign the New York-New Jersey-Philadelphia region airspace.

As ANN reported, the FAA issued its final decision for redesigning that airspace Wednesday. The agency expects the change to reduce delays, fuel consumption, aircraft emissions and noise.

"This new concept in airspace design will help us handle the rapidly growing number of flights in the Northeast in a much more efficient way," said FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey. "This airspace was first designed in the 1960s and has become much more complex. We now need to look at creative new ways to avoid delays."

Vanderhoef said the county believes the chosen plan, among other things, violates the national Environmental Policy Act, according to the Journal News.

"This particular agency is one that apparently is hell-bent on doing what it needs to do to get this plan in order and therefore is ignoring the law," Vanderhoef said. "We're going to hold them to the law and that's what this litigation is about."

According to the plan, about 11,000 Rockland residents will be subjected to increased noise levels as 300-400 flights per day would fly over at 6,000 to 9,000 feet.

The program manager for the agency's airspace redesign, Steve Kelley, said the change could very well occur within a year.

FMI: www.co.rockland.ny.us, www.faa.gov