Residents Say Airport Commission Broke Its Promise

The cities of Minneapolis, Eagan and Richfield, MN, have joined forces to sue the governmental entity that runs Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, saying its members have broken promises to help alleviate aircraft noise.

For some airport neighbors, the roar is deafening, averaging as much as 64-decibles. Outdoor conversations are drowned out. Being indoors isn't much better as aircraft taking off and landing swoosh over homes, parks and schools.

Not even the Metropolitan Airports Commission argues that. Instead, the issue is what MAC plans to do to help airport neighbors deal with the noise.

"When they decided to expand the airport in the '90s, they promised they were going to noise-insulate, and we agreed to put up with the noise," said airport neighbor Kris Nelson. "We have held up our end. We are looking for them to fulfill their promises." Nelson was quoted by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

According to the cities' lawsuit, MAC is obligated to not only impose noise abatement procedures on incoming and outgoing flights, but is also obliged to insulate homes in areas where aircraft noise exceeds 65 decibles to reduce noise impact. About 165 homes qualify for government-sponsored insulation, according to the suit. The cost comes to about $45,000 a home.

Already, MAC has paid to insulate about 7,500 homes against aircraft noise. But should MAC have to pay to reduce the noise in areas where it's been measured at between 60 and 64 decibles? Even MAC says it should pay some of the costs -- but not all of them. MAC says it's had to scale back on noise mitigation because it needs the money to pay for more airport security. The scale-back could affect up to 500 homes.

Minneapolis Mayor RT Ryback, however, says MAC is obligated to pay all the costs related to noise insulation. He points to at least nine public documents in which MAC members made just such a commitment.

"Any business in America that makes a promise to pay for its own pollution should be held to that promise, especially when it involves the largest investment that most of these people [homeowners] will ever have," Rybak told the Star-Tribune.

The MAC noise mitigation plan is still under review by the FAA. The suit is to be filed in state court on Wednesday.

FMI: www.mspairport.com/MAC