Livermore- Council Considers Noise Reduction Strategies

February 28, 2005 / Andy Wilson / Comments Off on Livermore- Council Considers Noise Reduction Strategies

Saturday, February 26, 2005
Airport noise tops agenda in Livermore
By Bonita Brewer
The Contra Costa (CA) Times

Livermore’s City Council on Monday will consider ways to help reduce airport-related noise that has long irritated neighbors in Livermore, Pleasanton and Dublin. Some of the guiding principles to be considered were suggested by the council itself Jan. 31, when it scrapped proposed airport upgrades that several hundred residents warned would worsen already objectionable noise.

At that meeting, the council suggested basing any revisions to the airport master plan on guidelines aimed at reducing existing airport noise levels. It also suggested developing a noise monitoring program.

But city Public Services Director Dan McIntyre is returning to the council with a fuller, more detailed list of proposed guidelines that includes:

  • Further outreach to pilots in promoting voluntary noise-reduction efforts. For example, while the city can’t legally impose a nighttime curfew or ban jets at the airport, it already has requested a voluntary 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew.
  • Working with the Federal Aviation Administration to minimize impacts to the Tri-Valley from jet flights to and from the Bay Area’s international airports. McIntyre says some of the jet noise heard in Livermore is actually overflight noise to and from the Oakland International Airport, “particularly noticeable during night hours.”
  • Continuing to operate the airport as an unsubsidized, self-supporting enterprise.
  • Participating in federal lobbying efforts to legislate the phaseout of high-noise-producing jets.

    Monday’s council meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at 3575 Pacific Ave., Livermore.

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