Welcome to the National Organization to Insure A Sound Controlled Environment
The National Organization to Insure a Sound Controlled Environment (N.O.I.S.E) is America's leading community voice on aviation noise issues. N.O.I.S.E is a coalition of locally elected officials and industry stakeholders working cooperatively with local and federal government to find workable solutions to the issue of excessive airport noise.
Your Aviation Noise Community Advocate
An affiliate of the National League of Cities, the National Organization to Insure a Sound Controlled Environment has served for over 40 years as America’s only nation-wide, community based association composed of locally elected officials who represent thousands of constituents throughout the United States and are committed to reducing the impact of aviation noise on local communities.
N.O.I.S.E serves to allow communities to join together and, with a single voice, inject the concerns of their constituents into the national debate on airport expansion policy, a debate which all too often is dominated by airports, airlines, and aircraft whose priorities may differ from a community’s. N.O.I.S.E seeks to resolve noise concerns by bringing affected communities, local airport officials, and federal policymakers together to work on airport expansion proposals responsibly and collaboratively.
N.O.I.S.E also advocates for federal policies to reduce unreasonable levels of aviation noise through a combination of quieter aircraft, increased noise abatement resources, and the opportunity for local communities to contribute to airport expansion decisions.
ALERT: N.O.I.S.E. Releases 2016 Federal and Legislative Priorities
Please see the Board-approved N.O.I.S.E. federal and legislative priorities for 2016 by clicking here. Please let us know if you have any questions or need additional information.
We would also like to bring to your attention specific language that Congresswoman Meng (D-NY-06) is urging the House Appropriations Committee to include in funding for the Department of Transportation (DOT) which is directly referenced in our legislative priorities. If included, Congresswoman Meng's language would:
- Appropriate $1.5 million for Airport Technology Research Noise Programs to accurately measure annoyance and sleep disturbance in communities surrounding airports.
- Provide approximately $16 million for Research, Engineering, and Development - Environment and Energy Program which would be used to study the social impacts on aviation noise pollution.
- Prohibit federal dollars from funding the implementation of flight paths that were approved through a Categorical Exclusion (CatEx).
- Mandate that the FAA reexamine the ways in which aviation noise pollution is measured and propose revised methods and tools for changing how aviation noise pollution is gauged.
Follow this link to see Congresswoman Meng's press release.
N.O.I.S.E. staff will continue to monitor the appropriations process and will update N.O.I.S.E. members on any pertinent information. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us directly at ejtranter@locklaw.com.
ALERT -- N.O.I.S.E. Legislative Summit Agenda
The event will be on Sunday March 6th from 9:00am to 12:00pm in the Taft Room at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington D.C. This is a free event.
This year's agenda can be found HERE.
ALERT--Registration and Agenda for PBN Working Group Webinar Wednesday January 20 @11AM EST
N.O.I.S.E. PBN Working Group Inaugural Webinar
Join us for a webinar on Jan 20, 2016 at 11:00 AM EST.
Register now!
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4589640082672048129
Please join us for our first N.O.I.S.E. PBN Working Group Webinar. This is a chance for airport-impact communities and stakeholders to convene regularly and get updates on airport noise and community impact issues related to the FAA's NextGen system and Performance Based Navigation (PBN). These quarterly webinars will feature updates from N.O.I.S.E. leadership, staff and our organization's partners.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Agenda
Welcome and Introductions-Emily Tranter, N.O.I.S.E. National Coordinator
NextGen and PBN Overview and Background- Emily Tranter, N.O.I.S.E. National Coordinator
NextGen Noise Metrics Considerations (College Park, GA Case Study)-PBN Working Group Chair Ambrose Clay, College Park, GA City Council
National Community and Federal Action Updates--Emily Tranter, N.O.I.S.E. National Coordinator
If you have any questions or comments, please contact me directly at ejtranter@locklaw.com.
Save the Date: N.O.I.S.E. Webinar on January 20, 2016—11 AM EST
Mark your calendars for N.O.I.S.E.’s inaugural PBN Working Group Webinar! This webinar will be the first in a quarterly series to provide our members with an update on developments at the FAA and in Congress related to Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) and provide access to the latest information on aviation noise issues. This event will feature N.O.I.S.E. PBN Working Group Chair Ambrose W. Clay and Emily Tranter. Mr. Clay is the Ward I Councilman for the City of College Park, GA and an active N.O.I.S.E. member. Ms. Tranter is N.O.I.S.E.’s National Coordinator.
Webinar access information will be provided after the New Year. Please contact Emily Tranter at ejtranter@locklaw.com if you have any questions or need additional information.
ALERT--N.O.I.S.E. Updates Social Media Presence
In order to spread awareness of the significant impact excessive aviation noise is having on local communities across the United States and information about ongoing NOISE advocacy to connect communities and policymakers on noise mitigation efforts, NOISE has renovated its social media presence. An example of our recent updates is information on our new PBN working group, available here. In engaging our members and the public through Facebook and Twitter, we look forward to stimulating conversation on this important issue.
If you find an article, press release, post, or other piece of content that you believe other NOISE members would benefit from seeing, please share it with us! You can reach us on Facebook at National Organization to Insure a Sound-Controlled Environment, on Twitter at @AviationNoise, or via email at contact@aviation-noise.com. And if you’re on social media too, please make sure to LIKE us on Facebook and give us a follow on Twitter to stay in the loop about all things NOISE.
N.O.I.S.E. Introduces Performance-based Navigation (PBN) Working Group
Nashville, TN – During its annual Policy Summit/Community Involvement Workshop at the National League of Cities (NLC) Conference, the National Organization to Insure a Sound-Controlled Environment (N.O.I.S.E) announced the creation of their Performance-based Navigation (PBN) working group.
The Working Group will be chaired by College Park, Georgia Councilman and active N.O.I.S.E. member Ambrose Clay, who has a background in technology and is sought out by community leaders from across the U.S. for counsel on PBN implementation issues. Councilman Clay noted that “If we are to be effective in managing aircraft noise impacts on our communities, we need to acquire a common understanding of the technology and government rationale that are shaping the evolution of the national airspace, so that we can formulate strategies for working with airports and the FAA to locate aircraft flight paths appropriately.”
The creation of this working group is an effort to provide community leaders with a forum and ongoing resources to address the implications of PBN implementation at their airports. The working group’s quarterly webinars will feature presentations by community leaders, industry stakeholders and N.O.I.S.E. staff to keep members updated and provide access to the latest information and developments at the FAA and in Congress related to PBN. In addition, N.O.I.S.E. staff will provide on-going access to reference materials and support for members and interested communities.
In a statement, N.O.I.S.E. President and Aurora, Colorado City Council Member Brad Pierce indicated that the organization’s announcement was in response to a need for resources and conversation from a community perspective around the issue of PBN implementation: “It is clear that communities are facing growing challenges with the implementation of PBN and our staff and key members have experience in these areas. We want to be sure to be a resource to communities and to help facilitate a space to share experiences and best practices as they relate to airport and FAA engagement.”
N.O.I.S.E. is an affiliate of the National League of Cities and has served for over four decades as America’s only nationwide, community-based association committed to reducing the impact of excessive aviation noise on local communities. Composed of local elected officials representing thousands of citizens across the United States, N.O.I.S.E. serves to help communities join together and inject the concerns of their constituents into the national debate on aviation noise mitigation. NOISE hosts two major annual conferences in conjunction with the NLC, a spring summit in Washington, D.C. and a fall policy summit in various locations throughout the United States.
The first PBN Working Group Webinar will be scheduled soon, with details to follow.
Click to view this press release as a PDF.
ALERT -- Policy Summit and Community Involvement Workshop Agenda
Dear N.O.I.S.E. Members:
CLICK HERE FOR THE POLICY SUMMIT AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WORKSHOP AGENDA.
We wanted to remind you that N.O.I.S.E. will be hosting our annual Policy Summit and Community Involvement Workshop at the National League of Cities Convention in Nashville, Tennessee on Wednesday, November 4 at the Omni Nashville Hotel. Registration is free, so please email N.O.I.S.E. Communications Director, Patrick Maillet at pcmaillet@locklaw.com to register.
This year's event will feature updates on federal policy that impacts air traffic control changes, as well as presentations from airport noise officers and community advocates who are on the front lines of aviation noise policy. Details about the topics and speakers at the event will be released as we get closer to the event. The presentations will go from 10:00am to 2:00pm; however, N.O.I.S.E. staff will be in the room answering questions from 9:00am-5:00pm. After the workshop, N.O.I.S.E. will be hosting a reception from 5:00pm-6:00pm. Click HERE to see this years agenda. Please feel free to bring additional guests and colleagues.
Don't miss this opportunity to connect with industry experts and your fellow communities to learn more about how you can work towards solutions to the negative impacts of aviation noise on your community. This event is Free to Register and again, please feel free to bring your neighbors and colleagues.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or need additional information.
ALERT -- FAA Community Involvement Manual Update
We wanted to make you aware that the Federal Aviation Administration Office of Environment and Energy announced earlier today that they will be leading an agency-wide effort over the next six months to update the FAA Community Involvement Manual. This manual focuses on community involvement with relation to environmental interests such as noise pollution.
According to the announcement, Lourdes Maurice, Executive Director for the FAA Office of Environment and Energy, stated, "We recognize that effectively engaging with communities, exchanging information, and hearing community viewpoints broadens the FAA's information base and improves our decision-making process. As a result, we feel it is important to update our internal guidance to address current issues, communication media, and community expectations. In addition, the updated FAA Community Involvement Manual will be expanded beyond airport development and the concerns of airport communities to encompass the broad range of FAA actions, with the concept of "community" extending beyond the traditional airport community."
In order to gain a broad spectrum of input for updating the Community Involvement Manual, thus improving community participation, the FAA is seeking input from FAA practitioners as well as other aviation sector organizations.
N.O.I.S.E. will continue to closely monitor this situation and will update members on any input sought on this important initiative.
ALERT -- Congressional Quiet Skies Caucus Outlines Aviation Noise Priorities
Dear N.O.I.S.E. Members:
We wanted to make you aware of the letter which was sent by Members of the U.S. House of Representative's Quiet Skies Caucus to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. This letter outlines priorities that the Caucus wishes to be included in the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization bill which the Committee is expected to consider in the coming weeks. We are excited to report that many of the Caucus's priorities are in line with those that our organization includes in our 2015 legislative priorities.
We have worked to engage with members of the Quiet Skies Caucus and with the Committees of jurisdiction in both the House and Senate to insure that critical issues impacting airport-adjacent communities are addressed in FAA Reauthorization. We are encouraged by the Caucus' letter and look forward to continued collaboration. We will continue to update you on developments.
ALERT -- FAA Overhaul Mark-up Scheduled for July 9
We wanted to make you aware that Congressional Leadership indicated this morning that the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will introduce their version of the FAA Reauthorization bill next week and hold hearings and a Committee "mark-up" on Thursday, July 9. This is the first step in the reauthorization process, which needs to be completed or extended by September 30,2015 when the current law expires. The last reauthorization process was extended by nearly 10 years, so we will keep you updated on discussions of timeline for final passage.
N.O.I.S.E. has been actively engaged in this process and will continue to work with the Congressional Quiet Skies Caucus as well as Leadership in Congress to insure that the legislative priorities of N.O.I.S.E. are reviewed and considered. The N.O.I.S.E. Board is also requesting that the Committee hold a hearing dedicated to community noise impacts. The Quiet Skies Caucus has made this request as well, at our urging. We will keep you updated on developments and upcoming opportunities for our organization and airport-adjacent communities to engage with the relevant committees and highlight our priorities and these issues of critical importance.
N.O.I.S.E. National Coordinator Emily Tranter Speaks at RTCA Panel on PBN
On Wednesday June 3, N.O.I.S.E. National Coordinator Emily Tranter participated in an esteemed panel at the annual RTCA Global Aviation Symposium. The panel focused on key elements of Performance-Based Navigation (PBN), an important part of the implementation of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s NextGen air traffic control system. Ms. Tranter spoke on best practices for community engagement when implementing PBN. Through her work representing issues facing airport-adjacent communities to Congress and the FAA, Ms. Tranter has become nationally known as a leading expert on the impacts of aviation noise on communities in the vicinity of airports.
ALERT -- FAA Aviation Noise Research Announcement
On May 7, 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that it will soon start a multi-year process to study the impacts of aviation noise exposure on communities near airports. According to the statement, within the next two to three months, communities surrounding 20 specific, unnamed airports will be surveyed via mail and telephone. FAA Administrator Michael Huerta has said that they understand the importance in expediting this research and will work to finish the survey as quickly as possible. According to the FAA, the Airports Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) developed the research framework and the survey will be used to determine whether the current Day-Night Average Sound Level (DNL) level of 65 decibels remains adequate. The FAA has indicated that it will propose revised policy guidance if it finds that changes are warranted.
The National Organization to Insure a Sound-Controlled Environment (N.O.I.S.E) is encouraged by this effort to better understand the health and environmental impacts of aviation noise on airport-adjacent communities. This research is a step towards the goal ofa better understanding of those impacts and working to mitigate those effects. N.O.I.S.E. looks forward to seeing the results of this study and working with communities to insure that their concerns and health are taken into account in the FAA's NextGen implementation and other aviation policy changes.
N.O.I.S.E. meets with the President of the French Airport Pollution Control Authority
Emily Tranter, National Coordinator for the National Organization to Insure a Sound-Controlled Environment (N.O.I.S.E), met with Victor Haïm, the President of ACNUSA, the French Airport Pollution Control Authority at the French Embassy in Washington, DC.
The purpose of the meeting was to brief Mr. Haïm and his colleagues on the community impacts of aviation noise pollution and the possible solutions that N.O.I.S.E. and its members are trying to implement both locally and federally. During the discussion, Ms. Tranter informed Mr. Haïm of the developments in the FAA’s implementation of NextGen and its impacts on airport-adjacent communities.
N.O.I.S.E pledges to work with both its members and foreign partners of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to combat aviation-related noise pollution and its effects on communities throughout the country.
Photos from the N.O.I.S.E. 2015 Legislative Summit
From Left to Right: Joe Carn, Ambrose Clay, Brad Pierce, John Quincy, and Frank Soto
N.O.I.S.E. Secretary Frank Soto and College Park Council Member Ambrose Clay
N.O.I.S.E. Treasurer Joe Carn and N.O.I.S.E. President Brad Pierce
Learn More
The Washington, DC-based N.O.I.S.E staff coordinates its lobbying strategy with other powerful organizations such as National League of Cities, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and National Association of Counties, and N.O.I.S.E helps arrange meetings for members with Congressional offices and federal agencies.
The aviation industry continues to expand rapidly. There is a consensus in Washington, DC that airport capacity will have to increase dramatically - and soon - to keep pace with the skyrocketing ridership. As air-traffic increases, aviation noise issues will be a paramount concern to communities located near airports. N.O.I.S.E will continue to work with member communities to help reduce the impact of aviation noise.
If aviation noise issues are important to your community, please contact N.O.I.S.E. National Coordinator, Emily Tranter - by phone at (202) 544-9896 or email: ejtranter@locklaw.com.