Department of Airports revises Noise Compatibility Program; more funds available for residential sound insulation.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 21, 1995--The Board of Airport Commissioners Tuesday adopted a revised and significantly expanded supplemental funding policy for its Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 150 Noise Compatibility Program.

Part of this new policy allows the Department of Airports to double its existing voluntary funding for residential sound insulation at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to $10 million annually and to make up to $5 million per year available at Ontario International Airport (ONT).

The new supplemental funding policy also clarifies that its provisions apply to all four airports operated by the Department.

The Department's funding will supplement Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants received by noise-impacted jurisdictions for land-use mitigation projects authorized under FAR Part 150.

The policy makes eligible the following five local jurisdictions: the cities of Los Angeles, Inglewood, El Segundo and Ontario; and the County of Los Angeles, representing unincorporated county territory.

"By establishing this new and significantly expanded supplemental funding policy, the Department of Airports is demonstrating its continued concern and recognition of the impacts that our airports impose on surrounding communities," said Ted Stein, president of the Board of Airport Commissioners.

John J. Driscoll, executive director of the Department of Airports, added: "The Board recognizes that sufficient federal grant funds are not available to accomplish all of the noise mitigation programs submitted by our adjacent communities within a reasonable period of time. We offer these funds voluntarily as part of our continuing vision to be a responsible citizen of the communities in which our airports operate."

In addition to increased and new funding levels at LAX and ONT, respectively, the new policy also:

-- Updates and clarifies the purpose, scope, procedures and

background of the Department's Part 150 Noise Compatibility

Program.

-- Allows the Board of Airport Commissioners to make additional

funds available beyond specified levels during any fiscal year.

It also deletes limitations on annual allocations to

jurisdictions.

-- Requires avigation (aircraft navigation) easements for all

funded projects, including sound insulation and acquisitions.

-- Clarifies funding eligibility and prioritization requirements

within the Department's designated noise contours, including

alternative prioritization schemes for residential sound

insulation projects. In particular, two methods currently

used by the Department and local jurisdictions to prioritize

projects were explicitly added to the policy. In both cases,

the policy's objective is to sound insulate, or offer to

sound insulate, residential properties that are more severely

impacted by noise before insulating those that are less

severely impacted.

CONTACT: Department of Airports, Los Angeles

Diane Scully or Nancy Suey Castles, 310/646-5260