SOUNDPROOFING PROJECT EASING ROAR OF AIRPLANES.Byline: Sylvia L. Oliande Staff Writer BURBANK - Sitting in their living room, watching television or talking on the phone used to be an ordeal ordeal, ancient legal custom whereby an accused person was required to perform a test, the outcome of which decided the person's guilt or innocence. By an ordeal, appeal was made to divine authority to decide the guilt or innocence of one accused of a crime or to for Michael and Olga Rohaly, who have lived in the flight path of Burbank Airport for 38 years. They installed double-paned windows themselves about five years ago, but those provided little comfort from the sometimes unbearable sounds of planes flying overhead. ``We were tired of the noise,'' Olga said. ``We thought the windows would help, but they didn't.'' But today, the couple can sit in their home and hear only muffled muf·fle 1 tr.v. muf·fled, muf·fling, muf·fles 1. To wrap up, as in a blanket or shawl, for warmth, protection, or secrecy. 2. a. sounds of aircraft. As a bonus, Olga said, they also have relief from the cars rushing by on Victory Boulevard Victory Boulevard is a major thoroughfare on Staten Island, measuring approximately 8.0 miles (12.87 km) and stretching from the west shore community of Travis to the upper east shore communities of St. George and Tompkinsville. right outside their window. The Rohalys are among the 109 homeowners near the airport who have received $30,000 to $40,000 worth of soundproofing Soundproofing is any means of reducing the intensity of sound with respect to a specified source and receptor. There are several basic approaches to reducing sound: increasing the distance between source and receiver, using noise barriers to block or absorb the energy of the sound work - from multiple-paned windows and acoustical insulation to air conditioning air conditioning, mechanical process for controlling the humidity, temperature, cleanliness, and circulation of air in buildings and rooms. Indoor air is conditioned and regulated to maintain the temperature-humidity ratio that is most comfortable and healthful. - to help reduce the sound levels inside. Critics question the requirement that participants waive To intentionally or voluntarily relinquish a known right or engage in conduct warranting an inference that a right has been surrendered. For example, an individual is said to waive the right to bring a tort action when he or she renounces the remedy provided by law for such their right to sue the airport over plane noise, but even they acknowledge the soundproofing done under the Residential Acoustical Treatment program is a welcome relief. And for those whose homes lie outside the project area of 2,300 homes, a new noise study would increase that to a total of 3,100 homes. The airport authority will begin soundproofing another 50 of the homes in the original group this month. Among those is the home of Howard and Ruth Nedwed, four blocks from the airport's north-south runway in Sun Valley. Howard, 80, doesn't hear as well as he once did, so he's not as disturbed by the noise as he was when he and his wife moved in 36 years ago. ``I loved airplanes and thought it was really neat,'' said Ruth, 75, who moved there in 1946. ``You just have to be careful when talking on the phone. And sometimes when they would warm up, the planes would be whining and carrying on, but that was part of life that I accepted.'' Still, both said they're pleased with the prospect of less noise. Eligibility for the soundproofing program has been determined by a federal noise study - called a Part 150 study - conducted by the airport from 1985 to 1989, and approved by the Federal Aviation Administration Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), component of the U.S. Department of Transportation that sets standards for the air-worthiness of all civilian aircraft, inspects and licenses them, and regulates civilian and military air traffic through its air traffic control . A new noise study awaiting approval from the FAA will increase the area covered. About 2,300 homes had average noise levels of 65 decibels or higher for the full 12 months of the study. Of the 54 homes that tested in the 75 decibel decibel (dĕs`əbĕl', –bəl), abbr. dB, unit used to measure the loudness of sound. It is one tenth of a bel (named for A. G. Bell), but the larger unit is rarely used. or higher range, only nine owners chose to participate in the pilot program in 1997. But airport officials said the number has grown since information packets were sent out. Federal funds Federal Funds Funds deposited to regional Federal Reserve Banks by commercial banks, including funds in excess of reserve requirements. Notes: These non-interest bearing deposits are lent out at the Fed funds rate to other banks unable to meet overnight reserve pay for 80 percent of the repairs and the airport authority pays the remaining 20 percent. To date, both have allocated $17.6 million for the residential program. Another $13.5 million is going to a program for noise-affected schools. Lucy Burghdorf, the airport's community affairs coordinator, said that first round of funding from the FAA will fix 259 homes. She is now enrolling homeowners for the next round of grants paying for 210 homes. Officials estimate that as long as the program continues to be funded, it will take up to 15 years and $250 million to complete. Sidney R. Allen, the airport's special projects manager, said the goal of the work is to reduce decibel levels inside the buildings to approximately 45 decibels. When the program began, the levels were dropping to 35 and 40 decibels because the roofs were being replaced. Allen said that was ``overkill overkill Vox populi An excess of anything .'' Now the primary work is installing acoustical insulation in the attic In the Attic can refer to:
The airport also installs central air conditioning and heating units and will pay up to $5,000 for any housing code violations necessary to begin the work. ``We don't want anyone to have to pay out of pocket to participate,'' Burghdorf said. However, homeowners are required to sign a navigation easement easement, in law, the right to use the land of another for a specified purpose, as distinguished from the right to possess that land. If the easement benefits the holder personally and is not associated with any land he owns, it is an easement in gross (e.g. that precludes them from suing the airport for having noisy planes fly overhead. Most who have elected to have the work done said they weren't bothered by that, but to some airport critics the easement is tantamount tan·ta·mount adj. Equivalent in effect or value: a request tantamount to a demand. [From obsolete tantamount, an equivalent, from Anglo-Norman to signing away the right to complain about future airport noise. Stan Hyman, a Burbank resident who has criticized the program, said the airport may get noisier over the years if the existing terminal is replaced as is being proposed. People would then have no recourse. ``I'm not suggesting that what they're doing is wrong, that the work is not going to give the people some relief,'' Hyman said. ``But if they get that new terminal built and they start getting to 1,000 or 1,200 flights a day, it'll be interesting to see how happy (homeowners) are then.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Michael and Olga Rohaly, who live in the Burbank Airport's flight path, have found relief in the soundproofing project. John McCoy/Staff Photographer |
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