by Frank Schroth
MassPort has installed an additional noise monitoring device to record sound levels from flights on runway 33L. The device is on Denis Keohane’s property. Keohane, Chair of the Board of Selectmen, had been asked if he would be willing to house the device as MassPort had been unable to find a volunteer in the area.
Keohane said that they wanted to locate the device in the part of town where he lives (i.e. southwest Milton) and that the device will be there for approximately two weeks at which time it will be retrieved and the data collected will be analyzed.
Two weeks is a sham! There aren’t enough different weather patterns or wind directions in that period of time to analyze anything.
DNL is what is measured and we have proof that DNL is an inaccurate measure of noise burden. 2 weeks might as well be NO WEEKS and the measurements might as well go in the trash!
In addition the 4s have been roaring, keeping MANY people awake last night (Thursday, January 16th) and the 4s will NOT be measured at Denis’ house!!!!
The MCAAI has asked for a PERMANENT noise monitor and the data and that has been refused.
I’m very concerned that data from this installation will be used as faulty “proof” by MASSPORT that there is no aircraft noise burden in Milton from the 33L RNAV. In my last year of dealing with MASSPORT, I’ve never seen them so eager to provide something to the public; it makes me wonder why this is so important to them. MASSPORT will calculate a DNL measurement from this temporary monitor and it will be very low. What we need to assess aircraft noise burden is the number of planes, the time, and their altitude when over Milton. I would like Selectmen Keohane to ask for data on the number of planes, time, and their altitudes, as well as the data collected from the temporary monitor and the permanent one in Cunningham Park. I also would like data on the proportion of landings that were aborted over the last year, by runway. With these, the Town can present a more accurate picture of the noise burden than the one that this temporary monitor will give. Cindy L. Christiansen, Town Meeting Member P7
It makes no sense for MassPort to install, control and interpret data collected from the Noise Monitoring devices.
MassPort has a direct and clear conflict of interest in this monitoring.They will interpret the data in which ever way most favorably affects its bottom line.
Remember, MassPort/ Logan Airport makes money each and every time a plane lands or departs Logan. It is like a cash register ringing. Unlike Clarence in the movie “It’s A Wonderful Life” no angel gets his wings each time that cash register rings. Rather, many of us believe it registers a point for the other team…. 😉
What is actually needed is an independent acoustical concern like BBN Technologies, formerly Bolt, Beranek and Newman, to come in to collect, measure and interpret the noise monitoring data. Bolt, Beranek and Newman was hired in 1978 by the House Select Committee to recreate the noise patterns in Dealey Plaza in Dallas the site of the Kennedy Assassination.
We in Milton deserve no less than a independent analysis of the airplane noise that is infecting our community.
To allow MassPort to monitor, collect and interpret the information from the monitoring station on Denis Keohane’s property or anyone else’s property is like the proverbial fox guarding the hen house.