CITY OF PACIFICA
COUNCIL AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
9/25/2023
1 SUBJECT:
Comment Letter on Federal Aviation Administration Civil Aviation Noise Policy RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Authorize the Mayor to submit the comment letter provided in Attachment B to the Federal Aviation Administration regarding Civil Aviation Noise Policy.
STAFF CONTACT:
Kevin Woodhouse, City Manager
650-738-7409
[email protected]
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
The City of Pacifica has been an active member of the SFO Community Airport Roundtable (SFO-RT) since its inception in 1981, and has been collaboratively working toward the SFORT’s purpose "to develop, evaluate, and implement reasonable and feasible policies, procedures, and mitigation actions that will further reduce the impacts of aircraft noise in neighborhoods and communities in San Francisco and San Mateo Counties," On January 22, 2018, the City Council of Pacifica adopted the “Airport Aircraft Noise Over Pacifica” position statements provided in Attachment A, and authorized the Mayor, individual City Council members, as well as the City Manager, to communicate these position statements broadly and to provide comment letters to appropriate recipients advocating and working towards these positions. Councilmember Boles is the current City Council liaison member of the SFO-RT.
Recently, with new research acknowledging the long-term health effects of aircraft noise, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced they are seeking input from the public on their noise policies. Referred to as Docket No: FAA-2023-0855, their request for comments states:
The FAA invites public comments from interested individuals, entities, and other parties to review four key considerations of its civil aviation noise policy, in the context of noise metrics and noise thresholds. The civil aviation noise policy sets forth how the FAA analyzes, explains, and publicly presents changes in noise exposure from aviation activity: recreational and commercial fixed wing airplanes, helicopters, commercial space transportation vehicles, unmanned aircraft systems, as well as emerging technology vehicles (newer types of vehicles that will operate in U.S. airspace). The FAA will consider how changes to the civil aviation noise policy may better inform agency decisionmaking, the types of impacts it considers in making decisions ( e.g., community annoyance, certain types of adverse health impacts highly correlated with aviation noise exposure), and potential improvements to how the FAA analyzes, explains, and presents changes in exposure to civil aviation noise.
Over recent months, Councilmember Boles has worked with community stakeholders to diligently review the FAA’s documents and has drafted a comment letter, provided as Attachment B, for the Council’s consideration.
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September 25, 2023
In summary, traditionally the FAA has based flight policies solely on safety and efficiency.
Consistent with the City’s previously adopted position statements, the draft comment letter emphasizes that noise should also become as important a metric to operational procedures and policy decisions. Pacifica is heavily burdened with noise from flight departures, and the comment letter provides data and details to the FAA about the effects of aircraft noise on the Pacifica community. The letter provides suggestions to improve how noise is measured to better reflect the impacts on the Pacifica community, as well as how different types of aircraft, including new emerging technologies such as drone package delivery, air taxis and hypersonic aircraft, should be considered.
The City Manager recommends Council authorize the Mayor to send the comment letter provided in Attachment B.
In addition, it should be noted that the FAA’s request for comments is open to any individuals wishing to comment, and the SFO-RT, liaison Councilmember Boles, and the City Manager encourage residents to also submit their own comments. The public portal for comments can be accessed at: <https://www.regulations.gov/document/FAA-2023-0855-0001>, with the following summary of commenting instructions:
Fill in all fields on the comment portal:
1. Write a Comment - See Comment Options below.
2. What is your comment about? - Click on the dropdown menu, click Public Comment(s).
3. Upload File(s) - Ignore this field unless you have a document you want to upload.
4. Email - Add your email address.
o Check the box - “opt to receive email confirmation of submission and tracking number?” o Note that your email will not be posted publicly.
5. Tell us about yourself! I am…
o Click “An Organization” for your group or “An Individual” or “Anonymous”. Using anonymous will not include the entity associated with the comment or city/state. o Fill in the required fields of First Name and Last Name (or just your last initial if you want to maintain your privacy).
o If not “Anonymous”, fill in your city and state as the FAA will use this information to summarize the source of comments.
o Do not add your phone number.
6. Check the box: “I read and understand the statement above.”
7. Click “SUBMIT COMMENT”
ALTERNATIVE ACTION:
The City Council could choose to not submit a comment letter or could authorize submittal of an amended comment letter.
RELATION TO CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND WORK PLAN:
Advocating for improvements to aircraft overflight noise impacts relates to health and safety priorities in the City's Strategic Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with approval of the recommendation.
ORIGINATED BY:
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September 25, 2023
City Manager's Office
ATTACHMENT LIST:
Attachment A: City of Pacifica 2018 Position Statements re: Airport Aircraft Noise Over Pacifica (PDF)
Attachment B: Draft Comment Letter re: FAA Civil Aviation Noise Policy (PDF)