REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Al Zelinka, City Manager
VIA: Travis K. Hopkins, Assistant City Manager
PREPARED BY: Shannon Levin, Council Policy Analyst
Subject:
title
Approval of Comments by the Jet Noise Commission to the Federal Aviation Administration
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Statement of Issue:
The Jet Noise Commission (JNC) acts as an advisory body to the City Council on matters pertaining to jet noise and activities from commercial aviation traffic flying over Huntington Beach.
On May 1, 2023 the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a request for public comments from interest parties regarding the aviation noise impacts by July 31, 2023. The JNC has prepared a comment letter for City Council’s consideration and for submittal to the FAA.
Financial Impact:
Not applicable
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Approve the comment letter, and direct staff to submit the letter to the FAA.
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve the JNC’s comment letter, or approve in part, and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
On May 1, 2023, the FAA invited public comments from interested 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 decision making, 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.
The Jet Noise Commission has composed a letter providing comments to the FAA regarding noise impacts to the Huntington Beach community. A special meeting was convened on June 13, 2023 to approve the Commission’s comments.
Comments to the FAA focus on noise burdens imposed on the community after the NextGen and the Southern California Metroplex implementation in 2016. The flight paths of three airports (LAX, Santa Ana, and Long Beach) converge over Huntington Beach. Recommendations to the FAA include adopting a CNEL standard as an economic mitigation metric, adoption of the mitigation metric to no higher that 55dB, adjustment to approaches and altitudes, and the return to over-ocean approaches to Long Beach Airport. The Commission unanimously approved the letter for City Council’s consideration and for submittal to the FAA.
Environmental Status:
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5), administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment do not constitute a project.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Non Applicable - Administrative Item
Attachment(s):
1. Huntington Beach Comments Letter to FAA
2. Jet Noise Commission FAA presentation