News Releases/Letters
Click on the date below for information that has been disseminated to the media.
April 28, 2008 - University Seeks FAA Approval for Noise Abatement Phase
April 11, 2008 - OSU Airport Seeks Public Input on Noise and Land Use Study
August 20, 2007 - University to Begin Noise Study
Updates
August 29, 2011
The FAA has completed its review of the Noise Compatibility Program Study. According to their letter (FAA Response Letter 20110711.pdf), dated July 11, 2011, the FAA has determined that the critical noise level (65 DNL contour) is located on the Airport property, and does not include any non-compatible land uses. Therefore, "Due to the location of the 65 DNL contours on the accepted NEMs there will be no mitigation measures for which the FAA will be able to participate."
In keeping with its commitment to the community, the Airport intends to pursue a number of the recommendations presented in the Noise Compatibility Program.For more details regarding these measures, please refer to the final memo from me to the Part 150 Study Advisory Committee (14 CFR Part 150 Study Recommendations Memo.pdf), dated August 29, 2011.
I wish to thank all members of the Part 150 Committee for their valuable input in helping us conduct a first-rate study. While OSU Airport always welcomes public input, the University's Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibility Study public involvement process is complete. For more information and answers to commonly asked questions, please see https://osuairport.org/welcome. Please direct any other inquiries directly to me.
- Doug Hammon, OSU Airport Manager.
June 8, 2010
The preliminary recommendations from the Noise Compatibility Program Study have been drafted and will be submitted to the FAA for review (See submitted document at https://osuairport.org/noise-study-documents). The FAA may take upwards of 180 days to review the draft document from the time they formally acknowledge receipt of the document. The FAA will seek public comment on the document through a notice they will place in the Federal Register, which can be accessed at www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html. Upon completion of the FAA's review of the preliminary recommendations, the consultants will revise the draft document accordinly at which time the FAA's comments, along with the revised report will be posted to the Part 150 web site that is accessible to all members of the community.
This is an important milestone in the adoption of the Noise Compatibility Program recommendations.
I wish to thank all members of the Part 150 Committee for their valuable input in helping us conduct a first-rate study. While OSU Airport always welcomes public input, the University's Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibillity Study public involvement process is complete. For more information and answers to commonly asked questions, please see https://osuairport.org/welcome. Please direct any other inquiries directly to me.
- Doug Hammon, OSU Airport Manager.
March 19, 2010
Noise Compatibility Study Is Nearing Completion
The Ohio State University Airport is nearing completion of the Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study, which began in September 2007. The purpose of the study was twofold: 1) to identify existing and future flight corridors and develop aircraft noise exposure maps consistent with those conditions; and 2) to evaluate and recommend air traffic control procedures to reduce noise exposure over residential areas, while taking into account land use options that could further mitigate noise.
Part 150 of the Federal Aviation Regulations provides guidance for conducting a Noise Compatibility Study. There are two components of the process: 1) Identifying and producing the Noise Exposure Maps (NEMs); and 2) developing a Noise Compatibility Program (NCP). The NEMs were accepted by the FAA in July 2009. Recommendations for the NCP will be submitted to the FAA after final review and approval by The Ohio State Iniversity, expected to occur Summer, 2010. Please see https://osuairport.org/noise-study-documents to review the OSU Airport Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibility Study Revised Report that has been submitted to the University for its review.
Once the NCP is submitted to the FAA and it begins the formal review of the NCP, FAA will review the recommended measures to ensure they meet Part 150 requirements. Measures approved by the FAA may be eligible for federal funding. FAA review is expected to be completed in 2011. There may be some noise compatibility strategies that the University approves that do not require FAA approval. Should that occur, OSU Airport could begin to implement those measures prior to the completion of the FAA's review.
While OSU Airport always welcomes public input, the Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibility Study public involvement process is complete. Thank you to those who contributed to this process. For more information and for answers to commonly asked questions, please see https://osuairport.org/frequently-asked-questions.
Thank you again for your participation and input.
November 19, 2009
In response to requests that more time be allowed for public comment, the deadline for accepting comments on the draft OSU Airport FAR Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibility Study report has been extended until Friday, December 11, 2009.
The entire draft report is posted at http://osuairport.org/noise-study-documents
This document includes the final versions of Chapters 1 through 8, which were included in the Noise Exposure Map (phase 1) submittal to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) earlier this year. Chapters 9 through 13 and Appendix W are new, and focus on the Noise Compatibility (phase 2) review, analysis, findings, and recommendations. Comments are being invited on these draft chapters.
Chapters 9 through 13 are also available for public review at OSU Airport and at the following libraries:
1. Dublin Public Library, 75 N. High St., Dublin
2. Columbus/Worthington Northwest Library, 2280 Hard Rd, Columbus
3. Old Worthington Library, 800 N. High St., Worthington
While these libraries may still have draft Chapters 1 through 8 (phase 1) that were provided them last year, the final Chapters 1 through 8 were submitted to the FAA and were accepted July, 2009. Thus, we recommend you focus your comments on Chapters 9 through 13, which have not yet been reviewed by the FAA.
Some comments received to date have included detailed questions, including many that have been answered through the course of this effort. The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section of the this Web site provides responses to questions that have already been raised. Additional FAQs will be posted after the public comment period closes and the consultant team has the opportunity to review them.
All comments will be included in the final OSU Airport Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibility Report, which will be submitted to The Ohio State University early in 2010. Once the Report is approved by the University, it will be forwarded to the FAA for its review and approval. The FAA has 180 days from the date it accepts the Report to review and determine whether to approve each proposed noise compatibility strategy. It is typical for the FAA to have questions or comments on specific strategies, which could then require OSU Airport and its consultant team to complete additional review or analysis. We will keep you updated as developments take place.
There may be some noise compatibility strategies that the University approves that do not require FAA approval. Should that occur, OSU Airport could begin to implement those recommendations prior to the completion of the FAA's review. Again, this information will be shared with the OSU Airport Part 150 Committee and the public if and when it occurs.
October 5, 2009
The next Part 150 Committee meeting and public open house/hearing will be Tuesday, October 27, 2009. The purpose of these meetings is to provide an opportunity to review and provide comments on the draft Noise Compatibility section (chapters 9 through 13) of the FAR Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibility Study Report. These meetings will summarize the results of the review and analysis and share recommendations on types of noise abatement procedures OSU Airport and the University may adopt to reduce noise exposure. The study team will also discuss potential land use compatibility measures to prevent incompatible land uses from being developed in the future. The latest newsletter provides more detail.
Meeting times and locations include:
Part 150 Committee: Tuesday, October 27, 2 to 4 p.m., MedFlight training room, 2827 W. Dublin Granville Rd., Columbus, OH 43235
Public Open House-Meeting/Hearing: Tuesday, Oct. 27, 7 to 9 p.m. OSU Airport Hangar 1 (entrance next to Barnstormers Restaurant), 2170 West Case Rd., Columbus, OH 43235.
The open house will include information stations and a presentation at 7:30 p.m. For the public hearing, a court reporter will be available from 7 to 9 p.m. to accept public testimony regarding the draft report. The open house provides the public the opportunity to speak directly with the experts to provide comment or ask questions.
The draft Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibility Study Report will be posted on this website no later than October 13th. Printed copies will also be available for public review at OSU Airport and at the Worthington and Dublin public libraries no later than October 17th.
October 1, 2009
FAA Accepts OSU Airport Noise Exposure Map
On July 1, 2009, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced its determination that the that the 2008 Noise Exposure Map and the 2013 Noise Exposure Map for The Ohio State University Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of 14 CFR Part 150. Copies of the full noise exposure maps and associated documentation are available for examination by appointment during normal business hours (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) at The Ohio State University Airport, Administration Buildin, 2160 West Case road, Columbus, Ohio. Please call (614) 292-5823 to schedule an appointment.
This effort, which began September 2007, determined the extent of the noise that exists around the Airport today, and is expected to exist around the Airport in the future. Using FAA guidelines and industry best practices, the Reynolds, Smith and Hills consultant team determined the 65 Day-Night Sound Level (DNL) contour - the FAA's threshold for significant noise - falls mainly within Airport property. Land uses falling outside the 65 DNL contour are considered compatible.
While the Airport is not required by the FAA to pursue noise abatement strategies when the 65 DNL noise levels do not reach into residential neighborhoods, the University understands that noise concerns continue to exist, and remains committed to further exploring noise compatibility strategies. This has been the focus of the Nois Compatibility Program development phase. At the Part 150 Committee meeting and public open house-meeting held last November and in the two months following, the consultant team received many ideas on how to address noise concerns related to OSU Airport. The Noise Abatement Technical Analysis Memo summarizes the list of measures that were suggested or were already included on the OSU Airport/consultant list for review, explains which measures moved forward for additional review and analysis, and explains why some suggestions did not move forward.
April 27, 2009
The first phase of The Ohio State University Airport (OSU) Federal Aviation Regulation Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibility Study (Part 150 Study), summarized in the OSU Airport Final Noise Exposure Report is currently under review by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This effort determined the extent of the noise that exists around the Airport today, and is expected to exist around the Airport in the future. Using FAA guidelines and industry best practices, the Reynolds, Smith and Hills consultant team determined the 65 Day-Night Sound Level (DNL) contour - FAA's threshold for significant noise - falls mainly within Airport property. Land uses falling outside the 65 DNL contour are considered compatible.
While the Airport is not required by the FAA to pursue noise abatement strategies when the 65 DNL noise levels do not reach into residential neighborhoods, the University understands that noise concerns continue to exist, and remains committed to further exploring noise compatibility strategies. This will be the focus of analysis for the next several months, during the Noise Compatibility Program development phase.
At the Part 150 Committee meeting and public open house-meeting held last November and in the two months following, the consultant team received many ideas on how to address noise concerns related to OSU Airport. The Noise Abatement Technical Analysis Memo summarizes the list of measures that were suggested or were already included on the OSU Airport/consultant list for review, explains which measures will move forward for additional review and analysis, and explains why some suggestions will not move forward.
The next Part 150 Committee meeting and public open house-meeting will occur after the additional review and analysis of the Noise Compatibility Program measures described in the memo is completed. The ongoing analysis and review will be summarized in a draft Noise Compatibility Program Report. The draft Noise Compatibility Program Report will be made available to the Part 150 Committee and public for review and comment prior to the public open house-meeting and for 30-days afterward. The public may attend the public open house-meeting and talk to the consultant team for more explanation on how each suggestion was evaluated and the findings at that time.
February 9, 2009
Thank you to all those who reviewd the Noise Compatibility Memo and sent suggestions to the OSU Part 150 consultant team for consideration during the Noise Compatibility Program portion of the study. All of the suggested measures will be consolidated onto a single list. Each suggested measure on the list will be reviewed by the consultant team. Those measures meeting the study criteria, as identified at the November 6, 2008 public meetings and in meeting materials posted on this web site, will be considered for further analysis.
The next Part 150 Committee and public meetings, which we anticipate will occur in late spring/early summer of 2009, will discuss the list of the measures considered, those measures that were rejected with a reason why, those measures that received further analysis, and the list of recommended measures for OSU to consider. The draft Noise Compatibility Program Report will also be available to the public for review and comment prior to the public meeting and for 30-days afterward. You may attend the public meeting and talk to the consultant team for more explanation on how each suggestion was evaluated and the findings at that time.
January 14, 2009
During the course of the Part 150 Study, the RS&H Team has solicited input and received feedback from residents in the vicinity of OSU Airport on concerns regarding operational noise, land use and the administration of the Airport's in-house noise program. The RS&H team has reviewed the public input, input from the Part 150 Advisory Committee, suggestions from OSU Airport and industry best practices to identify specific measures that could be evaluated for potentiall addressing each of the measures identified. The current phase of the Part 150 is focused on evaluating these potential measures. The measures to be reviewed are in three categories: abatement, mitigation, and administrative.
We invite you to review these categories and specific measures, and to advise us by January 31, 2009 if there are any additional noise abatement, mitigation or administrative measures that should be evaluated in this Part 150 Study. Please e-mail your suggestions to Marie Keister at mkeister@columbus.rr.com. Upon receipt and review of your suggestions, the RS&H Team will make appropriate adjustments and proceed with reviewing each proposed measure. A memo summarizing the results and recommending the most viable NCP measures will be distributed to the Part 150 Advisory Committee and posted on this Website for review and input this spring.
October 22, 2008 - Meeting Update
The next Part 150 Committee meeting and public open house will be on Thursday, November 6, from 7 to 9 p.m. at OSU Airport Hangar 1, next to the entrance of the Barnstormer Restaurant. A presentation will be made at 7:30 p.m. The public willl be able to review and provide comment on the 2008 and 2013 Noise Exposure Maps for the Airport's Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibility Study. The study team will also outline the current noise abatement guidelines at the Airport and discuss general air traffic control procedures that have been implemented at other airports across the country. The team will discuss potential land use measures and how they can be implemented to reduce non-compatible land uses around an airport. For those who can't attend the public open house, materials distributed and presented at the meeting will be posted on this web site approximately two business days after the meeting. General public comments are welcome at any time via this website. Comments specific to the noise exposure maps and draft companion report must be submitted by December 6, 2008. For more information, see the latest newsletter.
October 8, 2008 - Meeting Update
The next Ohio State University Airport Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibility Advisory Committee meeting (2 to 4 p.m.) and public open-house meeting (7 to 9 p.m.) will be held on November 6, 2008. More information will follow soon.
June 2, 2008 - Update
The Ohio State University Airport Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibility Study is nearing the conclusion of Phase I. This first phase has documented noise levels from current and forecasted future aircraft operations. With FAA approval, Phase II will develop recommendations for reducing potential aircraft noise exposure for surrounding communities based on best practices used across the country.
When the study began last September, a Part 150 Advisory Committee was formed. Members represent organizations that use the airport as well as affected political jurisdictions, agencies and neighborhoods. The Part 150 Committee has met twice, and a Technical Subcommittee has held two additional meetings. These sessions have been open to the public. In April, a public meeting was held, attracting about 80 attendees. All meeting documents, as well as frequently asked questions, are being posted on this web site, and comments are welcome at any time.
To date we have received a wide range of comments and questions, and have appreciated the public's ongoing interest and input in this effort. Due to the volume of comments received in Part 150 studies, we don not provide detailed responses to each individual comment and questions as we receive them. Instead, all comments and questions are reviewed by the consultant team, and those related to the development of Noise Exposure Maps are addressed comprehensively, where everyone can have the benefit of reviewing the information, in the draft Part 150 Study Noise Exposure Maps submittal to the Federal Aviation Administration. All comments and questions are also included in the Appendices of the draft document. This document will be available for public review prior to the next public meeting, which will be scheduled upon FAA approval to move into Phase II, the Noise Compatibility Program development phase. Many of the questions we've received have already been addressed in materials that have been posted under the newly reorganized Study Documents section that enables you to find information by subject matter.
As presented in April, using FAA guidelines and industry best practices, the Reynolds, Smith and Hills consultant team determined the extent of the noise that exists around the Airport today, and is expected to exist around the airport in the future. The analysis determined that the 65 Day-Night Sound Level (DNL) contour - the FAA's threshold for significant noise - falls mainly within Airport property. Land uses falling outside the 65 DNL contour are considered compatible.
While the Airport is not required by the FAA to pursue noise abatement strategies when the 65 DNL noise levels do not reach into residential neighborhoods, the University understands that noise concerns continue to exist, and remains committed to further exploring noise compatibility strategies. To that end, the University is actively working to secure the FAA's support and funding for Phase II of this study process. This next step would evaluate a broad range of aircraft operational procedures and land use practices to help further reduce noise impacts on surrounding neighborhoods. The Noise Compatibility Program phase will provide further opportunities for the public to provide comments on the study, which again would be addressed in the Study Documents.
March 28, 2008 - Part 150 Committee and Public Meetings on April 24th
The second Part 150 Committee meeting and first public meeting/open house will be on Thursday, April 24th, 2 to 4 p.m. at the MedFlight training room, 2827 W. Dublin Granville Rd., Columbus, OH 43235. The public open house will be held that same date, from 7 to 9 p.m. at OSU Airport Hangar 1, near the Barnstorm Restaurant, 2160 West Case Rd., Columbus, OH 43235. A presentation will be made at the open house at 7:30 p.m., but drop by anytime between 7 and 9 .m. For more information, click here to read the newsletter.
January 25, 2008 - Meetings To Be Rescheduled
The second Part 150 Committee meeting and first public open house, originally scheduled for February 12th, will be rescheduled to allow the Technical Subcommittee more time to digest additional information provided after its first meeting, held in January. Information will be posted here when the new meeting dates are confirmed.
October 22, 2007 - Noise Monitoring Questions and Answers
The noise monitoring, which is being conducted Oct. 18th to Oct. 26th, has generated a number of questions. Please see the questions and their responses on this web site, under Frequently Asked Questions.
October 15, 2007 - Website Launched Today
We're pleased to announce that the OSU Airport Noise and Land Use Compatibility Study web site, https://osuairport.org/welcome was launched today. The site provides a study overview, answers an initial list of frequently asked questions, and has all the materials and a summary of the kick-off Part 150 Committee meeting held in September (click on the "meetings" link on the left, then click on "previous meetings"). As soon as we have a date for the next Part 150 Committee meeting and public meeting, we will post it here. Additionally, there is a "Contact Us" link that allows the public to make comments or ask questions at any time during the study.