A new call for lawsuit vs. FAA
Kittleman, Schuh letters to Frosh urge state action against BWI flight noise
County Executive Allan H. Kittleman has formally called for state action to sue the Federal Aviation Administration over what residents near Baltimore- Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport describe as increased noise and aggravation due to federally mandated changes in flight patterns.
Kittleman and Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh each sent letters to Attorney General Brian E. Frosh last week asking him to sue the FAA on behalf of Marylanders. In his letter, Kittleman said that since the implementation of the Next Generation Airport System, known as NextGen, residents near the flight paths have suffered from extreme noise.
“It is clear that with the implementation of NextGen, the FAA failed to take careful consideration of the adverse impact to the local communities surrounding BWI,” Kittleman said.
Kittleman sent his letter to the attorney general on Sept. 20, saying the changes in flight paths under NextGen have subjected residents to “an unprecedented level of noise that has been life-changing.”
The $35 billion NextGen system was implemented in 2014 to address delays and carbon emissions. But residents living along the paths say they’re getting more than an earful from what they describe as lower-flying airplanes.
“At this point it appears that the FAA will respond only to litigation,” Schuh said.
The county executives’ actions follow a letter sent earlier this month by Gov.
Larry Hogan, which directed Frosh to sue the FAA.The Maryland Constitution grants Hogan the power to require the attorney general to pursue certain legal actions on behalf of the state.
Hogan spokeswoman Shareese Churchill repeated the governor’s position, saying: “Gov. Hogan and the administration have been very clear that we want the lawsuit to move forward right away.”
A spokeswoman for Frosh said a lawsuit is under consideration. He shares the concerns of residents, Raquel Coombs said. She declined to comment on the letters sent by the executives.
Schuh urged Frosh to take statewide action, as the flight paths impact multiple counties surrounding not only BWI, but also Ronald Reagan Washington International Airport.
“All citizens would benefit from flight paths being routed away from residential areas and over waterways and highways,” he said. “All citizens would benefit from aircraft staying at higher altitudes as they approach BWI.”
In May, the FAA told the DC Metroplex BWI Community Roundtable, a group of community representatives, they were not able to revert to the
Kittleman and Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh each sent letters to Attorney General Brian E. Frosh last week asking him to sue the FAA on behalf of Marylanders. In his letter, Kittleman said that since the implementation of the Next Generation Airport System, known as NextGen, residents near the flight paths have suffered from extreme noise.
“It is clear that with the implementation of NextGen, the FAA failed to take careful consideration of the adverse impact to the local communities surrounding BWI,” Kittleman said.
Kittleman sent his letter to the attorney general on Sept. 20, saying the changes in flight paths under NextGen have subjected residents to “an unprecedented level of noise that has been life-changing.”
The $35 billion NextGen system was implemented in 2014 to address delays and carbon emissions. But residents living along the paths say they’re getting more than an earful from what they describe as lower-flying airplanes.
“At this point it appears that the FAA will respond only to litigation,” Schuh said.
The county executives’ actions follow a letter sent earlier this month by Gov.
Larry Hogan, which directed Frosh to sue the FAA.The Maryland Constitution grants Hogan the power to require the attorney general to pursue certain legal actions on behalf of the state.
Hogan spokeswoman Shareese Churchill repeated the governor’s position, saying: “Gov. Hogan and the administration have been very clear that we want the lawsuit to move forward right away.”
A spokeswoman for Frosh said a lawsuit is under consideration. He shares the concerns of residents, Raquel Coombs said. She declined to comment on the letters sent by the executives.
Schuh urged Frosh to take statewide action, as the flight paths impact multiple counties surrounding not only BWI, but also Ronald Reagan Washington International Airport.
“All citizens would benefit from flight paths being routed away from residential areas and over waterways and highways,” he said. “All citizens would benefit from aircraft staying at higher altitudes as they approach BWI.”
In May, the FAA told the DC Metroplex BWI Community Roundtable, a group of community representatives, they were not able to revert to the
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