League of Women Voters of the Piedmont Triad

League of Women Voters of the Piedmont Triad

Copy of letter sent to the FAA concerning the Draft Environmental Impact Statement of the proposed expansion of Piedmont Triad International Airport.

June 1, 2000

Ms. Donna M. Meyer

FAA Environmental Project Manager

Airports District Office

1701 Columbia Avenue; Suite 2-260

College Park, GA 30337

Dear Ms. Meyer:

The League of Women Voters of the Piedmont Triad (LWVPT) has studied the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) of the proposed expansion of Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTIA). We have several issues that we would like to address. In addition, several findings in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement need further investigation.

The League of Women Voters promotes an environment beneficial to life through the protection and wise management of natural resources in the public interest. This position recognizes the interrelationships of air quality, energy, land use, waste management and water resources.

WATER RESOURCES AND AIR QUALITY: We believe that the headwaters of the Cape Fear River which are located in Guilford County must be protected. Guilford County's ground water and its meager water resources should be protected whether or not the PTIA is expanded.

The DEIS does not provide protection for wetlands. There would be a net loss of 32+ acres of wetlands. If this is not mitigated within our local watershed, then, the resulting water infiltration, wildlife habitats, and downstream flood protection would be lost to this community.
The runoff from over 300 acres of added impervious surfaces should be thoroughly mitigated to the utmost extent possible, so that there is not a diminishment in our water quality. A dedicated deicing agent collection system MUST be required for the proposed air cargo facility.
The Piedmont Triad is currently experiencing high levels of air pollution from ozone and smog. Our first code purple day (very unhealthy for all populations) occurred on August 13, 1999. Any major emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC's), carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, (NOx) and particulate matter, as would occur as the result of the airport expansion, would cause this situation to become even more unhealthy. These health effects are not quantified in the DEIS.
One diesel-fueled truck under current rules for emission can be equivalent to as many as 200 automobiles. Since much of the cargo brought to and from the hub would be transported by trucks, our air quality could be degraded further.
NOISE: According to two noise experts, Dr. Noral Stewart and Dr. Arline Bronzaft, the impact of noise from cargo planes will be far more intrusive and harmful than the DEIS suggests. Noise contours at the 60 and 55 decibel level should be drawn out on the map, so that residents could visually see these impacts.

The League of Women Voters promotes resource conservation, stewartship, and long-range planning with the responsibility for managing natural resources shared by all levels of government.

Since the federal government is expected to pay for the potential third runway and since the Airport Authority exists due to an act of the General Assembly of North Carolina and since the Airport Authority operates in Guilford County, all three levels of government should work to conserve the natural resources of the area. Long-range planning is lacking where the airport is concerned. The third runway was on the "books" since the 70s, yet housing was allowed in the areas close to the airport. Now changes are proposed which will contribute to noise, air, and water pollution for nearby residents and all the citizens of Guilford County and perhaps the surrounding counties.

ECONOMIC IMPACT: The study does not adequately demonstrate the effect the facility would have on the local economy. The projected economic benefits are largely conjecture.

REVENUE ISSUE: The projected tax revenue gains were emphasized, but the cost of additional infrastructure and service was not included in the report. Without this additional cost information, there is no way to tell if this would be a net gain or loss in local and state revenues.
STATISTICAL MODELS: Throughout the report data are given and outcomes determined without explanation of how the data were gathered or what statistical models were used to interpret these data.
OBJECTIVITY: Volume #3-appendix L of the DEIS, noting support and non-support of this project, tends to show bias strongly in favor of airport expansion. Whereas letters of support are printed fully, comments of non-support are laboriously cross-coded. Preferential treatment was given to the 17 identical form letters from citizens to Walt Cockerham dated June11, 1998. The handling of this situation makes us wonder about the credibility of the study. We would prefer that the methods used by URS Greiner in presenting information were not so seemingly biased and more independent.

The League of Women Voters of the Piedmont Triad finds this document to be deficient in relevant data and lacking commitment on mitigation proposals. We prefer concrete proposals for maintaining air quality and water quality and quantity.

The League of Women Voters believes in the rights of citizens to know and to participate in governmental decision making. We applaud the opportunities provided for citizens to make their views known on the proposed expansion of the PTIA. We do, however, believe that the cost of the full documentation should be affordable and/or readily available on the Internet. In addition, we would like to point out that the Executive Summary did not include the full "picture" of the "On-Site Runway and…" (following page S-8) nor the legend that would explain the diagrams.

In conclusion, the LWVPT request that another EIS be done by the Environmental Protection Agency before any further action is taken.

Sincerely,

The Management Team of the League of Women Voters of the Piedmont Triad

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