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Denver Settles Aircraft Noise Lawsuit
November 01, 2002
Denver Mayor Wellington Webb Thursday announced that Denver International Airport and Adams County have settled a lawsuit filed over aircraft noise.
“The Noise Mitigation Plan we are announcing today [Oct. 31] is the first time we have had cooperation between Denver and our Adams County neighbors since the Intergovernmental Agreement was signed in 1988,” Webb said. “The cooperation that begins today opens the door to future cooperation between Denver and its Adams County neighbors.”
“We decided to settle this lawsuit because it is the right thing to do,” added Denver Aviation Manager Bruce Baumgartner. “Denver International Airport wants to be a good neighbor, and we want to work with the surrounding communities to try to resolve these noise issues.”
Under terms of the settlement, Denver International Airport will pay $26 million, plus interest, into the registry of Jefferson County District Court, where the lawsuit was filed. Judge Kim Goldberg will review the noise-mitigation plans of Adams County and its cities and distribute the money for approved projects, including the purchase of noise easements.
The settlement covers noise payments for the years 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000. Noise payments for the year 2001 will be waived. Money for the damage payment will come from the airport’s capital account. The payment will not raise the rates and charges paid by DEN’s airline partners.
The settlement calls for Denver and Adams County to enter into good-faith negotiation of minimum noise standards established under the Intergovernmental Agreement. Measurements indicate that background noise levels in some areas around the airport have increased naturally because of development.
Actual noise measurements on Sept. 12, 2001 – when aircraft in the United States were grounded because of the 9/11 terrorist attacks – showed background noise in some areas was 15 decibels higher than the average allowed by the Intergovernmental Agreement.
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Copyright @August,2004 Prepared by Transportation Environmental Resource Center (TERC)