airport noise action plan - third runway august 2014
DESCRIPTION
Forecast average noise fails to address the actual noise nuisance suffered by residents from the airport. Government’s own data shows it.TRANSCRIPT
Airport Noise Action Plan4 August 2014
Review of EIA
Actual versus forecast noise1. Actual: The Civil Aviation Department monitors noise at different stations throughout Hong Kong.
Records showing actual aircraft noise events exceeding 70dB between 2300 and 0700 for 2013 and 2014 provided to LegCo are absent from the EIA Report.
2. Forecast: The Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA) submitted by the Airport Authority for the 3rd runway project includes “noise exposure forecasts” (NEF). One forecast is based on historical data 2011 and one for 2030. The 2011 forecast helps test the validity of this NEF model.
3. NEF model is conservative: The 2011 NEF contours suggest that only small villages on Lantau suffer from noise. However, when we mark the locations which were actual impacted it shows that that NEF model is “conservative”. People are suffering loud aircraft noise in Tung Chung, Ma Wan, Sham Tseng, Tsuen Wan and Tsing Yi, well beyond the 2011 contours.
4. 2030 noise risk exposure will be worse than forecasted: As 2030 NEF contours extend north with the 3rd runway and taking account of actual noise occurrences in relation to the 2011 NEF contours, we can expect that Tung Chung, Ma Wan, Sham Tseng, Tsuen Wan, Tsing Yi, Gold Coast and Tuen Mun will be exposed to excessive noise events. This is not evident from the EIA.
5. Expand Mitigation and Compensation: Mitigation (insulation, double glazing) and compensationmeasures for noise should be expanded beyond the villages along Lantau’s northern coast to all districts which suffer excessive aircraft noise.
6. Require Noise Action Plan: A “Noise Action Plan” (e.g. Heathrow Airport) should be a condition for any environmental permit. This should include, among others, regular review of the NEF contours and a penalty system for excessive noise occurrences beyond the NEF contours by the airport and aircraft operators. Latest noise monitoring standards should be used such as Ldn, DNL, Leq or Lnight rather than the conservative NEF system.
Actual: The Civil Aviation Department monitors noise at stations throughout Hong Kong. Records showing actual aircraft noise events exceeding 70dB between 2300 and 0700 for 2013 and 2014 provided to LegCo are absent from the EIA Report. (Red line added for excessive noise events.)
Actual: The Civil Aviation Department monitors noise at different stations throughout Hong Kong. Records showing actual aircraft noise events exceeding 70dB between 2300 and 0700 for 2013 and 2014 provided to LegCo are absent from the EIA Report. People are suffering loud aircraft noise in Tung Chung, Ma Wan, Sham Tseng, Tsuen Wan and Tsing Yi.
Actual: The Civil Aviation Department monitors noise at different stations throughout Hong Kong. Records showing actual aircraft noise events exceeding 70dB between 2300 and 0700 for 2013 and 2014 provided to LegCo are absent from the EIA Report. People are suffering loud aircraft noise in Tung Chung, Ma Wan, Sham Tseng, Tsuen Wan and Tsing Yi.
Actual: The Civil Aviation Department monitors noise at different stations throughout Hong Kong. Records showing actual aircraft noise events exceeding 70dB between 2300 and 0700 for 2013 and 2014 provided to LegCo are absent from the EIA Report. People are suffering loud aircraft noise in Tung Chung, Ma Wan, Sham Tseng, Tsuen Wan and Tsing Yi.
Actual: The Civil Aviation Department monitors noise at different stations throughout Hong Kong. Records showing actual aircraft noise events exceeding 70dB between 2300 and 0700 for 2013 and 2014 provided to LegCo are absent from the EIA Report. People are suffering loud aircraft noise in Tung Chung, Ma Wan, Sham Tseng, Tsuen Wan and Tsing Yi.
Forecast: The Environmental Impact Assessment Report
(EIA) submitted by the Airport Authority for the 3rd runway project includes “noise exposure forecasts”. One forecast is based on historical data 2011 and one for 2030. The 2011 forecast helps test the validity of this NEF model.
NEF model is conservative: The 2011 NEF contours suggest that only small villages on Lantau suffer from noise. However, when we mark the locations which were actual impacted it shows that thatNEF model is “conservative”. People are suffering loud aircraft noise in Tung Chung, Ma Wan, Sham Tseng, Tsuen Wan and Tsing Yi, well beyond the 2011 contours
2030 NEF Contours: Given the location of the 3rd runway, the forecast noise contours expand north and west.
2030 NEF Contours: Given the location of the 3rd runway, the forecast noise contours expand north and west.
2030 noise risk exposure will be worse than forecasted: As 2030 NEF contours extend north with the 3rd runway and taking account of actual noise occurrences in relation to the 2011 NEF contours, we can expect that Tung Chung, Ma Wan, Sham Tseng, Tsuen Wan, Tsing Yi, Gold Coast and Tuen Mun will be exposed to excessive noise events. This is not evident from the EIA.
Conclusion
1. Expand Mitigation and Compensation: Mitigation (insulation, double glazing) and compensation measures for noise should be expanded beyond the villages along Lantau’s northern coast to all districts which suffer excessive aircraft noises.
2. Require Noise Action Plan: A “Noise Action Plan” (e.g. Heathrow Airport) should be a condition for any environmental permit. This should include, among others, regular review of the NEF contours and a penalty system for excessive noise occurrences beyond the NEF contours by the airport and aircraft operators. Latest noise monitoring standards such as Ldn, DNL, Leq or Lnightrather than the conservative NEF system should be used.