Pound Ridge Specific


Short video from Pound Ridge Reservation

Why has there been so much air traffic?

The new flight patterns over our area have alarmed many residents. The swift and dramatic increase in low altitude air traffic over parts of Pound Ridge and Bedford began in August through September. These flights, some at dangerously low altitudes have all been recorded and are being analyzed by Westchester County. The FAA first blamed Westchester County Airport who verified no patterns had been changed. Then the FAA referred to inclement weather. Then vectoring due to wind direction change. Then on new Jet Blue routes from Florida.

What was clear to Pound Ridge residents was that overflight volume dramatically increased, for what looked to be La Guardia, Newark and Westchester Airports. Some areas were seeing planes every 3 minutes directly over their homes.

CHOKE POINT INITIATIVE

The FAA has denied implementing flight pattern changes, although the data clearly suggests a routing change. Documents online refer to implementing the "Choke Point Initiative" which allows aircraft to utilize foul-weather routing if delays are impending. The Choke Point Initiative has been utilized in different states to address Flight Delay to overwhelming community upheaval. This initiative is actually in violation of environmental law and due process, which could be why the FAA is not admitting to it. The other possibility could be training for the new airspace redesign.

This new routing has given Pound Ridge a unique opportunity to see and feel and consider the actual effects of low altitude commercial aircraft flight over our ecologically sensitive conservation land.

FLIGHT DELAY

As you may know, flight delay is a hot topic. Extreme political pressure exists to do something to curb the flight delay that plagues New York City Area airports. Lawmakers have recently drafted legislation which calls for deeper exploration of ways to address flight delay without causing unnecessary harm on the ground.

Blakey from the FAA said Airlines scheduling was to fault for flight delay. The airlines are scheduling more flights than an airport or its surrounding airspace and controllers can handle.

The airspace around New York City is very crowded, and the Airports are all operating over capacity with air traffic control towers in crisis. Industry experts are concerned that we are reaching a tipping point. Air traffic control towers are facing a very serious threat. The staffed crisis in the towers must be addressed immediately. In June of 2007 5 near misses were recorded in our area alone. They are also utilizing outdated technology to guide the planes which only a handful of programmers know how to maintain.

THE AIRSPACE REDESIGN

in 1998 the FAA commenced the Airspace redesign to streamline operations, reduce congestion, increase capacity and overhaul an antiquated system. It is all part of the Next Generation project (Next Gen) to overhaul the National Airspace System. (NAS)

The project has been plagued by delay, cost overruns, management breakdowns and problems which warranted the GAO step in and review. In 2005 the Inspector General located many alarming problems which the FAA agreed were present and would address.

In 2007, the FAA is preparing to roll out their project. Project Manager Kelley made in a statement that October 2007 flight pattern changes would ensue under an incremental release. My FAA contact issued an early 2008 initial release. The final plan would be rolled out in the 5 state area by 2011 to prepare for the forecasted doubling in air traffic volume by 2017.

Under intense political pressure the project was pushed forward several times. The Environmental Impact Statements issued by the FAA show this. The DEIS is incomplete, based on flawed data incorporating modeling anomalies, insufficient study points and inconclusive results.

Community involvement of this DEIS was insufficient and non-existent for many impacted areas. The FAA held One meeting in each effected state to release their findings. After intense pressure, the FAA scheduled individual meetings with community leaders who found out about the project.

The FAA's standard for community review was to deliver their draft study and give either 1 or 2 days of review before closing discussion. Some communities were successful in lobbying for changes and further involvement, as noted in the mitigated routes. These are communities who already had strong organizational effort in place already to combat Noise. Greenwich CT, for instance was already structured to combat noise because they currently had been doing so with the Westchester County Airport.

Quiet communities who were not near airports generally do not have airspace focus groups. They are in the most precarious position and most vulnerable to receiving mitigated routes from communities who do have focus groups.

In this particular plan, Parks, Open spaces, Conservation lands and rural communities stand to take a major hit because they are less populated. This is why environmental organizations and custodians need to act now to protect these resources. The way the law is written, National Parks are protected from excessive overflight, but County parks are not. They can try to institute restricted airspace and should if endangered species could be impacted.

Pound Ridge is irrefutably an ecologically sensitive area. We host numerous endangered species, are protecting native flora and fauna, instituting a protected Biotic Corridor, Land Trusts and protecting New York City's Drinking Water Supply. This area absolutely warrants further study considering the toxic known effects of aircraft engine emissions.

How will Pound Ridge be Impacted?

We do not know how this airspace redesign will effect us because the FAA did not involve our community in any way.

We have a good idea of how it MAY effect us because the FAA has been flying planes over our area. These test runs are being denied by the FAA, however the data is there to support it. The new flight patterns which began in August alarmed many residents.

The FAA did not conduct environmental tests here. they did not gather noise level data or review topographical information. They did not review nor study potential impacts to our natural resources. Studies and community involvement were requested by Westchester County and never delivered. The only mention of our area at all is a population count by GPS locatation.

The FAA did not conduct community meetings with Pound Ridge.

However, our area will be directly impacted according to the Record of Decision's publication.

The final ground routes which were released Sept 19 show that Pound Ridge will receive:

Additionally, we will receive air traffic from these locations although not studied in ROD:

Download Power Point Presentation

Here is an email from a concerned resident trying to Gauge impact:

Let's also understand how they have calculated the impact. They say it would add "an average" of three to five decibels in the Pound Ridge area. This communication is totally deceptive, and quite cynical with respect to how dumb they feel we are. This is akin to saying that two spots with an average temperature of 70 degrees are "on average" comfortable, even if one site is 115 degrees and the other is 25 degrees.

Let's do the math: There are sixty minutes in an hour and twenty-four hours in a day. A day therefore has 1,440 minutes in it. An average of four decibels of additional noise would mean that we add 5,760 decibels to our typical day. Assuming that jets fly over for one minute, every four minutes and that this pattern covers fourteen hours per day (lord hopes that we have no 3AM flyovers), these 5,760 decibels of additional noise are concentrated into fifteen minutes for each of these fourteen hours, or 210 minutes total. To get a sense of the noise impact of each time a jet flies over, we'd divide 5,760 total decibels by the 210 minutes that we experience this nightmare (okay, maybe it's a "daymare"). I'll get about 27.43 decibels of additional noise, each time there's a flyover. If, in fact, jets are five minutes apart and they run for thirteen hours per day and the average decibel difference is five, rather than four, the true story would be a 55+ decibel daymare, each time a jet flies over.

Letter from Supervisor Warshauer

Dear New York Times Editor,

This letter is in response to Ms. Stone Lombardi’s column dated Sept 23 which misled readers to believe our opposition to the FAA Airspace Redesign as about ‘protecting our own backyard’.  

This notion is misguided and potentially dangerous to the 29 million people who stand to be impacted across 5 states.  The consequences of implementing a flawed plan of this scope could have far reaching negative impacts both economically and environmentally.

The risks and flaws of this design are on public record by industry experts, environmental protection organizations, airport managers and at the Governmental Accountability Office. There is enough doubt to it’s safety and effectiveness to warrant further study by the office of the Inspector General and draw lawsuits in all affected states.

Consider the fact that the redesign reduces the safe distance between jumbo jets when near-misses are critically high.  Fuel jettison over residential areas is a real concern because commercial aircraft will be flying at lower altitudes for longer distances on the new landing approach.  Additionally, this plan is being rolled out during a staffing crisis at the control tower.
 
Many impacted communities are not even aware of the impending changes.  Pound Ridge has been active in this effort because the FAA has been conducting test runs over our area for the last 2 months. This has provided our area with a unique opportunity to see, feel and consider the actual impacts of jumbo jets flying at low altitudes over rural communities and conservation land.
 
Our community conducted thorough research and met directly with Port Authority Officials, Environmental Directors, Pilots, Regional Airport Managers, and Transportation Directors. We have spoken with all of our elected officials, the subcommittees of Aviation in the House and Senate, and with the FAA directly. What we found was alarming.
 
You must learn the facts in order to assess the risks and understand the issues.
ourairspace.org includes links to valid scientific studies, background, legislation and further research.
 
My hope is that all impacted communities, the FAA, airports and the airlines can work together to create safe, effective viable solutions to flight delay while protecting our safety in the air and on the ground.

Ecologically sensitvive & Conservation Lands

Pound Ridge Ward Reservation

Mianus River Gorge

Westchester Land Trust

Biotic Corridor

New York City Water Shed

Wetlands and Vernal Pools

Protected Species

Westchester County Endangered Species List
Revision 3/23/2005
Common Name   Scientific Name

Insects: Butterflies


Endangered

West Virginia White 

Pieris virginiensis

Bronze Copper   

Lycaena hyllus

Silver-bordered Fritillary   

Boloria selene

Aphrodyte Fritillary

Speyeria aphrodyte

Regal Fritillary        

Speyeria idalia

Two-spotted Skipper  

Euphyes bimacula

Leonard’s Skipper

Hesperia leonardus


Threatened

Silvery Checkerspot    

Chlosyne nycteis


Special Concern

Brown Elfin

Callophrys augustinus

Eyed Brown 

Satyrodes eurydice

Edward’s Hairstreak

Satyrium edwardsii

Harris’ Checkerspot   

Chlosyne harrisii

Meadow Fritillary

Boloria bellona

Dion Skipper     

Euphyes dion


Insects: Dragonflies
Endangered

Lyre-tipped Spreadwing

Lestes unguiculatus

Zebra Clubtail 

Stylurus scudderi


Threatened

Tiger Spiketail 

 Cordulegaster erronea


Special Concern


New England Bluet    

Enallagma laterale

Blue-faced Darner  

Aeshna mutata

Maine Snaketail           

Ophiogomphus mainensis

Mocha Emerald        

Somatochlora linearis

White Corporal        

Ladona exusta

Elfin Skimmer

Nannothemis bella



Amphibians


Threatened

Jefferson/Blue-spotted Salamander complex

Ambystoma jeffersonianum/laterale

Northern Dusky Salamander 

Desmognathus fuscus


Special Concern

Slimy Salamander

Plethodon glutinosus


Reptiles
Endangered

Bog Turtle   

Clemmys muhlenbergi

Wood Turtle 

Clemmys insculpta

Timber Rattlesnake

Crotalus horridus
Threatened

Spotted Turtle 

Clemmys guttata

Eastern Box Turtle

Terrapene carolina

Northern Fence Lizard       

Sceloporus undulatus

Eastern Ribbon Snake  

Thamnophis sauritis

Special Concern

Five-lined Skink   

 Eumeces fasciatus

Northern Copperhead

Agkistrodon contortrix

Eastern Hognose Snake 

Heterodon platyrhinos

Worm Snake 

Carphophis amoenus
Birds

Endangered

Peregrine Falcon  

Falco peregrinus

Loggerhead Shrike

Lanius ludovicianus

Least Bittern  

Ixobrychus exilis

Bald Eagle   

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

King Rail     

Rallus elegans

Common Tern

Sterna hirundo

Henslow’s Sparrow

Ammodramus henslowii

Osprey

Pandion haliaetus

Cooper’s Hawk

Accipiter cooperii

Northern Goshawk   

Accipiter gentilis

Red-shouldered Hawk 

Buteo lineatus

Golden-winged Warbler             

Vermivora chrysoptera

Cerulean Warbler 

Dendroica cerulea

Vesper Sparrow

Pooecetes gramineus

Grasshopper Sparrow

Ammodramus savannarum

Seaside Sparrow

Ammodramus maritimus

Savannah Sparrow

Passerculus sandwichensis

Kentucky Warbler 

Oporornis formosus
Threatened

Yellow-breasted Chat

 Icteria virens

Common Barn Owl   

Tyto alba

Common Raven   

Corvus corax

American Woodcock       

Scolopax minor

Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow

Ammodramus caudacutus

Eastern Meadowlark 

Sturnella magna

Bobolink 

Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Special Concern

Common Nighthawk   

Chordeiles minor

Whip-poor-will     

Caprimulgus vociferous

American Black Duck     

Anas rubripes

Wood Thrush      

Hylocichla mustelina

Prairie Warbler

Dendroica discolor

Worm-eating Warbler      

Helmitheros vermivorus

Canada Warbler   

Wilsonia canadensis
Mammals

Special Concern

River Otter 

Lutra canadensis

Bobcat   

Lynx rufus
Plants

Endangered

Bog Clubmoss 

Lycopodiella inundata

Netted Chain Fern         

Woodwardia areolata

Yellow Harlequin

Corydalis flavula

Spring Avens  

Geum vernum

Winter Grape 

Vitis vulpina

Tall Thistle   

Cirsium altissimum

Purple Everlasting    

Gnaphalium purpureum

Stiff-leaf Goldenrod

Solidago rigida

Bicknell’s Sedge   

Carex bicknellii

Soft Fox Sedge

Carex conjuncta

Cat-tail Sedge  

Carex typhina

Long-beaked Bald Rush    

Rhynchospora scirpoides

Large Twayblade   

Liparis lilifolia
Threatened

Purple Milkweed   

Asclepias purpurascens

Swamp Cottonwood

Populus heterophylla

Rattlebox

Crotalaria sagittalis

Swamp Agrimony 

Agrimonia parviflora

Featherfoil

Hottonia inflata

Slender Pinweed

Lechea tenuifolia

Shrubby St. Johnswort

Hypericum prolificum

Mudwort

Limosella australis

Winged Monkeyflower 

Mimulus alatus

Slender Saltmarsh Aster    

Aster tenuifolius

Spongy Arrowhead

Sagittaria montevidensis spongiosa

Strap-leaf Arrowhead

Sagittaria subulata

Spotted Pondweed    

Potamogeton pulcher

Angled Spikerush

Eleocharis quadrangulata

Lesser Bladderwort 

Utricularia minor

Yellow Lady Slipper    

Cypripedium parviflorum
Special Concern

Walking Fern

Asplenium rhizophyllum

Purple Cliffbrake       

Pellaea atropurpurea

Eastern Prickly Pear   

Opuntia humifusa

Trailing Arbutus

Epigaea repens

Grass-of-Parnassus

Parnassia glauca

Pitcher Plant 

Sarracenia purpurea

Four-leaf Milkweed

 Asclepias quadrifolia

River Birch  

Betula nigra

Striped Maple   

 Acer pensylvanicum

American Holly  

Ilex opaca

Prickly Hornwort

 Ceratophyllum echinatum

Dittany     

Cunilla origanoides

Stiff Yellow Flax  

Linum striatum

Wild Pink    

Silene caroliniana

Blunt Mountain Mint

Pycnanthemum muticum

Small Floating Bladderwort   

Utricularia radiata

Large Yellow-eyed Grass  

Xyris smalliana

Showy Orchis

Galearis spectabilis

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