Airplane Noise
The majority of all SFO arrivals fly over Palo Alto. SERFR, OCEANIC and BDEGA West arrivals all converge over Palo Alto. |
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SFO Arrivals via SERFR, OCEANIC and BDEGA West respectively between October 30, 2018 and January 4, 2019. |
Palo Alto is impacted by three arrival routes into San Francisco International Airport (SFO). These routes have had an ongoing negative health impact on our community and intensified due to the implementation of the Federal Aviation Administration’s NextGEN Initiative.
The City is committed to working with our citizens, Congress, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), SFO, SFO’s Community Roundtable, neighboring city and county agencies, regional airports, noise groups, and all stakeholders associated with air traffic in Silicon Valley to find solutions which restore the quality of life of our community.
Update 9/28/2020 As a result of City of Palo Alto requests for ongoing airplane noise monitoring, San Francisco International Airport recently selected a temporary noise monitor location close to Eleanor Pardee Park. The location was selected and recommended by SFO and in coordination with Menlo Park, which is near the confluence of the three SFO arrival flight paths that are over Palo Alto. The noise monitor will be placed at least four times over the next year and SFO will use the data to evaluate if a permanent noise monitor is needed.
Update 3/11/2020 The City of Palo Alto commented on proposed changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in accordance with the comment period that closed on March 10, 2020. For fifty years, NEPA has ensured that the public has the ability to comment on and, when appropriate, legally challenge the environmental impacts of federal projects. In addition to implications for climate change and endangered species, this might include the potential impacts of noise and/or emissions from federally approved aircraft operations. The City Council has repeatedly identified climate change and sustainability as key priorities and the Mayor signed this letter to the Council on Environmental Quality on behalf of the City of Palo Alto.
Update 2/11/2020 The City of Palo Alto supports a package of federal legislative bills to strengthen public input and regulatory requirements related to airplane noise and environmental impacts that was recently introduced and cosponsored by members of our Congressional delegation. The package includes:
We are grateful to our Representative, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, and to her colleague, Congresswoman Jackie Speier, for their leadership on this legislation.
Update 1/21/2020 In the 7/10/2019 update, we provided a link to 132 electronic documents that the FAA provided in response to the City’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request related to the PIRAT route. The FAA has provided an additional 206 files in response to the City’s FOIA request.
Anyone wishing to access these additional files may do so by downloading the materials through this link. The City of Palo Alto is not responsible for the content of these files and/or any consequences resulting if someone chooses to download or attempt to view them. Update 10/22/2019
Update 7/19/19 Temporary Noise Monitoring Report
Update 7/10/2019 In response to the City’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request related to the PIRAT route, the FAA provided more than 100 electronic documents. Many are in PDF or XLS formats that may be viewed with common software; others may require less common methods for access. Anyone wishing to access these materials may do so by downloading the materials through this link. The zip file contains a total of 132 files. The City of Palo Alto is not responsible for the content of these files and/or any consequences resulting if someone chooses to download or attempt to view them.
Update 6/12/2019 CONFERENCE WITH CITY ATTORNEY-POTENTIAL LITIGATION Subject: Noise and Other Impacts Arising From Management of Aircraft in the Northern California Airspace, Including the STAR PIRAT TWO Procedure Authority: Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4) (One Potential Case, as Plaintiff) Update 5/1/2019 The City has received the following notice, which appears to have been issued on April 25, 2019 and indicates the publication of the STAR PIRAT (RNAV) TWO SAN FRANCISCO CA KSFO. This communication may be an order of the Secretary of Transportation as described in 49 United States Code section 46110. A person seeking judicial review of such an order must file a petition with the appropriate court not later than 60 days after the order is issued.
Additional Resources: Santa Clara | Santa Cruz Community Roundtable (website)
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Key Documents and Timeline
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