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FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR VOLUNTARY RESIDENTIAL ACQUISITION

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (Department) has completed the Final Environmental Assessment (FEA) for the proposed voluntary acquisition and noise insulation of homes within the noise impact area of the Waterbury-Oxford Airport (OXC). The Department has also prepared the Final Proposed Stage Relocation Plan that outlines the process, phasing, and requirements of the acquisition program. The FEA and associated Proposed Stage Relocation Plan are available for public review on the Documents page.

The Department is moving forward with the acquisition program, which will begin in early 2010. Initial letters to homeowners will be sent in winter 2010, with the initial acquisitions planned for later in the year. ConnDOT is seeking funding to accelerate the voluntary acquisition program into a 5-7 year effort.

Final Environmental Assessment:

The FEA was prepared following the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and evaluates the impacts of the voluntary acquisition program. The FEA evaluates the social and environmental impacts of acquisition of up to 71 homes in the Triangle Hills neighborhood in Middlebury and one home in Oxford (72 homes in total). Homes that are located beyond the Airport’s Runway Protection Zone (RPZ) may also be noise insulated as an alternative to voluntary acquisition.

Categories of evaluation include social-economic impacts, such as available replacement housing, construction and visual impacts from housing demolitions, hazardous materials, and natural environmental considerations. The FEA findings indicate that financial impacts can be mitigated through just compensation and other monetary payments and assistance to affected homeowners, tenants, and home-based businesses. As the program is voluntary, affected residents that are not interested in selling or relocating will not be required to participate. Of the 72 affected homes, 38 are located beyond the RPZ. These homeowners will have the option of residential noise insulation as an alternative to acquisition. The draft study does not anticipated significant natural environmental impacts due to the proposed acquisitions or insulations.

Proposed Stage Relocation Plan:

The Relocation Plan identifies the anticipated phasing of the acquisition program over a multi-year period (i.e., listing the planned order of the proposed acquisitions by year). The Relocation Plan summarizes the findings of a survey of affected homeowners and residents, and provides an evaluation of the availability of replacement housing within the local school district; the Towns of Middlebury, Oxford, and Southbury; and within a 10-mile radius of the affected homes. Only single-family homes of similar size and price range were included in the evaluation of available housing. The Relocation Plan identified that adequate replacement housing is available locally. The program may take seven to ten years to fully implement based on funding availability.

Next Steps:

The FEA was approved by the FAA in November 2009. The Department is moving forward with the acquisition program, which will begin in early 2010. Initial letters to homeowners will be sent in winter 2010, with the initial acquisitions planned for later in the year. ConnDOT is seeking funding to accelerate the voluntary acquisition program into a 5-7 year effort.

Public Outreach Program:

The Airport Study activities have included an Advisory Committee (AC), Public Information Meetings, and public hearings. AC members include ConnDOT, FAA, primary airport tenants, and representatives from local towns and regional and State agencies. The goal of the AC is to provide a well-balanced approach to the planning process that addresses the concerns of the community, as well as the needs of airport users. Study reports, drawings, and meeting documentation are available to the public on this website.

The public is invited to express their views throughout the process. Opportunities include public meetings, a website comment form to submit comments to the study team, and an email address where people can ask questions about the project.

Noise Study Findings and Recommendations:

The recently completed FAR Part 150 Noise Study (Noise Study) recommended several alternatives that reduce noise in the residential areas surrounding the Airport. However, the mitigation measures would not reduce airport noise to below compatible levels, thus the voluntary acquisition and insulation were recommended.

The Noise Study identifies homes that are located within what is considered by federal standards to be a noise impact area, as well as adjacent homes that experience noise disturbance from the Airport. The noise impact area is located north of the Airport, primarily within the Triangle Hills neighborhood in Middlebury. The final Noise Study report discusses the measures that would reduce airport noise impacts and disturbance. The recommendations included:

• Voluntary acquisition of homes in the Triangle Hills neighborhood located within the RPZ.
• Voluntary acquisition or sound insulation of homes in the Triangle Hills neighborhood that are not within the RPZ.
• Directing more aircraft activity to depart to the south when conditions permit, in order to reduce takeoffs over the populated areas of Middlebury.
• Conduct other operational modifications that may reduce noise levels adjacent to the Airport and result in more consistent flight patterns.
• Recommendations for local zoning and subdivision regulations that would reduce the future potential for airport noise impacts. These land use measures can only be implemented by the Towns.

Airport Master Plan Update:

The Waterbury-Oxford Airport (OXC) Master Plan Update (AMPU) was completed in 2007. The AMPU provided planning guidelines for the future development of the Airport. The development needs identified in this plan were intended to satisfy present and future aviation demand, while being compatible with the environment, community development, and other transportation systems.

The products of this AMPU consisted of a planning report and an Airport Layout Plan (ALP) drawing set. The report technical document includes narrative and graphic illustrations used in the development of the ALP. The ALP drawing set is comprised of several drawings that illustrate a variety of items, such as the existing and proposed airport layout, airspace obstructions, and a land use plan.