CommunityAIR: Refuting the TPA's Myths & Facts, #8

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Refuting the TPA's Myths & Facts, #8

Posted by Community Air at 3/22/2010 10:29 AM

Categories: TPA

The seventh item in this series examined the Toronto Port Authority’s (TPA) method of conducting meetings with outsiders. This instalment continues that discussion and looks at their need to control their take on events. http://www.torontoport.com/PortAuthority/media_content.asp?id=439

The TPA version

Fact: Barriers were presented and discussed at the July, 2009, meeting of the NMSAG. Later that Fall, a small group of nearby residents complained to the Toronto Sun and Now magazine that the barriers were “off the shelf” and could have been implemented years ago. Now they are claiming that the community wasn’t consulted on the merits of the idea.

The CommunityAIR version

The preamble on noise barriers presented at the July 14, 2009 stated, “Occasionally, the placement of engine run-up areas or pads allow for the introduction of noise control barriers which may aid in further mitigating the noise impacts resulting from engine run-up procedures. Noise barriers are typically designed to absorb a majority of the sound vibrations rather than allowing them to reflect off of the surface. Some noise control barriers are able to absorb up to 70% of the sound vibrations reaching it.” The recommendation follows.

RECOMMENDATION #4 – TPA to assess the potential of implementing noise control barriers at or near any proposed aircraft engine run-up areas or pads.

The matter was presented but not discussed at the meeting because time ran out. Although requested to do so, the TPA did not call a follow-up meeting to finish deliberating the matter. Neither did the TPA distribute minutes of the July 14, 2009 meeting.

The TPA next mentioned the noise control barriers in a press release on September 3, 2009.

http://torontoport.com/PortAuthority/notices/tpahonnorbilybishop.PDF The barriers were mentioned in the second, TCCA Noise Management Study, of the three items that the release contained: Specific key recommendations that are being examined include:

• Investigating the possibility of utilizing noise control barriers at or near any proposed engine run-up areas or pads. However, the media’s main interest in the release at the time was in the renaming of the airport and that was the story that carried.

In a January 13, 2010, press release on its capital spending plan, http://torontoport.com/PortAuthority/media_content.asp?id=418, the TPA announced $660,000 for an engine "run-up" noise barrier.

In a January 28, 2010, press release on its green initiatives, http://torontoport.com/PortAuthority/media_content.asp?id=426, the TPA announced investing $900,000 in sound barriers to protect nearby residents from excessive noise caused by engine maintenance taking place at BBTCA.

The TPA did not give the NMSAG advance notice of any of the press releases nor discuss the barriers with Group again.

The TPA claim that later in the Fall, a small group of nearby residents complained about the barriers to the Toronto Sun and Now magazine is difficult to confirm. The Toronto Sun search page shows no relevant entries for any of the following search terms: engine "run-up" noise barrier; noise barrier; sound barrier; Billy Bishop Toronto Centre Airport; BBTCA; island airport; TCCA. Any information on this particular aspect of the story is most appreciated.

NOW Toronto Magazine has a much more extensive archive. The link for 2009 http://www.nowtoronto.com/archive/index.cfm?year=2009 contains all the back issues that mention the TPA or the airport from the Summer 2009 to the late Fall. See following links. Again, any information on this particular aspect of the story is most appreciated.

The most relevant is an exchange in the Comments section between TPA Chairman McQueen and CommunityAIR Chair Brian Iler. However, to turn Chairman McQueen’s criticisms into a claim that a small group of nearby residents complained about the barriers is a bit of a stretch. http://www.nowtoronto.com/news/story.cfm?content=172722&archive=29,14,2009

NOW Toronto Archive Links September to Late Fall, 2009

NOW | September 1-8, 2009 | VOL 29 NO 1

http://www.nowtoronto.com/news/story.cfm?content=171129&archive=29,1,2009

http://www.nowtoronto.com/news/story.cfm?content=171130&archive=29,1,2009

NOW | September 8-15, 2009 | VOL 29 NO 2

http://www.nowtoronto.com/news/newsfront.cfm?content=171205&archive=29,2,2009

NOW | September 16-23, 2009 | VOL 29 NO 3

http://www.nowtoronto.com/news/story.cfm?content=171289&archive=29,3,2009

NOW | September 23-30, 2009 | VOL 29 NO 4

http://www.nowtoronto.com/news/newsfront.cfm?content=171443&archive=29,4,2009

NOW | October 6-13, 2009 | VOL 29 NO 6

http://www.nowtoronto.com/news/story.cfm?content=171658&archive=29,6,2009