Resources to Learn and Act

In 2003 the County Legislature unanimously passed resolution 245-2003 on "Airport Expansion."  As a result, County policy officially "is to limit the development of the [airport] to its current physical capacity."  The resolution defines "expansion" as more than just enlarging the airport's acreage or runways to also include expanding facilities and infrastructure that could facilitate more flights - like hangars, taxiways, parking, etc.  

The Legislature focused on facilities, over which it has considerable legal control, instead of flights, over which it has virtually no control according to Federal law and the FAA.  

Unfortunately, the Legislature's "commitment to the community to preserve current limitations on Airport facilities" has been disregarded whenever residents have failed to carefully monitor airport planning and activities.

The Coalition and our supporters are dedicated to ensuring that the County maintains and further strengthens its stated policy and commitments opposing airport expansion.

COALITION

• Submitted Public Comments, June 2022
• Briefing Paper, May 2022
• Community Mobilization Flyer, May 2022

NEWS

• Residents say air traffic noise is a top concern... - News12, July 7, 2022
• Westchester Ready to Begin Public Engagement on Master Plan - Examiner News, May 9, 2022 
• Future of Westchester County Airport under scrutiny as more travelers return to the skies - CBS News, May 4 2022
• New Castle officials want input on Westchester County Airport - Lohud, May 1, 2018
• Westchester Airport master plan lacks input, generates more questions - Lohud, Aug 3 2017
• VIDEO: Residents rip proposed master plan for Westchester county Airport - WestFair Online, Jul 28 2017
• Rob Astorino's fancy dance on Westchester airport's master plan - Lohud, Jun 1 2017
• Westchester's secret airport plan remains under wraps - Lohud, Feb 3 2017

WESTCHESTER COUNTY 

• Master Plan Dec 2017, submitted to FAA Jul 2018
• Master Plan Revision Relaunch Press Release - May 4, 2022
• $1.4M Master Plan development contract with DY Consultants - Sep 18, 2012
• Westchester Board of Legislators Resolution 245-2003 re. Airport Expansion, Oct 7 2003
• Master Plan Dec 1986, adopted in 1987

US GOVERNMENT

• FAA Regional...Assessment of Suburban Airports' Capacity to Meet...Demand - FAA and NYSDOT, May 2007
• FAA Airport Master Plan Advisory (guidance) - Jul 29 2005 (see Chapter 4, Public Involvement Program)

CITIZEN ADVOCACY

• Joint Position Statement by CRCA, Sierra Club, FCWC, Food & Water Watch opposing the master plan and airport privatization
• Public Comments Submitted to County, Jun-Jul 2018
• Pleasantville Homeowner Association letter (Usonia) to County Legislator, Jun 2018
• Rye Brook Homeowner Association Statements (Doral Greens / BelleFair), Jun 2018
• New Castle Letter to County Executive, Aug 15 2017
• Rye Brook Mayor Letter to County re. Concerns About the Draft Airport Master Plan, Jul 27 2017
• CRCA White Paper Critiquing Airport Privatization and Master Plan - CRCA and allied groups, Jul 9 2017
• Allegedly Plagiarized Sections of Draft Final Master Plan Chapter 2 - CRCA
• Frequently asked questions & common misconceptions... - Citizens for a Responsible County Airport

REFERENCE

• Environmental Noise Primer Booklet - Bruel & Kjaer, 2001

NEWS

• Is Noise Pollution the Next Big Health Crisis? - The New Yorker, May 13 2019
• Queens Anti-Noise Warriors Score a Hard-Fought Victory - NYC Lens, Feb 13 2019
• Sonic doom: how noise pollution kills thousands each year - The Guardian, Jul 3 2018
• Noise exposure is becoming ‘the new secondhand smoke’ - Washington Post, May 12 2018
• NY representatives win funding to combat aircraft noise by Dr. Arline Bronzaft, Ph.D - Silencity, April 13 2018
• These scientists think peace and quiet should be a human right - Popular Science, Mar 8 2018
• Officials Promise a Fight As Airlines Defy Curfew - NY Times, Apr 15 2001

WESTCHESTER ACTIONS

• Overnight Voluntary Curfew (VRFF) Action Plan 2022
• Noise Contour Study, 2002

GOVERNMENT LAWS & REGULATIONS

• FAA Advisory re. Aircraft Noise Levels, May 25 2012
• FAA Airport Noise and Access Restrictions - Airport Compliance Manual Chapter 13, Sep 30, 2009
• Westchester County Aircraft Noise Measurement FAQs
• Airport Noise & Capacity Act 1990 (ANCA)

STUDIES & RESEARCH - US Govt.

• Noise: A Health Problem - EPA, Aug 1978
• Information on Levels of Environmental Noise Requisite to Protect Public Health and Welfare with an Adequate Margin of Safety - EPA, 1974

STUDIES & RESEARCH - International

• EU Aircraft Noise Regulation and Legislation
• World Health Organization (WHO) Environmental Noise Guidelines - Europe Office, 2018
• New rules on EU airport noise restrictions - Library Briefing, May 2 2013
• WHO Disease from environmental noise...healthy life years lost - Europe Office, 2011
• WHO Night Noise Guidelines for Europe, 2009
• WHO Guidelines for Community Noise, 1999

STUDIES & RESEARCH - Independent

• My Four Insights in Four Years as a Noise Activist by D. Fink, MD, Feb 2019
• Impact of Noise on Health: The Divide between Policy and Science, Dr. Arline Bronzaft Ph.D - Journal of Social Sciences, May 12 2017
• What is a Safe Noise Level for the Public? - American Journal of Public Health, Jan 2017
• Aircraft noise and cardiovascular disease near Heathrow airport in London - British Medical Journal, Oct 8 2013
• Effects of Air, Road, and Rail Traffic Noise on Sleep and Recuperation + Commentary - SLEEP, 2011
• Effects of Aircraft Noise: Research Update - Transportation Research Board, 2008
• Airport-Related Air Pollution & Noise, by Bronzaft et.al.- Journal of Occupational & Env. Hygiene, Dec 19 2007

ADVOCACY EFFORTS

• Rye Brook Homeowner Association Statements (Doral Greens / BelleFair), Jun 2018
• Pleasantville Homeowner Association letter (Usonia) to County Legislator, Jun 2018
• New Castle Letter to County Executive, Aug 15 2017
• Frequently asked questions & common misconceptions... - Citizens for a Responsible County Airport

NEWS

• Airport pollution may have been ‘seriously underestimated,’ study suggests - MinnPost, Jun 2 2014
• Planes' exhaust could be harming communities up to 10 miles from LAX - LA Times, May 29 2014
• Plane Exhaust Kills More People Than Plane Crashes - National Geographic News, Oct 10 2010

COUNTY:

• “Westchester County Airport Air Emissions Inventory” (report prepared by First Environment), January 2021. 
• " Air Emissions Inventory Management Plan" (prepared by First Environment), October 2008.

FAA 

• Aviation Emissions and Air Quality Handbook.

STUDIES & RESEARCH

• Understanding Airport Air Quality and Public Health Studies Related to Airports, Second Edition (2024), Summary of Findings
• Karie Riley, Rich Cook, Edward Carr, and Bryan Manning, “A Systematic Review of the Impact of Commercial Aircraft on Air Quality Near Airports” City and Environment Interactions 11 (May 4, 2021)
• American Lung Association State of the Air 2019 NY Report Card - April 29 2019
• Emissions from... Airport Increase Particle...Concentrations 4-fold...Downwind - Environmental Science & Technology, May 29 2014
• Airport-related contributions to ambient air pollution (abstract) - Atmospheric Environment, Oct 2014
• The airport atmospheric environment: respiratory health at work - European Resperatory Review, Oct 7 2012
• Airport-Related Air Pollution and Noise - Journal of Occupational & Env. Hygiene, Dec 19 2007

PFAS-Chemical Resources:  non-PFAS resources follow

AIRPORT WATER TEST RESULTS

• County Airport Groundwater Monitoring Program Semiannual Report:  Oct. 2021 - includes prior testing results.
• Airport Water Flow Map showing 2018 Groundwater Well PFAS Levels

NEWS - LOCAL

• NY’s Landmark Water Testing Bill Hinges on State Health Dept Setting Strict Limits for PFAS Chemicals - Water Front, Jan. 27, 2022
• Westchester County Takes Measures To Prevent Water Contamination From Airport - WCBS880, May 22 2019
• Latimer signs executive orders to keep Westchester groundwater clean, safe - News12, May 22 2019
• Initiatives under way to stop WC airport expansion, preserve water supply - News12, Apr 17 2019
• Westchester Airport foes fight expansion amid report of more groundwater contamination - Greenwich Time, Apr 17 2019
• Groundwater Contamination at Westchester Airport More Extensive - LoHud, Apr 17 2019
• Homeowners near County Airport fear groundwater contamination - News12, Apr 16 2019

NEWS - NATIONAL 

• Pentagon Pushes for Weaker Standards on Chemicals Contaminating Drinking Water - NY Times, Mar 14 2019
• E.P.A. Will Study Limits on Cancer-Linked Chemicals. Critics Say the Plan Delays Action - NY Times, Feb 14 2019
• Contaminated water still plagues lakeside community - ABC News, Feb 11 2019
• NJ proposes PFAS regulations for groundwater; EPA regulations delayed - State Impact PA, Jan 21 2019
• US legislation to allow PFAS alternatives in airport firefighting foams - Chemical Watch, Oct 18 2018
• Court sets precedent, rules Navy can be sued for PFAS claims - The Intelligencer, Oct 2 2018
• Newburgh sues feds, state, manufacturers over toxic water - Times Herald-Record, Aug 7 2018
• 3M pollution flares up again, crippling city water systems - Twin Cities Pioneer Press, Jun 30 2018
• Spending Millions to Replace Toxic Firefighting Foam with Toxic Firefighting Foam - The Intercept, Feb 10 2018
• Groundwater contamination found at Westchester County Airport - Lohud, Feb 1 2018

STUDIES & RESEARCH - US Govt.

• PFAS: What Are the Health Effects - CDC/ATSDR
• PFOA/PFOS Drinking Water Health Advisory Fact Sheet - EPA, Nov 2016
• EPA Research on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
• EPA PFAS Home Page
• Toxicology Profile of PFAS (draft recom. min. risk level under 35 ppt) - USDHHS/ATSDR, June 2018 

STUDIES & RESEARCH - US States

• State by State Resources about PFAS - EPA
• PFAS Fact Sheet - Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council, Jan 2019
• [NY] PFAS Contamination Response - NYS Dept. of Env. Conservation
• [NY] PFAS Contamination at Stewart Airport/Newburgh - NYSDEC response
• [NJ] PFAS Risk and Regulation Summary Page - NJ Dept. Env. Protection

STUDIES & RESEARCH - Independent

• EWG: MN Study 1st to Show Causal Link to Reproductive Harms, Sept. 2020 
• EWG Proposes PFAS Standards that Fully Protect Children's Health - Environmental Working Group, May 2019
• The Madrid Statement on PFASs - Environmental Health Perspectives, May 2015 (signed by hundreds of scientists worldwide)
• Short-Chain [PFAS]: a literature of...human health effects and environmental fate...  - Danish Ministry of the Environment, 2015
• Environmental Concerns Related to Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) - Hughes Associates, May 2002

ADVOCACY EFFORTS

• Coalition credited by Westchester County in Press Release on Water Protection Executive Orders - May 22 2019
• SaferStates anti-PFAS legislation tracker
• PEER Letter to Congress re. Response to PFAS Risks - Mar 27 2019
• The story of Testing for Pease, a NH community mobilization - Mar 19 2019
• Center for Health Environment and Justice PFAS Webinar - Mar 19 2019

OTHER TECHNICAL RESOURCES

• FAA CertAlert re Airport Firefighting Foam Use & Testing, Jan 17 2019

Non-PFAS-Related Water Pollution Resources:

NEWS

• How New York Gets Its Water - NY Times, Mar 24 2016
• As a [Filtration] Plant Nears Completion, Croton Water Flows Again...- NY Times, May 8, 2015

GOVERNMENT

• NYC Drinking Water Supply & Quality Report 2018 - NYC Dept. Env. Protection
• Monitoring Unregulated Drinking Water Contaminants - EPA
• Water Quality - FAA Airports Desk Reference Chapter 20
• 1,4-Dioxane Fact Sheet - Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council, Jan 2019

NEWS

• Westchester Airport fans fear losing control and local flavor - Lohud, Jan 6 2017
• Bigger planes land Westchester airport at crossroads, Lohud, Apr 6 2016
• Westchester airport's passenger limits: How they work - Lohud, Apr 6 2016
• Greenwich latest to raise alarm over Westchester airport changes - lohud, Mar 21 2016
• Rye Brook Mayor Expresses Concern Over Proposed County Airport Agreement - Rye Daily Voice, Mar 15 2016

COUNTY 

• Terminal Use Procedures Local Law Section 712.462
• Terminal Use Agreement with airline (sample)
• Proposed Local Law to Modify Terminal Use Procedures, 2016

LEGAL

• Operators' Response to County Answer
• County Answer to Operators' Countersuit - June 19, 2022
• County Lawsuit against Private Operators alleging Terminal Use Procedure law violations, March 7, 2022
• Supporting Affidavit by Airport Manager, March 7, 2022 
• Countersuit by Private Operators challenging Terminal Use Procedure, March 7, 2022 

ADVOCACY EFFORTS

• (Former) Legislator David Gelfarb Raises Objections to Proposed TUA Modification, Mar 17 2016
• Rye Brook Village Letter Opposing Proposed County Legislation Modifying the Terminal Use Rules, Feb 25 2016

NEWS

• Plane that took off in Westchester crashed in CT - News12, Apr 19 2019
• After Recent Passenger Rampage, Questions About Private Jet Service Security - Forbes, Jan 11 2019
• Tailspin: JetSmarter tried to be the Uber of private jets... - CNBC, Jan 10 2019
• 'Heads will be chopped off': Video shows terrifying private jet flight - CNBC, Jan 10 2019
• Many small plane crashes at airport - Greenwich Time, Jun 13 2014
• Pilot injured when small plane goes down in Westchester County - CBS, Nov 17 2012

GOVERNMENT

• TSA Security Guidelines for General Aviation, Jul 2017
• Securing General Aviation - Congressional Research Service, Mar 3 2009
• TSA Recommended Security Actions for Fixed Base Operators, 2004
• NYSDOT Aviation Bureau General Aviation Airport Registration and Security, Aug 1 2017

INDUSTRY SOURCES

• What security procedures do passengers of private jets go through? -- Quora/Air Charter Intl., Dec 17 2018
• General Aviation Security Overview - AOPA (Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association)
• Business Aviation Security: A Continuing Priority For NBAA and Industry

NEWS

• Private Money Takes on Bigger Role in Airport Projects - New York Times, Mar 3 2019
• Westchester airport privatization plan on hold, much to business group's chagrin - lohud, Sep 21 2018
• Westchester County Airport privatization: Still a long way to go, consultants say - Lohud, Feb 14 2018
• Astorino's Challenger Blasts Westchester Airport Plans - Harrison Patch, Sep 28, 2017
• Rally held in opposition to Westchester County Airport deal - Daily Voice - Jul 18 2017
• Perils of Westchester airport privatization - Lohud, Dec 8 2016
• Why airport privatization plan didn't seek bids -Lohud, Nov 14 2016
• Fact check: Westchester Airport privatization plan - Lohud, Nov 13 2016
• Westchester Lawmakers under 'pressure' to OK airport deal - Lohud, Nov 3, 2016
• San Juan airport tender won by Aerostar... - CAPA Centre for Aviation, Jul 2 2012

WESTCHESTER

• Environmental Impact Statement Form re. proposed privatization: "no significant adverse impacts on the env.", Nov 7 2016
• Westchester Board of Legislators Resolution 245-2003 re. Airport Expansion, Oct 7 2003

STUDIES & RESEARCH

ADVOCACY EFFORTS

• Rye Brook Homeowner Association Statements (Doral Greens / BelleFair), Jun 2018
• Joint Position Statement by CRCA, Sierra Club, FCWC, Food & Water Watch opposing privatization & the master plan
• Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter Resolution Opposing Privatization
• VIDEO: Residents voice concerns on privatized Westchester County Airport - News12, Sep 26 2017
• VIDEO: CRCA Interview re. Privatization - Greenburgh Cable Access TV, Jul 18 2017
• VIDEO: Opponents rally against privatization of WC Airport - News12, Jul 17, 2017
• CRCA White Paper Critiquing Airport Privatization and Master Plan - CRCA and allied groups, Jul 9 2017
• Frequently asked questions & common misconceptions... - Citizens for a Responsible County Airport

NEWS

• Initiatives under way to stop WC airport expansion, preserve water supply - News12, Apr 17 2019
• Westchester Airport foes fight expansion amid report of more groundwater contamination - Greenwich Time, Apr 17 2019
• Press Release re. PFAS Contamination, Apr 17 2019
• Homeowners near County Airport fear groundwater contamination - News12, Apr 16 2019
• Coalition interviewed re. PFAS Contamination - LoHud, Apr 16 2019
• Coalition co-founder Peter Schlactus interviewed - Earth+30 Podcast, Apr 1 2019
• Business Council Calls for Airport Advisory Chairs to Resign... - The Examiner, Mar 27 2019
• Press Release re. Formation of the Coalition, Feb 2019
• New Castle officials want input on Westchester County Airport - Lohud, May 1, 2018

OUTREACH

• Coalition Flyer
• Supporter Signup form (like a petition)
• Email message sample - inviting people to become supporters
• Master Plan Mobilization Flyer
• Airport Diagram (B&W) showing terminals, hangars, runways, taxiways, etc.

POSITION PAPERS & PRESENTATIONS

• Master Plan Submitted Public Comments - June, 2022
• Million Air Hangar Position Paper to Board of Legislators - June, 2022 
• Master Plan Public Forums paper - May, 2022
• Position Paper on Proposed Million Air Mega-Hangar #2 - May, 2021
• Press Conference Slides re. PFAS Contamination, Apr 17 2019
• Runway Repaving Letter to Board of Legislators, Feb 2019
• Press Conference Slides re. Formation of the Coalition, Feb. 2019
• Remarks to Westchester BOL Committee on Environment, Health & Energy, Jan 22 2019
• Vision Statement and Coalition Goals, Dec 2018
• White Paper Critiquing Airport Privatization and Master Plan - CRCA and allied groups, Jul 9 2017

APPEARANCES - VIDEO

• PFAS Press Conference - Apr 17 2019
• Earth+30 Podcast on Airport Concerns and Coalition Goals.  Interview with Peter Schlactus, Apr 1 2019
• Presentation re. Formation of Coalition (Schlactus, Klein, Wang), Feb. 2019
• Westchester County Airport Public Forum (Part 1) - Sep 26, 2017
• Westchester County Airport Public Forum (Part 2) - Sep 26, 2017
• CRCA Interview re. Privatization - Greenburgh Cable Access TV, Jul 18 2017
• County Legislator Alfreda Williams with Coalition Chairperson George Klein of the Sierra Club on airport noise and privatization, 2017

NEWS

• Impact of private jets on the environment.

POSITION PAPER

• Institute for Policy Studies report about excessive private flying from Hanscom Field near Boston

HIGHLIGHTS

• Private jets are five to 14 times more polluting per passenger than commercial flights and 50 times more polluting than trains. 
• Some private jets emit as much CO2 in 4 hours as the average advanced-economy output for a citizen does in 1 year.
• In 2023, France banned short-haul flights that have a rail alternative that takes less than 2-½ hours.

COALITION

• POSITION PAPER TO BOL, June 2022
• POSITION STATEMENT, May 2021

NEWS

• Court denies County's Motion to Dismiss Million Air Lawsuit - Harrison Review, March 28, 2022
• Million Air sues Westchester for $30 million, asks federal judge to order OK on jet hangar-Journal News, June 17 2021
• Million Air failed to get environmental permits for upscale jet hangar and terminal-Journal News, May 17 2021
• Million Air terminal and hangar built without FAA environmental review-Journal News, May 13 2021
• New private jet hangar in limbo at County Airport - Journal News, May 6 2021
• Million Air holds grand opening at Westchester County Airport - News12, Feb 28 2019
• Million Air opens luxury terminal at Westchester County Airport - Daily Voice Plus, Feb 27 2019
• Million Air cuts ribbon on new Westchester County Airport hangar, Lohud, May 2 2018

LEGAL

• Decision on Million Air Motion to Amend their Suit (after March dismissals), Oct 4, 2022.
• Decision on County Motion to Dismiss filed March 11, 2022.
• Million Air Complaint to Federal District Court filed June 16, 2021 (includes full lease)

MILLION AIR

• Million Air responds to County Decision to not approve New Hangar, Aug 31, 2022
• Million Air White Plains Brochure re new Aviation Complex
• Million Air $1M NY Empire State Development Grant for "a new terminal and a mega-hangar", Jul 19, 2018
• Million Air White Plains website

GOVERNMENT

• County Airport Advisory Board Recommendation letter, Jan 12, 2023
• County New Hangar Declination Letter to Million Air, July 19, 2022
• County AAB Chair Testimony, Jun 19, 2022 
• County Airport Advisory Board Recommendation letter, May 12, 2022
• Lease with Million Air and related County approval docs. - 2016
• FAA Policy on the Non-Aeronautical Use of Airport Hangars - NY Airports District Office Information Bulletin, Nov 15 2016
• FAA Policy on Use of Hangars at Obligated Airports (FAQ) - FAA, Jun 9 2016