Skip to main content

A letter I am sending to Senator Chris Van Hollen

I encourage you to check out the Montgomery County web site “Montgomery County Quiet Skies Coalition” - https://sites.google.com/site/208xxquietskies/home  
Our wealthy good friends in Maryland (north of DCA) persuaded Montgomery County to appropriate over $300,000 for a noise study to submit to the FAA to support their case in reducing airport noise. They write a lot of letters to politicians and seem to get very good results from their efforts. I have always believed if you see someone accomplishing a goal that you have; you should emulate their behavior. I suggest more of us write letters to our county, local, state and federal government politicians. I have posted a part of a letter I am sending to Senator Chris Van Hollen. I am sending similar letters to all our county, local, state and federal government politicians. From my research, the FAA thinks airport noise is a zero-sum game. The FAA think if they take action to reduce the noise in one community noise is another community has to increase. The FAA should use its satellite technology to revert to the flight paths of the pre-NextGen routes.


Senator Chris Van Hollen
1101 Mercantile Lane
Suite 210
Largo, MD 20774
Phone: (301) 322-6560

I voted for you in your first election and every following election. I commend you for your work in the Senate to help solve the problem of airplane noise. I am asking for your support to help solve the problem of airplane noise in Accokeek (CDP) Md caused by the FAA (DCA Metroplex NextGen Air Traffic Control system). From news reports, I know you are aware of airport noise in communities north of DCA. I believe you do not have the same awareness of airport noise in communities south of DCA, from aircraft approaching DCA from the south (North Flow Arrivals). The North Flow Arrivals has created problems with repetitive concentrated aircraft passing over our homes. Many other cities share this problem.
The residents of Accokeek are experiencing intolerable noise due to the FAA NextGen choice of flight paths. When I moved here, there was no airport noise.  In the past three years, there has been a deterioration in our quality of life caused by the loud noise and emissions from jet engines from the numerous aircraft that fly above our communities every day. We can no longer enjoy our outdoor activities, sunrooms, patios, decks and summer cookouts.
The noise started in 2014 and has gotten worse with time. This increased noise was caused by the FAA decisions to implement the NextGen program. The FAA has become a government agency controlled by the Airlines. The FAA is using its discretionary power to save the Airlines money and pushing the cost to our communities. For every dollar the Airline save with NextGen we pay a cost, lower property values and problems with our health. Four communities that have the greatest excessive aircraft noise are:
1.           Accokeek (CDP) population 10,000 people
2.           Fort Washington (CDP) population 23,717 people
3.           Bensville (CDP) Maryland population11,000 people
4.           Bryans Road (CDP) Maryland population11,000 people
Accokeek was a very good place to live, quiet, uncrowded, plenty of green space, a good quality of life. I have lived in Accokeek Maryland since 1993 (26 years). I, like many of my neighbors, moved here because Accokeek was a good place to live. Accokeek is in the South East part of Prince George's County. Accokeek CDP is a community of over 10,000 people. The median income is $126,961. The median property value is $371,417. For several years home values in Accokeek have appreciated over 6% a year. Due to decisions by the FAA, commercial airliners often fly over my house every few minutes from 6:00 a.m. to midnight at altitudes below 3,000 feet.  This constant aircraft noise has reduced the equity in my home significantly. This constant noise from low-lying aircraft may prevent me from selling my house. 
I am not the only person who is negatively affected by NextGen airport noise; this problem affects thousands of people in Accokeek Maryland and adjacent communities. I believe in a democracy the government should not be able to take property (reduced the equity in your home) without fair compensation or due process. The FAA (North Flow Arrivals) arbitrarily created aircraft flight paths over homes for aircraft landing at Reagan National Airport. A decision made with no notice, no noise or health studies. A bunch of bureaucrats made this decision, who probably have worked for the airlines in the past and will probably work for the airlines in the future. The FAA only took into consideration how their decisions will impact the airline's profits and airlines passengers' comfort. The FAA did not consider the people on the ground in Accokeek. The citizens Accokeek health is impacted, and their property values significantly reduced.

We the residents of Accokeek would like to be included in whatever action you take to get relief from the FAA mandated D.C. Metroplex North Flow Arrivals. We want the FAA to use its satellite technology to revert to the flight paths of the pre-NextGen routes. We believe this is an equitable solution since Accokeek has never had noise from air traffic……..

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Who to Contact if You're Impacted by Aircraft Noise

Contact numbers and emails for Maryland politicians Van Hollen 111 Rockville Pike Suite 960 Rockville, MD 20850 Brent Girard (Constituent Services and Community Outreach, Van Hollen) Brent_girard@vanhollen.senate.gov 667-212-4610 Ben Cardin 100 S. Charles St. Tower 1, Suite 1710 Baltimore, MD 21201 Heather_campbell@cardin.senate.gov 410-962-4436 Shannon Frede (Legislative Assistant, Cardin) Shannon_frede@cardin.senate.gov 202-224-4524 Steny Hoyer US District Court House 6500 Cherrywood Ln. Suite 310 Greenbelt, MD 20770 Sana Mirza (Hoyer) 301-474-0119 Noise from Aircraft Operations at Your Community Airport Airport noise issues and concerns should first be addressed with the local airport manager or staff who respond to airport noise issues. Check your local telephone directory for airport telephone numbers. Many airports also have their noise abatement information and contact information published on their website. If you believe the airplanes were flying unsafely...
Post a Comment
Read more

Aircraft noise environmental justice issue

 Aircraft noise is also an environmental justice issue, as it disproportionately impacts children, seniors, racial minorities, and the poor.  Southern Maryland, Fair Skies Coalition, was founded to seek solutions to decrease aircraft noise and air pollution south of DCA. The most severely impacted neighborhoods are Accokeek (CDP), Bryans Road (CDP), Bennsville (CDP), and Fort Washington (CDP), Maryland. Aircraft noise is also an environmental justice issue, as it disproportionately impacts children, seniors, racial minorities, and the poor.   How to Submit a Reagan National Aircraft Noise Complaint: File a Noise Complaint Sources of information Airport noise and pollution Working-Class Americans Inhale Private Jet Fumes; National Public Radio, Dec. 26, 2022 READ MORE → Information about the severe health risks of aircraft noise and concentrated flight paths, go to Study: Airport Flight Patterns Influence Health Care Costs; The Business Monthly, Oct. 3, 2022 READ MOR...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Cornerstones of Energy Resilience

  The Cornerstones of Energy Resilience Achieving energy resilience is a multi-faceted endeavor built on several key principles: Robustness: Hardening energy infrastructure to withstand physical damage. This can include elevating substations in flood-prone areas, burying power lines to protect them from high winds, and using stronger materials for utility poles. Redundancy: Having backup systems in place. This can range from individual homeowners having portable generators to hospitals having sophisticated uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). Resourcefulness and Diversity: Utilizing a variety of energy sources to avoid over-reliance on a single fuel or technology. A diverse energy portfolio, including renewables like solar and wind, alongside traditional sources, can provide more flexibility during a crisis. Flexibility and Adaptability: The ability to reconfigure energy systems in real-time to respond to changing conditions. Smart grids and advanced control technologies can a...
Post a Comment
Read more

pgc climate action plan

  Prince George's County's Climate Action Plan (CAP) Prince George's County's Climate Action Plan (CAP) is a roadmap for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building resilience to climate change impacts. The plan, developed by the  Prince George's County Climate Action Commission , sets a goal of reducing carbon emissions by 50% from 2005 levels by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The plan includes 26 priority recommendations for county-wide climate action, focusing on both mitigation and adaptation strategies.  Key aspects of the plan include: Emissions Reduction: The plan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030, aligning with state and regional goals.  Climate Resilience: The plan addresses the impacts of climate change —such as extreme heat, flooding, and severe storms —by integrating climate resilience into long-range planning and infrastructure development.  Community Engagement: The plan emphasizes a collabo...
Post a Comment
Read more

South Side Project

 Southside Express Lanes (South Side project) Virginia VDOT wants to add two new high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes in each direction along an 11-mile stretch of I-495 between I-395 in Fairfax County and Maryland Route 210 in Prince George’s County, crossing the Woodrow Wilson Bridge – Greater greater Washington, Spending money to go nowhere: Southside Express Lanes should be a Metro extension,  David Edmondson (Contributor) August 20, 2025  I am against the "Southside Project," I live in Accokeek, Maryland. My home is 17 miles south on Indian Head Highway (210). I have lived in Accokeek, Maryland, since 2003. I am now retired. Before I retired, I worked in Fairfax Virginia, and commuted from Accokeek to Fairfax five days a week. I have spent a lot of time on Indian Head Highway and the beltway trying to get to work. I have come to know the traffic patterns well.  “You don’t have to be a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing.” I don’t have to be a traffic exp...
1 comment
Read more