Below are some of the most
frequently asked questions about the Residential Sound Insulation
Program:
Q: What impact does the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Record of
Decision (ROD) relating to the O’Hare Modernization Program (OMP) have
on the Residential Sound Insulation Program?
As directed by the
FAA’s Record of Decision for the
O’Hare Modernization Program, issued on
September 30, 2005, the O’Hare Residential Sound Insulation Program will
continue to be an aggressive mitigation effort by the City of Chicago
and will focus on the sound insulation of homes within the 2013 noise
contour for O’Hare. The 2013 noise contour reflects the anticipated
impact from aircraft operations once all construction phases of the OMP
are complete.
Q: How will the future Residential Program differ from the past Program?
For the past ten
years, the City of Chicago and the O’Hare Noise Compatibility Commission
(ONCC) have worked to
voluntarily
sound insulate over 5,900 homes surrounding O’Hare International
Airport. From here forward, the Residential Program will be focused on
the effort to sound-insulate approximately 5,000 residences as required
by the FAA’s Record of Decision for the O’Hare Modernization Program.
Q: Can the City of Chicago or the O’Hare Noise Compatibility Commission
continue to use the 2000 Noise Contour for Residential Sound Insulation
Program eligibility purposes?
No. The FAA has
determined that airport noise contours based on actual operational
levels shall only be used for no more than five (5) years for sound
insulation purposes.
Q: What other major differences are there between the past Residential
Program and the future Residential Program?
Since the onset of
the Residential Program, the City of Chicago and the O’Hare
Noise Compatibility Commission have prioritized eligibility to include
single-family owner occupied homes.
As required by the
FAA’s Record of Decision, all single-family and multi-family dwelling
types within the 2013, 65 DNL Noise Contour must be included by the time
of the OMP’s full build-out.
The Residential
Program is also changing with regard to noise contours and their use
in defining the eligibility areas. Under the voluntary Residential
Program, the City of Chicago Department of Aviation provided updated
noise exposure contour maps based on actual operational levels of the
airport and selected homes on a year-to-year basis. For the new
Residential Program, the FAA has selected the 2013 noise contour based
on the noise levels anticipated once the O’Hare Modernization Program
construction phases are complete. The use of a future noise contour for
sound insulation purposes is the usual practice of the FAA, which
results from an Environmental Impact Statement’s Record of Decision for
projects like the O’Hare Modernization Program.
Q: How many homes will be sound insulated under the revised O’Hare
Residential Sound Insulation Program?
In total,
approximately 5,000 single-family and multi-family homes have been
identified by the FAA as eligible for the Program.
Q: How long will it take to complete all the sound insulation work?
The ONCC will
continue to actively oversee the O’Hare Residential Sound Insulation
Program and will work with the Chicago Department of Aviation to
determine the construction/phasing schedule. As required by the FAA
Record of Decision, all homes within the 65 DNL area of the 2013 Noise
Contour must be completed under the Residential Program by the full
build out of the O’Hare Modernization Program.
Q: Which communities will get homes sound
insulated first?
The ONCC and the
City of Chicago will work to determine the priority and phasing plan
using the defined eligibility area of the 2013 Noise Contour.
Q: How is the O'Hare Noise Compatibility
Commission involved with the O’Hare Residential Sound Insulation
Program?
In 1996, Mayor
Richard M. Daley created the O'Hare Noise Compatibility Commission
(ONCC) to oversee aircraft noise mitigation efforts around O'Hare
International Airport. Mayor Daley had suggested the formation of the
ONCC as a policy-making group to direct funding for noise reduction
projects. Since that time, nearly 6,000 homes around O’Hare have been
sound-insulated, which is double the original commitment by the City of
Chicago.
The FAA, in its
OMP Record of Decision, reinforced the ONCC’s role in determining the
policies for the future O’Hare Residential Sound Insulation Program.
Q: How can I get my home sound insulated?
This is not a
program for which you sign-up or place yourself on a list. Homes are
determined to be eligible based on the defined noise contour area. The
FAA has determined that the 65 DNL area of the 2013 Noise Contour shall
be used for all programs from now on. To see online if a home is
eligible for sound insulation, please use the following Internet link:
http://www.ohare.com/cnrc/ohare/ohareresidential.htm
Q:
What is done to a home to insulate against aircraft noise?
Currently,
homeowners are given option packages to choose from in order to
significantly reduce the aircraft noise level experienced in the home.
Homeowners will be responsible for selecting among the three
construction packages that may include: window modifications, prime door
treatments and storm door treatments; or air conditioning modifications
(with or without duct work).
Q: Who pays for the program?
Historically, the
Chicago Department of Aviation has provided 100 percent of the funding
for the Residential Sound Insulation Program through the Passenger
Facility Charges (PFCs) assessed by the airlines for each passenger
departing or arriving at O'Hare International Airport. Other funding
sources may be sought in the future for the Residential Program.
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