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The
O’Hare School Sound Insulation Program is the largest program of its kind in
the world. It is operated and funded by the City of Chicago with monies from the
Airport Improvement Program (AlP), the
Passenger Facilities Charge (PFC) and
Non-Passenger Facility Charges. The program is overseen by the O’Hare Noise
Compatibility Commission (ONCC).
The goal of the program, which began in 1982,
is to equitably deliver sound insulation funding to area schools most in need of
noise mitigation. Schools apply to the O’Hare School Sound
Insulation Program and are selected for noise testing based on several
established criteria including proximity to the airport. The selected schools
are tested during a four-day period when maximum aircraft activity is expected.
Three noise monitors are used for each school during testing. One monitor
measures exterior noise levels, one measures noise levels with classroom windows
closed and the third monitors noise levels with classroom windows open. The O’Hare
Noise Compatibility Commission’s School Sound
Insulation Committee then ranks the tested schools based on the “windows-open”
noise levels, which is consistent with FAA guidelines. As funding becomes
available, schools are selected for sound insulation construction work based on
that ranking.
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