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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-09-19-HFAC-minHanscom Field Advisory Commission (HFAC) Minutes – 19 September 2023 Prepared by Massport Staff Video of HFAC Meeting on the Lincoln, MA TV Page: https://cloud.castus.tv/vod/lincoln/?page=HOME • Call to Order: HFAC Chairman Christopher Eliot called the meeting to order at 7:01pm • Announcements: • Chairman Eliot recording HFAC Meeting; greeted all to September 19th meeting pursuant MA Open Meeting Law • Chairman Eliot asked for a brief introduction from the Commission, Massport and FAA personnel • Chairman Eliot dropped multiple documents into the chat to include news articles, Barbara Katzenberg’s comments to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the Noise Policy Review, a Hanscom flight tracking guide and Senator Ed Markey’s tax proposal on private jet travel • Chairman Eliot provided an Environmental Restoration Program Update from the Hanscom Air Force Base Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) • Chairman Eliot met with MA State Representative Alice Peisch and Senator Ed Markey’s aides to discuss stronger protections for climate impacts from aviation to be included in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023 • Chairman Eliot attended two Massport Community Advisory Committee (MCAC) Meetings with Cindy Baxter o MCAC writing response to FAA comments request on noise metrics documenting public health impact of noise • Emily Mitchell announced forum about North Airfield Project at Bedford Town Hall at 6:30pm in person / Zoom o Presentations by Save our Heritage, Emily Mitchell and Bill McKibben • Chairman Eliot announced HFAC has a $5,000 budget that MA State Senator Michael Barret helped pass through the MA State Legislature; HFAC needs to determine logistics of how to allocate the appropriated funds o Suggestions to pay for lead testing and/or hire independent administrative assistant to take meeting minutes • Chairman Eliot reported scheduled speaker Chuck Collins was unable to attend September HFAC • Minutes: The July 2023 Meeting Minutes were reviewed for approval • The July 2023 Meeting Minutes were approved unanimously with the following amendments: o Under Monthly Noise Reports, correct the spelling of Terri Ackerman’s first name o Under Agenda Items, add a comma after the wildlife parenthesis o Under Attendees, correct the spelling of Kati Winchell’s first name • Cargo or Scheduled Commercial Passenger Services • Amber Goodspeed stated there have been no requests for future scheduled passenger or cargo service • Monthly Noise Reports: presented by Amber Goodspeed In July 2023 as compared to July 2022: • 7am - 11pm operations decreased 9.8% in July 2023 • Singles (including touch and goes) decreased 19.3% in July 2023 • Turbo activity increased 8.5% in July 2023 • Jet operations increased 8.6% in July 2023 • Helicopter activity increased 1.7% in July 2023 • Night Operations (11pm-7am) no change with 226 in July 2022 and July 2023 In Aug 2023 as compared to Aug 2022: • 7am - 11pm operations decreased 10.8% in Aug 2023 • Singles (including touch and goes) decreased 19.6% in Aug 2023 • Turbo activity increased 7.1% in Aug 2023 • Jet operations increased 5.3% in Aug 2023 • Helicopter activity decreased 13.9% in Aug 2023 • Night Operations (11pm-7am) decreased 3.9% from 231 in Aug 2022 to 222 in Aug 2023 • Mark Giddings commented on unusual high number of complaints from just one resident • Emily Mitchell asked about F-18 on 27 Aug; Hanscom AFB Public Affairs Glen Kernusky researching flight • Margaret Coppe asked about how Residents are listed; listed based on number of complaints per month • Capital Programs and Third Party Development Reports: Amber Goodspeed presented the Capital Programs and Third Party Development reports and noted that: • Salt storage shed relocation project bid will be posted in late 2023 • Runway 05/23 grooving and final painting will be performed the week of September 25th • Agenda Items: Topics discussed on published agenda: • Chairman Eliot provided points about the North Airfield project from Massport’s perspective o Hanscom Field is general aviation reliever airport and providing more hangar space fits Massport’s strategic plan • Chairman Eliot assisted MCAC with their submittal to the FAA on the Noise Policy Review o Alex Chatfield appointed to the MCAC as the Lincoln representative • Citizen Comments: Citizens commented on and/or asked about the following topics • Jennifer Boles reminded everyone of the Hanscom AFB RAB meeting on 10 Oct, 7:00-9:30pm o Matt Greenberg providing update on airfield groundwater Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) • Jennifer Boles had questions about the number of helicopters in the box hangars at Hanscom Field o Amber Goodspeed indicated there are three helicopters currently hangared o Tom Hirsch reiterated that there were at times three helicopters at the old Pine Hill T-Hangars • Other Business: The date for the next HFAC meeting will be at 7:00 p.m. on 17 Oct 2023 via Zoom • On the October agenda will be Tufts University Professor Neelakshi Hudda speaking on air quality • Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 7:59 p.m. Attendees: Christopher Eliot, Margaret Coppe, Barbara Katzenberg, Thomas Hirsch, Mark Giddings, Emily Mitchell, Amber Goodspeed, Mike Vatalaro, Mark Wimmer, Michael Dukes, Lindsey White, Cindy Baxter, Jennifer Boles, Patty Dahlgren, Bob Domnitz, John Koenig, Jeanne Krieger, Paul Lazay, Alexandra Marshall, Chris McCarthy, Amy McCoy, Paul Mortensen, Craig Nicholson, Trisha O’Hagan, Debbie P., Scott Rodman, Mike Rosenberg, David Skyes and Anne Sobol.