New committee on aircraft noise formed but no Menlo Park representative

U.S. Representatives Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18), who represents Menlo Park and Atherton, along with Sam Farr (CA-20) and Jackie Speier (CA-14) have formed a new Select Committee on South Bay Arrivals. None of the 12 local elected officials on the committee are from Menlo Park or Atherton, although Atherton Mayor Elizabeth Lewis and Menlo Park council member Peter Ohtaki are alternatives.

Together with the announcement of the new Select Committee, the Representatives are released the FAA’s updated Initiative to Address Northern California Noise Concerns which includes completed milestones.

The Select Committee on South Bay Arrivals will accept public input, review FAA proposals, and make recommendations on issues identified in the FAA’s Initiative with a focus on arrival issues that primarily impact the South Bay Region. The SFO Airport/Community Roundtable will accept public input, review FAA proposals, and make recommendations on issues identified in the FAA’s Initiative with a focus on SFO departures as well as arrivals that primarily impact the SFO Roundtable geographical area.

SFO and the FAA will offer technical assistance to both the Select Committee and the SFO Roundtable as needed and will work with both the Committee and the SFO Roundtable on the FAA’s Initiative.

“Establishment of this Select Committee is a critical step to address airplane noise that is plaguing our constituents,” said Eshoo. New flight paths implemented by the FAA have generated an alarming increase in noise impacts across my entire Congressional District. Large, small, urban, and rural communities have been affected, and the majority of noise complaints in my District involve arrivals at SFO. The Select Committee on South Bay Arrivals will work with the public and the FAA to expedite solutions to this problem.

“Importantly, the Select Committee will have representation from the three Congressional Districts and the three affected counties. This is a regional problem which calls for regional solutions. Simply shifting noise from one community to another is not an option.”