UPROAR PRESS RELEASE - January 16, 1998

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CITIZENS CHARGE AIRPORT NOT LIVING UP TO AGREEMENTS REGARDING NOISE ABATEMENT

Letter Urges Mayors of Peninsula Cities to Demand Compliance

Menlo Park, CA., Jan. 16, 1998 -- The San Francisco Airport has failed to perform its noise abatement obligations under the 1992 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), residents of Peninsula cities charge. They expressed anger about the high level of commercial aircraft noise generated by airport operations and the failure of the airport to provide any significant relief despite numerous complaints to airport managers and elected officials.

A recent letter to the Mayors of Atherton, Belmont, Brisbane, Burlingame, Colma, Daly City, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Pacifica, Portola Valley, Redwood City, Woodside, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Mateo and South San Francisco and to the Board of Supervisors of San Mateo County urged immediate action to ensure compliance with the 1992 MOU.

UPROAR Group Charges
Specific charges in the letter state that "the airport's PASSUR system is still unable to provide sufficient flight identification information to facilitate follow-up and correction of overflight problems;" "there is no evidence that the airport is performing any tracking of late night noise levels;" "the airport has not made any improvement in the barrier for Runway 1R;" and "has not installed any additional noise monitors;" among other departures from the agreement.

In addition, the airport is criticized for removing noise abatement equipment and not replacing it.

Many signing the letter are members of UPROAR, an organization formed to engage citizens in the effort to eliminate commercial aircraft noise over their communities. Although the City of Palo Alto was not included in the original Memorandum of Understanding, Palo Alto citizens are also actively involved.

Jack Gottsman, one of UPROAR's leaders, said the organization was formed spontaneously by citizens from more than 20 Peninsula communities. "The residents of these communities are outraged at the arrogant indifference of airport managers and airline executives to the consequences of their operations." He emphasized that "citizens will no longer tolerate the adversity being inflicted on them due to these agents' abuse of power."

UPROAR is also investigating safety and pollution issues caused by commercial aircraft flying over local communities.