Environmental Assessment for North Texas Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex Aircraft Noise Technical Report HMMH Report No. 305220.002 September 2013 Prepared for: Federal Aviation Administration Fort Worth, TX Prepared by: Robert Mentzer Jr. Christopher Waite Harris Miller Miller & Hanson Inc. 77 South Bedford Street Burlington, MA 01803 T 781.229.0707 F 781.229.7939 This page intentionally left blank. Contents Environmental Assessment for North Texas Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex Contents 1 Introduction....................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Noise Impact Criteria .......................................................................................................................... 1 2 North Texas OAPM Noise Analysis Objectives ............................................................................. 2 2.1 Evaluate Changes in Noise Levels..................................................................................................... 2 2.2 Model all IFR Traffic Routes over Entire General Study Area (GSA)................................................. 2 2.3 Model Day/Night Noise Levels at Population Centroids..................................................................... 3 2.4 Model Day/Night Noise Levels at Department of Transportation Act, Section 4(f) Resources and Historic and Cultural Resources in the General Study Area (GSA) .................................................. 3 2.5 Use Standard Procedure Profiles with Air Traffic Control Altitude Control Points.............................. 3 2.6 Identify and Quantify Noise Changes and Causes Thereof ............................................................... 3 2.7 Produce Easily Interpreted and Informative Tables and Graphics to Report Results........................ 4 3 Noise Modeling and Analysis.......................................................................................................... 5 3.1 Noise Model........................................................................................................................................ 5 3.2 Input Requirements ............................................................................................................................ 7 3.2.1 Airport and Runway Data.................................................................................................................... 7 3.2.2 Local Environment Variables.............................................................................................................. 7 3.2.3 Operation Levels and Day/Night Distribution ..................................................................................... 8 3.2.4 Runway Use ....................................................................................................................................... 8 3.2.5 Aircraft Fleet Mix............................................................................................................................... 23 3.2.6 Aircraft Noise-Power-Distance (NPD) Curves.................................................................................. 41 3.2.7 Aircraft Climb/Descent Profiles......................................................................................................... 41 3.2.8 Aircraft Stage Length........................................................................................................................ 42 3.2.9 Flight Track Definitions ..................................................................................................................... 42 3.2.10Flight Track Assignments ................................................................................................................. 49 3.2.11Population Data ................................................................................................................................ 49 4 Noise Modeling Procedures .......................................................................................................... 52 4.1 Model Input ....................................................................................................................................... 52 4.2 Data Integrity Checks ....................................................................................................................... 52 4.3 Develop Output Reports for Impact Analysis.................................................................................... 52 5 NIRS Analysis ................................................................................................................................. 53 5.1 Existing Conditions and No Action Conditions ................................................................................. 53 5.2 No Action Noise Model Input ............................................................................................................ 53 5.3 Proposed Action Model Input ........................................................................................................... 53 5.4 Proposed Action and No Action Impact Analysis Results ................................................................ 85 Appendices to Noise Technical Report .................................................................................................. 86 Appendix 1 NIRS Aircraft Substitution Requests and Suggestions ................................................ 87 Appendix 2 Section 4(f) Resources ..................................................................................................... 88 Inventory of Section 4(f) Resources............................................................................................................ 88 Inventory 88 Appendix 3 Historic and Cultural Resources ................................................................................... 157 Inventory of Historic Resources ................................................................................................................ 157 Inventory 157 Consultation .............................................................................................................................................. 157 Noise Exposure at Historic Sites............................................................................................................... 157 References and Endnotes .................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined. iii Environmental Assessment for North Texas Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex Figures Exhibit 1. North Texas OAPM NIRS Departure Tracks – Existing Conditions .................................... 45 Exhibit 2. North Texas OAPM NIRS Arrival Tracks – Existing Conditions.......................................... 47 Exhibit 3. North Texas OAPM GSA Population...................................................................................... 50 Exhibit 4. Major Airports – Proposed Action Arrivals (South Flow) vs. No Action Arrivals (South Flow) 57 Exhibit 5. Major Airports – Proposed Action Arrivals (North Flow) vs. No Action Arrivals (North Flow) 59 Exhibit 6. Major Airports – Proposed Action Arrivals vs. No Action Arrivals NIRS Tracks .............. 61 Exhibit 7. Major Airports – Proposed Action Departures (South Flow) vs. No Action Departures (South Flow) .............................................................................................................................................. 65 Exhibit 8. Major Airports – Proposed Action Departures (North Flow) vs. No Action Departures (North Flow) ............................................................................................................................................... 67 Exhibit 9. Major Airports – Proposed Action vs. No Action Departures NIRS Tracks....................... 69 Exhibit 10. Satellite Airports – Proposed Action Arrivals vs. No Action Arrivals .............................. 73 Exhibit 11. Satellite Airports – Proposed Action vs. No Action Arrivals NIRS Tracks ...................... 75 Exhibit 12. Satellite Airports – Proposed Action Departures vs. No Action Departures................... 79 Exhibit 13. Satellite Airports – Proposed Action vs. No Action Departures NIRS Tracks................. 81 Tables Table 1. Noise Impact Scoring Criteria ..................................................................................................... 2 Table 2. North Texas EA Metroplex Study Airports................................................................................. 7 Table 3. Environmental Variables - Weather ............................................................................................ 8 Table 4. Modeled Average Annual Day IFR Operation Totals ................................................................ 8 Table 5. Runway Operating Configuration Usage – Major Study Airports (2011, 2014, and 2019) .... 9 Table 6. DFW Runway Use Percentages – Proposed Action and No Action Alternative (1 of 2) ..... 11 Table 6. DFW Runway Use Percentages – Proposed Action and No Action Alternative (2 of 2) ..... 12 Table 7. DAL Runway Use Percentages – Proposed Action and No Action Alternative ................... 13 Table 8. ADS Runway Use Percentages – Proposed Action and No Action Alternative................... 14 Table 9. AFW Runway Use Percentages – Proposed Action and No Action Alternative .................. 15 Table 10. FTW Runway Use Percentages – Proposed Action and No