State sues FAA over flight paths over southwestern Conn.
HARTFORD, Conn. --State officials on Thursday sued the Federal Aviation Administration to block a plan they say would allow flights over southwestern Connecticut that would damage the region's environment.
Federal aviation officials say the plan is needed to better manage rising air traffic and cut congestion at New York and Philadelphia airports. Gov. M. Jodi Rell and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said the proposed flight plan would increase noise over the region, which includes high-population towns and cities and state parks and forests.
"The FAA Redesign Plan would bring unacceptable impacts to Connecticut and particularly to this region of our state, and we will do everything we can to derail this plan," Rell said.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd District in New York on behalf of the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Eight Fairfield County municipalities and Purchase, N.Y., joined the legal challenge. The lawsuit asks the federal court to rescind the plan because opponents say the FAA failed to consider and analyze the impact of increased noise on residents and state parks.
Paul Takemoto, spokesman for the FAA, said the agency will not comment on litigation.
However, he defended the plan as a way to redesign airspace in one of the most crowded areas of the United States. On any particular day, one-sixth of the world's air traffic moves through that area, Takemoto said.
"There are constant attempts to create more capacity for growing demand," he said.
Federal aviation officials have proposed altering air routes into and out of LaGuardia Airport and JFK International Airport in New York, Newark International Airport in New Jersey and Philadelphia International Airport. The plan would cut airline delays, aviation officials say.
In addition, the proposal would save $248 million in fuel annually and reduce carbon emissions, Takemoto he said.
However, state officials say the plan calls for 150 more planes a day to fly over western Connecticut, and that the altitude of flights also would be lower.
The FAA studied four alternatives over nine years before making a final decision, Takemoto said. The proposal that aviation officials settled on is before the Environmental Protection Agency.
