A high level of aircraft noise pollution is registered over a large area of Montréal
Montreal, August 19, 2015 – Thanks to the installation (10) noise measuring stations in the boroughs of Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension, Saint-Laurent and Mont-Royal over the past 12 months, les Pollués de Montréal-Trudeau are in a position to demonstrate that the noise produced by aircraft flying over these areas is excessive.
“”Several times a day, our various noise measuring stations record noise spikes in excess of 70, 75 or even 80 dB (A), caused by aircraft flying over Montreal and its suburbs. That’s the equivalent of a jackhammer at a distance of 100 to 150 metres, and it’s almost the sound of a lawn mower with a petrol engine (90 dB (A)). Moreover, the cumulative effect of these sounds together with ambient noise rises to average levels often greater than the norm of 55 dB (A) that the World Health Organization (WHO) advises should not be exceeded without causing cardiovascular problems. Some nights are also very noisy and thousands of citizens cannot get more than four hours uninterrupted sleep between 11.00 p.m. and 7.00 a.m. “,” said Raymond Prince, senior director of les Pollués de Montréal-Trudeau.
To counter the disinformation of ADM
The initiative of this group of residents demonstrates definitively that Aéroports de Montreal (ADM), which manages the Montreal-Trudeau facility, does not behave as a good corporate citizen: it refuses to install measuring stations to the east of Vieux Saint-Laurent, and refuses to seek solutions to forge a harmonious coexistence between Montrealers and their airport. Among other things, ADM denies that the situation has deteriorated since February 2012 when NAV Canada changed the takeoff and landing protocols and altitude levels of aircraft flying over Montreal.
Mr. Prince cites the example of the Ports Authority of New York and New Jersey which agreed in 2014 to pay 14.6 million dollars for two comprehensive studies on noise pollution in residential areas neighboring JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, and Teterboro Airports. The aim of the studies is to make recommendations to reduce the impact of aircraft noise pollution on residents.
“In the absence of any willingness of ADM to cooperate with the community, we ask Health Canada and the Montreal Department of Public Health to take responsibility and intervene to properly exercise their role of watchdogs over the health of Canadians and Montrealers, “said Antoine Bécotte, president of les Pollués de Montréal-Trudeau.
Noisy, even 14 kilometers from the runway
The 10 noise measuring stations were installed close to the two “official” flight-paths designated by ADM, and at specific distances from them (north of Henri-Bourassa Boulevard in Ahuntsic, and close to rue Faillon in Villeray), to accurately measure the level of noise generated by aircraft, and to illustrate lack of specificity in guidelines given to pilots.
The closest measuring station to the airport is located six kilometers from the nearest runway, and the furthest measuring station was installed 14 kilometers – still as the crow flies – from Montreal-Trudeau. At that location, D’Iberville Street, between Villeray and Jean-Talon, it is not uncommon to register aircraft noise exceeding 70 dB (A) several times a day.
Les Pollués plan to install at least six more measuring stations over the next year, provided of course that they can get the necessary financial assistance from the population and public authorities. So far the cost of ten measuring stations has been covered by a public fundraising campaign, including contributions from provincial politicians (Christine St-Pierre and Marie Montpetit), elected officials of the borough of Ahuntsic-Cartierville, and from the municipality of Town of Mount Royal.
Furthermore, following a motion adopted by Lachine in 2013, elected representatives of Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension and Town of Mount Royal both adopted in February and April respectively, motions calling for ADM to institute aircraft noise mitigation measures over their territory and, in these two cases, a genuine curfew from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. These demands followed in part those of les Pollués de Montréal-Trudeau, and once again were totally ignored by ADM.
About Les Pollués de Montréal-Trudeau
A group of citizens in northern Montreal incorporated as a non profit organization in the summer of 2013, the main demands of Les Pollués de Montréal-Trudeau are a review of landing and take-off protocols at the Montreal-Trudeau Airport with the objective of raising altitude levels of aircraft flying over the island of Montreal, and the application of a strict curfew between 11 pm and 7 am.