19930501 Ver 2_Public Comments_20091207 (6)

Mcmillan, Ian
From: Karoly, Cyndi
Sent: Monday, December 07, 2009 9:21 AM
To: Mcmillan, Ian
Subject: FW: Comment on Macon Cty Airport
another comment letter for the file
From: Jim Pader [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Sunday, December 06, 2009 6:07 PM
To: Loretta.A. Beckwith@ usace.a rmy. m I I
Cc: Karoly, Cyndi
Subject: Comment on Macon Cty Airport
Dear Ms. Beckwith:
The 600 foot extension of Macon County Airport is primarily to accommodate jet aircraft and satisfy their insurance
requirements when they use this facility.
Macon County Airport is physically located less than 1000 feet from lotla Elementary School, which at the present time,
is being enlarged to accept the students from two other schools, and will be more than twice its present size. The new
school building, because of its larger size, will be closer to the airport than it is now. Also, near the end of the runway, is
the Drake School for boys, and the Baptist School for girls.
As anyone who has flown by jet or lives near a large airport knows, jet aircraft make a considerable amount of noise -
especially on take-off. A Cornell environmental psychologist, Gary Evans has found that this noise impairs children's
reading ability and long-term memory. In a study published in Psychological Science (Vol. 13, No. 5 Sept. 2002) he said,
"Noise exposure is consistently linked to reading deficits and may interfere with speech perception and long-term memory
in primary school children." He also stated that this latest study is further evidence that exposure to chronic noise can
have serious health, learning and motivational effects on children and adults.
As for elementary school teachers, their job is already difficult trying to keep the attention of elementary
school children. They don't need the high noise distraction created by jet aircraft taking off a thousand feet away.
Do we have enough foresight to recognize the serious potential of this situation and stop further accommodation of jet
aircraft at Macon County Airport? Or will we wait until the damage is done to our children's future and then cry for
solutions?
Stop the extension of Macon County Airport and save our children's future.
Sincerely,
James B. Pader
262 Mine Valley Trail
Franklin, NC 28734