CAAP's lawsuit is expected to go to trial July 27, 2012

New San Jose Airport expansion plans will bring devastating nighttime noise and pollution to our neighborhoods.

Tell the city council to protect our nighttime peace and quiet!

New growth scheme will allow noisy corporate operations during our curfew hours.

24/7 corporate jet takeoffs are coming!

Why Surrounding Neighborhoods Need to Fear Airport Development Plans - May 10, 2010

Letter to Mayor and City Council - Mar 19, 2012

The City has a big surprise for you! - READ THE FLYER HERE

March 30, 2012

Dear Airport Neighbors:

Most of you know that Citizens Against Airport Pollution, the airport watchdog group known as CAAP, filed a lawsuit against the City of San Jose because the City had approved a Major Amendment to the 1997 Airport Master Plan without an Environmental Impact Report. This suit is still pending and should be heard in summer of 2012.

This Major Amendment seeks to develop acreage on the West side of the airport exclusively for corporate jet facilities. A fleet of these jets will be leased, rented or time shared with Silicon Valley companies by a new developer yet to be selected by the city. These corporate jets will fly CEOs in and out of San Jose 24/7. Because these corporate jets are quieter than most commercial jets (yet still incredibly loud) they are specifically exempt from our curfew. The city is quick to point out that this plan will not modify nor end our curfew. While this is true, it will promote unlimited nighttime flights which will erode our quality of life.

The City is now ready to take the first step toward making this development happen. This first step is on the City Council agenda on the afternoon of April 3. It is agenda item 6.2, ”Approval of Minimum Standards for Development of Lands on the West Side of the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport and Accept Key RFP Terms and Conditions for a New Fixed Base Operator.

Some council members seek to pacify the community by declaring that the curfew is safe and no one is seeking to revoke it. However this misses the point. Other council members claim there is no plan, just simply a request for proposals. This comment is overtly disingenuous. We need council members who have the courage to stand with the neighborhoods. CAAP's Steering Committee is asking all Neighborhood Associations in the vicinity of the San Jose International Airport to send a representative to the April 3, council meeting at City Hall, to request the San Jose City Council to:

a. Defer the RFP until the Federal Aviation Administration has made a determination regarding the future of Runway 11-29.

b. Broaden the RFP and identify alternative airport development that is profitable and more environmentally sensitive.

c. Seek future development that does not promote additional nighttime flights
during curfew hours.
Citizens Against Airport Pollution Steering Committee


July 20, 2010

Citizens Against Airport Pollution [CAAP] has filed a lawsuit against the City of San Jose because the City recently approved a major amendment to the Airport Master Plan without an Environmental Impact Report describing what adverse affect these amendments will have on the environment.

The suit alleges that the City failed to conduct the proper environmental investigation necessary prior to the approval of a major amendment to the Airport Master Plan, as required by CEQA. Air pollution impacts, noise pollution impacts and impacts on wildlife are unknown. In an effort to avoid litigation, CAAP previously requested the City to defer action approving the major amendment so that these issues could be evaluated and discussed without litigation. The City chose to ignore these concerns and approved the major amendment to the Airport Master Plan without a clear understanding of its impact on the environment.

For over 20 years, Citizens Against Airport Pollution has been the only watchdog organization committed to protecting the environment from pollution caused by Mineta San Jose International Airport. CAAP has always supported a first class airport to serve the needs of the Southbay. Protecting the quality of life for San Jose residents and maintaining a first class airport is doable. However, it requires thoughtful planning and a keen sensitivity to environmental protections. If Silicon Valley is to become the center of “green” technology, the City of San Jose must make every effort to make its airport environmentally sensitive and a good neighbor. CAAP believes that the protection of the quality of life in the neighborhoods should be the highest priority to the City of San Jose.

For more details see the Press Release. 

 


CAAP Efforts Pay Off in a Big Way

After years of wrangling with the airport over the issue of measuring air pollution , an agreement has been reached. About year ago, the city, the airport, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, and CAAP met at City Hall . The groundwork was laid for a study of the data that is recorded at the 4th and Jackson BAAQMD air monitor station. This station is the closest to the airport, and under the right kind of analysis, the data will tell us if the airport is a major or minor source of air pollution. It took 15 months of negotiating a contract, and finally last month an agreement was signed. Joanne Sanfilippo, the airport’s community relations manager prepared this notice giving a summary of the agreement.

Airport Noise Report Line 


The Airport no longer accepts noice reports over the telephone.  Please go www.sjc.org,

and select Environment - then select Noise Abatement or use this link:

http://www.sjc.org/environmental.php?page=noise&exp=1&subtitle=Noise+Abatement

San Jose Airport Noise Center