The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (Airports Authority) invites the public to attend a public meeting on the Noise Compatibility Study for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The meeting will be held on October 14th, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Arlington County Offices at Courthouse Plaza, Room 307, 2100 Clarendon Blvd., in Arlington, Virginia.

The purpose of these meetings is to solicit comments from the public on the proposed abatement and mitigation alternatives regarding regional aircraft noise. A court reporter will be available at the meeting to receive public comments and made part of the official record of the study. The Airports Authority initiated a major update of the Noise Compatibility Study for the Airport in 2001. During the study period, the Authority, along with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the Study Advisory Committee, held 13 working meetings and five public meetings.

This study, conducted in accordance with the regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration's process, is designed to forecast future noise contours at Reagan National and to examine possible abatement and mitigation actions to reduce community noise impacts.

The current Noise Compatibility Program includes noise abatement flight corridors, aircraft thrust management procedures, nighttime aircraft noise limits and restrictions on nighttime engine run-ups, and was last revised in 1993 in accordance with Part 150 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, which establishes the Federal Aviation Administration's standards for noise impact evaluation and guidelines for airport noise compatibility programs.

Information on the proposed changes to the NCP, including proposed actions to mitigate or abate noise from aircraft operating at Reagan National Airport, will be available for review beginning September 15th on the Authority's website at: www.mwaa.com, the Council of Government website as www.mwcog.org (see below this meeting listing), at the Authority Office Building at 1 Aviation Circle at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and at the following public libraries:

For further information, questions or to submit written comments concerning the Part 150 please contact:

Office of Communications, MA-10
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
1 Aviation Circle
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Washington DC 20001-6000

The record is open for public comment until 5:00 p.m. on October 20, 2004.