Swampscott Officials Sound Off On Proposed New Logan Flight Plan

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Swampscott officials are expressing serious concern over a proposed new Logan Airport flight plan that would redirect many flights over the North Shore community.

Officials sent their objections to Massport and Port Authority Chief Executive Officer Lisa Wieland, arguing that by adopting the Block 2 Procedure Recommendation for Boston Logan Airport Community Noise Reduction the airport would dramatically increase both noise pollution and air pollution over Swampscott, Lynn and Nahant.

"We don't believe this study goes far enough in considering how to eliminate the entirety of noise impact on all residents of Massachusetts," Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald said. "We are seeking more information from Massport regarding why these paths can't be directed further over the water to ensure that our residents and beachgoers experience the quality of life they deserve."

Officials said the rerouted flights would be especially disruptive in the evening hours under the proposal they said "results in thousands of negatively impacted residents and visitors in Swampscott and other communities."

"If noise reduction is the goal, it is troubling to us that the proposal does not redirect flights further over the ocean and limit the impact to residential and recreational areas," the Select Board said in the letter. "Thus, while we understand the efforts to disperse flights and achieve a more equitable noise distribution, we oppose the current proposal and recommendations for Runway 22L."

While acknowledging the study will undergo several reviews prior to implementation, including an environmental review, town officials requested a "quality-of-life review" also be done when it comes to the impact on Swampscott residents.

"The benefits of this change are not clear to us," officials in the letter to Wieland, "and we feel it is contingent upon Massport to explain them to our residents, as well as our surrounding neighbors."

Officials also requested a meeting with Logan representatives to discuss the plan.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)