Press Release, Save Our Shoreline

December 19, 2022: Over 1,600 residents from across the greater New Haven region and beyond urged the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Director of New England Region Airports Division, Gail Lattrell, to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed expansion of Tweed New Haven Airport. Their petition, delivered earlier today, also went to U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, and U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy as well as to State Senator Christine Cohen.

Tweed airport has substantially expanded operations in 2022, but all of its new construction remains pending approval. Proposed plan envisions immediate runway and safety extensions totaling 1,400 feet, with 1,000 more runway feet in a later phase; a new airport with a 74,000 square foot terminal with 8 gates; and additional parkingcovering a surface area the equivalent of six football fields, for 1,500 vehicles, located on East Haven property.

According to Matthew Lieber, who led the petition drive for Save Our Shoreline (SOS), “With this petition, the residents of the New Haven region are serving notice of their tremendous concern over the health and environmental impacts—which are already noticeable and alarming.”

Over the year, a dramatic uptick in air and ground traffic around Tweed airport has brought new burdens for the surrounding neighborhoods. With a new airline flying 737s from sunrise to late at night, the effects for many residents have been unacceptable. As these petition signers attest:

• “I live near the airport and the noise is unbelievable! My home rattles, it wakes up my infant granddaughter, the smell of fuel is strong…our quiet little town has been burdened with noise, traffic and pollution.” (Susan)

•“ The airport is right behind my house. My son has severe asthma and the fumes are relentless. Also the noise of constantly running engines is unbearable.” (Gloria)

• “I live a half-block from the runway and there are days now when I walk out the front door, the whole block smells like gasoline. I can’t afford to move, and I’m terrified about my 1-year-old child breathing in these fumes for the rest of his childhood. I want to protect him from the damage it’s doing to his health!” (Beau)

“But this is just the beginning,” Lieber said. “The harms from expansion will likely be widespread and severe,” citing the long-term health of residents, flooding resilience and property values, irreplaceable wetlands and wildlife, and taxpayer exposure from costly subsidies and public liabilities.

A federal EIS is necessary because it will look at cumulative and regional impacts in the many ways the surrounding community is likely to be affected.

According to Dr. Shirley McCarthy, Professor Emeritus at the Yale School of Medicine, “The medical literature shows that noise causes stress, decreased sleep, and an increased risk of hypertension, heart attacks, and stroke. Jet aircraft noise impairs long-term memory and reading ability in school children resulting in decreased academic performance on standardized tests. The airport sits amidst a densely populated neighborhood within blocks of schools and public parks. Airport communities have higher rates of pervasive health problems: a greater percentage of infants born prematurely and/or low birth weight, higher hospitalization rates for asthma, stroke, chronic obstructive lung disease, heart disease and cancer and a lower life expectancy.”

The ill effects are not just localized but regional, McCarthy added: ”Living within 12 miles of an airport increases premature death.”

Lieber emphasized that “SOS is not against the airport. But amidst climate change, with scalable alternatives in place at Bradley and elsewhere, we question the wisdom of this expansion. Regardless, we are calling for a rigorous scientific environmental study of this planned massive expansion, with full public involvement. Decisions on Tweed airport will affect the health and well-being of our beloved shoreline communities now and for generations to come. If we are to get it right, objective facts including informed community voices are essential.”

About Save our Shoreline (SOS): SOS is an association of concerned citizens whose mission is to research and inform the public about the extensive health, environmental and economic impacts of the planned massive Tweed Airport expansion. In the midst of the climate crisis, SOS stands for economic development that takes our shoreline region on a sustainable pathway. For more information email SaveOurShorelineCT@gmail.com or find Save Our Shoreline, Connecticut on Facebook