A new bill could help track noise complaints linked to the Beverly Regional Airport, an issue Danvers residents say has become so prominent that they can no longer enjoy their homes.
The bill, which was proposed by state Rep. Sally Kerans. D-Danvers, and is still in committee, would require the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission to collect noise report data from municipal airports and post it on its website.
The data would be composed of self-reported noise complaints from neighbors of the airport or others nearby.
“Progress has been painfully slow,” Kerans said at a Beverly Airport Commission meeting Monday night.“We’ve heard many times that the FAA is in charge. But there’s certainly no reason why we can’t get a better handle on the volume of noise.”
Noise from aircrafts flying to and from Beverly Airport has increased drastically over Anthony Lane and surrounding streets in Danvers since the start of the pandemic, Kerans and state Sen. Joan Lovely, D-Salem, said at the meeting.
They were joined by a representative from Democratic U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton’s office, Danvers Select Board member Maureen Bernard and a crowd of more than 40 people at the meeting who defended the airport or shared complaints about noise and lead-containing fuel coming from piston-engine aircrafts, the small planes most commonly used at Beverly Airport.
Salem News -By Caroline E nos Staff Writer