PDK Watch Newsletter, September 2006

1. PDK Master Plan process on hold! At the July 10, 2006 meeting of the PDK Airport Advisory Board, Airport Director Lee Remmel announced that the PDK Master Plan had been put on hold until the FAA reassesses the fleet mix the Airport submitted to the FAA in November 2005. Remmel further stated that the FAA would also make a decision on the 66,000 lb. weight limit before work on the PDK Master Plan officially resumes.

PDK Watch notes that the accuracy of the PDK Airport fleet mix had been challenged in November 2005, based upon records secured as a result of the August 2005 victory in the PDK Open Records Lawsuit. For that Fleet Mix letter, see: http://www.pdkwatch.org/pdf_docs/2006/082806-fleetmix.pdf United States Senator Johnny Isaacson had also intervened in the process, at the request of Open DeKalb, Inc., to request further clarification of the issues.

2. PDK Consultants verify that Master Plan is on hold; provide new "spin." Additional verification that the PDK Master plan process has been put on hold was provided by the CDM Master Plan consultants in a Memo dated July 31, 2006. This memo stated that the FAA is preparing a new fleet mix, as well as a new "forecast" for PDK Airport. For the CDM letter, see: http://www.pdkwatch.org/pdf_docs/2006/082806-CDMmemo.pdf

Based upon verbal verification to PDK Watch from the Consultants, the Memo's reference to a "forecast" apparently refers to the 66,000 lb. weight limit agreement. As a point of clarification on this matter, PDK Watch notes that the 66,000 lb. weight limit was not, in fact, a mere "forecast" but a contractually binding agreement that PDK Airport and the County made with the FAA in 1987 in order to be able to make a 1,000 foot runway extension at PDK without doing the required Environmental Impact Study.

3. Citizen Concerns About PDK: What Has Been Happening this Past Year? Fourteen important developments associated with the citizen concerns during the past year from August 2005 through July 2006 are highlighted in a statement posted on: http://pdkwatch.org/pdf_docs/2006/091506-pdk-citizens-achieve.pdf

4. The well-attended PDK Watch, Inc., public meeting on June 22, 2006, at the Clairmont Baptist Church focused on the following important topics:

(1) PDK Watch Incorporates: PDK Watch is now incorporated as PDK Watch, Inc. The new structure will help in continuing and improving the effectiveness of PDK Watch in tracking the latest developments at PDK Airport and in working to protect our residential neighborhoods. Ron Dennis is the new President of PDK Watch, Inc., with Norma Herd as Executive Director. A Board of Directors is being formed, and more information will be announced as the board appointments are completed.

(2) Report from the Open Records Legal Team: Susan Gouinlock, one of the two lead attorneys on the Open Records legal team and a Board member of Open DeKalb, Inc., reported on the Open Records victory, what the records show, how they can help us in the future, how citizens can now obtain information about disruptive aircraft, and, most important, plans for the next legal steps if PDK Airport, DeKalb County, and the FAA continue to allow approximately 200 oversized aircraft per month to use the airport in violation of the County's contractually binding 66,000 lb. PDK weight limit. For more details, see: www.pdkwatch.org and http://www.pdkwatch.org/pdf_docs/2006/082806-fleetmix.pdf

(2) Public Participation in the PDK Master Plan: PDK Watch, Inc. Communications Director Larry Foster reported on the importance of the preparation of a new PDK Master Plan to guide the development of PDK for the next several decades. He also discussed recent problems insuring that there will be genuine, on-going, and substantive public participation in creating the plan. He presented a list of major recommendations that PDK Watch, Inc., believes must be given serious consideration throughout the planning process if homeowner interests are to be protected. For these PDK Watch, Inc., recommendations and supporting documentation, go to http://www.pdkwatch.org/masterplan/index.asp

(3) Aircraft Emissions and Pollution: A document was presented at the meeting showing the substantial negative impact that jet fuel emissions have on air quality and health. For the report, go to: www.pdkwatch.org under "News Affecting You" and click on the article dated June 21, 2006. For additional information about aircraft pollution, go to: www.pdkwatch.org, and click on "National" and on "Alliance of Residents Concerning O'Hare."

(4) PDK Watch, Inc. Bumper Stickers: Bumper Stickers for PDK Watch, Inc., are now available so you can show your support! Contact: Nikki VanDerGrinten, PDK Watch, Inc. Community Coordinator, at: 404-633-3952, or niknokvdg@joimail.com

4. PDK Watch Thanks Open Records Legal Team: PDK Watch, Inc. is very grateful to the winning legal team of attorneys Brandon Hornsby and Susan Gouinlock. Their successful Open Records litigation now provides the community with reliable information regarding air traffic at PDK, including numbers and types of aircraft, the altitude at which they are flying, their noise impacts, and who own the aircraft. We shall keep you posted regarding the future legal steps that will be taken to protect our neighborhoods as the legal team prepares to move into Phase 2 of the Lawsuit.

Your ongoing support of PDK Watch, Inc., is appreciated! Checks should be directed to: PDK Watch, Inc., P.O. Box 4932, Atlanta, GA 30359. Among other things, your contributions cover the cost of printed materials produced by PDK Watch, Inc., and maintenance of the PDK Watch, Inc., website: http://www.pdkwatch.org

Larry Foster
Communications Director
PDK Watch, Inc.

larry.foster@earthlink.net
cell: 678-637-9227