Seeking study of JFK airport runway expansion

Civic groups, Port Authority due in federal court in Manhattan on Dec. 18

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A federal court in Manhattan is expected to review a lawsuit on Dec. 18 filed by the Eastern Queens Alliance against the Port Authority in September regarding runway expansion at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The alliance, a collection of civic groups in southeast Queens, is concerned with the environmental impact of the expansion. They have asked the Port Authority, the agency responsible for the airport, to stop the project and conduct a study.
Tamara Mitchell, the Environmental Specialist/Environmental Projects Coordinator for the Eastern Queens Alliance, Inc. in Jamaica, said that she hopes that the finding of no significant impact by the Port Authority would be successfully overturned. The Port Authority conducted an environmental assessment; a general review of an area in preparation for land development such as a runway expansion. The group wants an environmental impact study mandated for surrounding communities regarding the project. It’s a more in-depth review and requires more community involvement.
“We disagree with the [environmental assessment] and are exercising our right as a community to fight back against further environmental injustice and against anything that threatens the livelihood and aspiring resiliency for our community,” she said. “We believe that instead of expanding runways, it is imperative that they first implement environmentally safe methods of reducing the amount of pollution originating from the airport already impacting our community.”
The Alliance opposes the runway expansion, which would add 728 feet to a 11,351-foot long runway. The added length is needed to accommodate newer and wider airplanes, according to the Port Authority. Based on research conducted by the Queens group, there are significant adverse health effects associated with residing near an airport. They feel that bringing a runway closer to their community will exacerbate them.

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