The Mather Air Force Base Conversion EIS Process and Aircraft Noise Impacts
Prior to the opening of Mather Airport as a public use airport in May 1995, the SCAS performed required federal and state environmental analyses to determine the environmental impacts of Mather Airport on the surrounding communities. Aircraft noise was one of the many areas evaluated in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process.
A "capacity" noise contour was developed to account for the potential growth in aircraft operations at the yet unused public use airport. The noise contours included operations by cargo jets, military jets, business jets, propeller-driven aircraft, and helicopters. Although the level of operations modeled were well beyond what was anticipated to actually occur when the airport opened, the resulting noise contours did not extend into noise sensitive areas. The Mather Airport EIS received federal and state approvals and the Airport began operation as a public use airport in May 1995.
Shortly after the airport opened, the County began to receive noise complaints about aircraft operations and took actions to work with the community and aircraft operators to minimize aircraft noise impacts. The following link provides a summary the SCAS's historical noise control efforts:
