Marine Corps Base Hawaii has submitted its final EIS for the basing of several new units

of aircraft at the Marine Base. The deadline for submitting testimony relating to the EIS is July 11. Without exception at all official EIS review meetings, Windward Neighborhood Board meetings and spontaneous community meetings, fears have been expressed concerning the impacts of the proposal on Koolaupoko. People have expressed concerns ranging from the increased noise, impacts of noise on student learning, potential dangers posed by the safety record of the Osprey and the impacts of added personnel requiring housing in the Kailua and Kaneohe communities. Hawaiian groups have expressed concern over the impact of construction activities on graves

and other cultural features. Because noise has been the overriding community concern, aircraft noise and it's impacts on our community is the focus of this statement. The bottom line is that the noise models used in the EIS are flawed and our community will not be able to evaluate noise impacts until we actually hear them. The Marine Corps has been asked to bring the aircraft to Hawaii so we can actually hear them and know whether or not the impacts of their training activities will be tolerable. We understand from the EIS that training activities will be significantly increased and will be conducted 24 hours a day. We ask again that before the final EIS is approved these aircraft be brought to Hawaii

and the citizens of Koolaupoko be allowed to actually hear them. Until that happens no one in our community will be able to understand the impacts of the proposed sighting of these aircraft at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. The following information addresses specific concerns I have with the EIS: The model used to determine noise levels did not have mountains in model at end of takeoff end of runway. We know from experience that the cliffs surrounding Kaneohe reflect, echo and amplify aircraft noise. The model used 737-700 when the P8A(replacement for P3) produces approximately 10 times more noise when using a short takeoff runway. http://www.naval-

technology.com/projects/mma/ What is the dBAs for 737-800 during a full power brake release take off? I have read in a Boeing briefing that at break release the noise level at 8.9nm is around 85dbs. This does not match the numbers in the final EIS, Annex D. Believe the dbBA numbers have been average over 24hours which will give MUCH lower readings. Therefore, the numbers for schools might look ok but as the studies show average over ONE HOUR! What is important is not the average noise, but it is the peak noise generated during landings and takeoffs. The length of runway at Kaneohe Marine Base will required the P8A to use full military power to take off. Source is

article from Whidbey Island, WA were an elected official, Angie Homola is quoted. Her website is: https://fortress.wa.gov/ga/apps/sbcc/Page. aspx?cid=898 King Intermediate School and 4 other schools are close to being at end of runway. http://publicschools.findthebest.com NOISE LEVEL EFFECT ON CHILDREN Annex D.3.7 covers school effects on children in schools. The following is quoted from Annex D.3.7.1, Effects on Learning and Cognitive Abilities. The ANSI acoustical performance criteria for schools include the requirement that the one-hour-average background noise levels shall not exceed

35dBA in core learning spaces smaller than 20,000 cubic-feet and 40dBA in core learning spaces with enclosed volumes exceeding 20, 000 cubic-feet. This would require schools be constructed such that, in quiet neighborhoods indoor noise levels are lowered by 15 to 20 dBA relative to outdoor levels. In schools near airports, indoor noise would have to be lowered by 35 to 45 dBA relative to outdoor levels(ANSI 2002). Paragraph 6 of Annex D.3.7.1 Similar, a

1994 study found that students exposed to aircraft noise of approximately 76 dBA scored 20% lower on recall ability tests than students exposed to ambient noise of 42-44 dBA(Hygge 1994). The Haines and Stansfeld study indicated that there may be some long-term effects associated with exposure, as one-year follow-up testing still demonstrated lowered

scores for children in higher noise schools(Haines, et al. 2001a and 2001b) .