(Montreal, June 10, 2014) – Faced with the unwillingness of Aéroports de Montreal (ADM) to acknowledge the noise pollution suffered by, amongst others, citizens of the boroughs of Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension, Saint Laurent and the municipality of Mont-Royal, Les Pollués de Montréal-Trudeau are taking action themselves.
The citizens’ committee has started to collect funds to acquire ten noise measurement stations to be installed at various locations in these districts.
“ADM has noise measurement stations that are all located west of Highway 15”, says Antoine Bécotte, President ofLes Pollués de Montréal-Trudeau. “Based on the results of its own measuring stations, ADM has concluded that there is no noise problem in areas east of Highway 15 and in the north-eastern sector of Saint-Laurent. This privately owned company therefore considers it inappropriate to respond to our requests to position a few noise measuring stations in this area – so we’ll do it ourselves.”
The goal of the campaign is to raise $10,000, which will allow the citizens’ committee not only to acquire noise measurement stations, but also to take other action to convince Transport Canada to reclaim from ADM the responsibility for management of the aircraft noise environment of the metropolis.
“The noise measurement stations will be purchased from Worldwide Aircraft Noise Services, a European organization that supports the efforts of citizen groups dealing with the harmful effects of air noise pollution”, says Julien Reny, who is responsible for the installation of noise measuring stations for Les Pollués de Montréal-Trudeau. The data recorded by each of our measuring stations is captured by a sensor mounted on the outside of homes, and is transmitted once an hour to Worldwide Aircraft Noise Services via internet, and processed to detect the noise footprint of the aircraft. The results are published on their website (www.ww-ans.net). Everything is transparent, unlike ADM, which only discloses an average level of annual noise for its seven existing stations.”
Continuous decibels and statistics
The data obtained provides the decibel level generated by the passage of aircraft, as well as wind direction as they fly over. Daily, monthly and yearly statistics can be compiled.
“We will be able to prove with these stations that noise pollution over Montreal is far more significant than what is claimed by ADM,” adds Raymond Prince, senior director of the citizens’ committee. “We will also be able to demonstrate that the noise footprint extends well beyond the corridors identified by the airport management, and that there are thousands and thousands of citizens who are affected by the indifference of ADM.”
Mr. Prince believes that the cities of Montreal and Mont-Royal should be front line partners in this quest for information, as the protection of the quality of life of their citizens is their responsibility.
“We’re knocking on the doors of the councilors and mayors of the areas targeted by this action to obtain financial support for our campaign. They have always alluded to their powerlessness in respect of community facilities under federal jurisdiction. Here, we are giving them the opportunity to document a nuisance that affects the citizens of their cities, and to demonstrate in a tangible way that they are on the side of their constituents.”
Citizens who want to contribute to the fundraising campaign or to offer their residence as an installation site for a measuring station are invited to do so via the website Pollués de Montréal-Trudeau (www.lpdmt.org), or by sending an email to info@lpdmt.org, or by mail to 12260 Desenclaves, Montreal, Qc, H3M 2W3.
About Les Pollués de Montréal-Trudeau
Les Pollués de Montréal-Trudeau is incorporated as a non-profit organization.
For those who would like to support this cause, public meetings will be held Tuesday, June 17 at 7.00 p.m. at the Ahuntsic Community Centre, 10780 Rue Laverdure, Montreal, and Thursday, June 19 at 7.00 p.m. at the Hotel de Ville de Mont-Royal, 90 Roosevelt Avenue, Mont-Royal.