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A draft environmental impact report for Schiphol, to be released tonight or tomorrow, is not correct on a number of important points. The authors of a second report prepared at the request of the airport come to this conclusion. The intention is that the second report be published tomorrow, as well as the draft report of impact on the environment.
The second opinion was developed by Milieufederatie Noord-Holland, resident delegation of the Airport Environment Council, by the PwC consulting firm and by the aviation consulting firm Moving [19659002] Schiphol has requested the "independent technical control" to ensure the quality of the calculations performed as part of the assessment of the impact on the environment. These calculations show that Schiphol can reach 540,000 flights, 40,000 more than the current authorized number. More than 40,000 additional flights would not be able to cope with traffic control.
In the report, the parties concerned criticize the calculations of the assessment of the impact on the environment (EIA). For example, calculations on a number of points were not made in accordance with the standards, erroneous assumptions were used and, in their view, the method provided a low estimate of noise. They also claim that nothing has been taken into account for the thousands of new houses built around Schiphol since 2005.
Immediate resumption
PwC, which mainly examined the calculation model, concludes that Schiphol does not explain not clear how he can handle 500,000 flights for the moment without exceeding the so-called fourth-line rule. This rule should lead to less frequent use of tracks that cause more inconvenience. Schiphol acknowledges that this rule is outdated from time to time, but says that this is allowed on the basis of exception grounds. However, PwC believes that this has not been demonstrated.
PwC also concludes that the old weather information was used and that no economic forecast was used to calculate the effect of 40,000 flights. But it may be that after Brexit, flights are less frequent in London, so some tracks will be used less often. This has consequences for noise pollution for the environment, but these have not been calculated. PwC believes that these deficiencies are so serious that they must be repaired immediately.
Ultrafine Particles
Critics of the North Holland Environmental Federation focus on other aspects of EIA. According to the environmental organization, the SIA does not do what it should do: it is unclear what are the real consequences of more aircraft on people and the environment. For example, the federation states that the calculation model for which it was chosen estimates noise levels between 1 and 3 dB-lden too low. According to the environmental organization, this difference equates to 125,000 more or less planes.
The effects on the climate were also insufficiently mapped, as only flight movements up to 900 meters elevation would have been taken into account. In addition, according to the North Holland Environmental Federation, it would have been necessary to consider using other means of transportation, such as the train, and to neglect the contamination by ultrafine particles.
Major improvements
The resident delegation of the Schiphol Environment Council, the consultation table for all involved, is mainly in principle. The extension of the fourth line rule, which allows Schiphol to use more than four tracks at the same time, is unacceptable to local residents. Now they can only do it during rush hours.
In addition, several recent studies show that 540 000 flight movements are only possible if, for safety reasons, the first major improvements are made to air traffic management.
The resident delegation thinks it is Finally, it is unfair that thousands of houses built around Schiphol since 2005 are not taken into account in the calculation of the nuisance. The resident delegation speaks of ghost inhabitants.
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