The Plymouth Municipal Airport is located on South Meadow Road in West Plymouth and extends into Carver. The Airport is run by the Airport Commission.
The Airport Commissioners propose an expansion but neighbors say noise, air pollution, and problems with current operations must be addressed first!
Next Airport Commission Meeting: January 2nd, 7pm at 246 S Meadow Rd, Plymouth, MA 02360, Administration Building Conference room at 7:00pm
Dec. 9th 2024: Community Groups Push Back on Plymouth Airport Runway Expansion
Community groups have sent a letter to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) raising concerns about the Plymouth Municipal Airport Runway 6 Expansion Project. Their letter critiques the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR), arguing it doesn’t fully address the project’s impacts on residents and the environment.
Main points of the letter:
- Current Airport Impacts: The groups say residents already deal with excessive noise, vibration, air pollution, and extended hours of operation.
- Expansion Justification: They question the need for a longer runway, saying it’s mostly to accommodate private jets, which don’t benefit the community.
- Groundwater and PFAS: The FEIR relies on outdated data and ignores EPA recommendations for PFAS testing.
- Environmental Justice: The groups believe the FEIR doesn’t fully account for the toll this project could take on EJ communities, particularly from noise and pollution.
- Stormwater and Habitat: Plans for managing stormwater and protecting rare species and habitats, including grasslands, lack detail and transparency.
- Cumulative Impacts: They highlight that the FEIR overlooks the combined environmental effects of the airport expansion and nearby sand and gravel mining operations.
The letter concludes by urging the EEA to reject the FEIR and require a Supplemental EIR to address these issues. The groups are asking for a more thorough and transparent review, stronger environmental protections, and better consideration of community concerns.
Read the full letter here: 2024.12.09_EEA 16692 Comments CLWC CCC JRWA SMF (1)
Sign the petition demanding accountability for Airport operations!
Protect our drinking water! Update on the U.S. EPA’s letter to the Airport saying they must study the Aquifer
In January, 2024 United States Environmental Protection Agency issued a harsh letter to the Airport saying they must study the potential damage to the drinking water Aquifer. The letter says the study lacks information on public and private wells. It says the Airport wrongly claimed the groundwater did not need to be studied for potential pollution from the Airport expansion. Read the letter here. EPA letter on Plymouth Airport Aquifer Jan. 2024
Overview
In 2023, the Airport Commissioners announced a proposal to expand the airport by extending the runway, building two new hangers, reconstructing a taxi lane and runway and extending water and sewer lines. A fact sheet is here.
The Airport states the purposes of the expansion are to “support future growth of airport expansions” for the purpose of “further promoting economic development in the region” according to the Environmental Notification Form, page 12. It also claims the expansion will “increase safety and efficiency.”
Cost: At least $7.6 million project.
Neighbors say current operations are intolerable and expansion should not happen until their quality of life is protected!
What the Airport says about the expansion
This is from the Airport’s environmental report to the state and federal governments:
The Airport “submit[s] the combined Draft NEPA EA/MEPA EIR for the proposed Runway 6 Extension Project and 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) in Plymouth, MA. Pursuant to the MEPA Certificate issued April 26, 2023, for EEA Project Number 16692, the Draft EA/EIR contains information presented in the ENF, as well as additional information for all projects proposed in the 5-Year CIP. [Map below]
The Project proposes a series of improvements that include the extension of Runway 6 southwestward by 351 feet, increasing the total runway length to 5,001 feet to increase available pavement and safety margins. The Runway 6 extension would be 75-ft wide and includes extensions of Taxiway E and Taxilane A to meet FAA standards for parallel taxiways. In addition, the Project proposes to construct two (2) general aviation hangars along Taxilane A, each approximately 10,000 square feet, to meet hangar space needs at the Airport. The Project will increase overall safety and efficiency of the Airport in accordance with the recent 2023 Technical Master Plan Update. Additional projects include: water/wastewater sewer line extension along Gate 6 access road (2024), Gate 3 Taxilane reconstruction (2025), reconstructing the existing Runway 6/24 (2026), and emergency generator infrastructure near the aviation school (2026).
Current Status of Environmental Study
The Airport Commission is in the process of an environmental study alternatives to the airport expansion project and how they will mitigate Damage to the Environment including noise, air and water pollution. This is under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) and the federal National Environment Policy Act (NEPA).
In January, 2024, hundreds of residents and groups sent comments letter on the environmental study. EEA _16692 2024.01.08_MEPA NEPA Comments Airport
One of the biggest issues is that the Airport did not study impacts to the underground drinking water Aquifer. The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency agreed.
In January, 2024 United States Environmental Protection Agency issued a harsh letter to the Airport saying they must study the potential damage to the drinking water Aquifer. The letter says the study lacks information on public and private wells. It says the Airport wrongly claimed the groundwater did not need to be studied for potential pollution from the Airport expansion. Read the letter here. EPA letter on Plymouth Airport Aquifer Jan. 2024
On January 16, 2024, the state Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs issued the required “MEPA Certificate” on the Airport expansion. Read that here: click: State Letter on Environmental Study Jan. 16, 2024 EPA letter on Plymouth Airport Aquifer Jan. 2024
In mid-March, 2024 the Airport will submit a “Final Environmental Impact Report” to the state.
In November 2024 the FEIR was published, read the FEIR here.
December 9th: Comments on the FEIR were due.
Environmental Study Background
The Airport’s environmental study must address all impacts including potential contamination of the Plymouth Carver Sole Source Aquifer, air, noise and wetlands. Read the environmental study here: Airport Environmental Study EEA 16692_Plymouth Municipal Airport_ DRAFT NEPA EA_MEPA EIR_10-31-23
Copies are at the Plymouth Main Library, 132 South Street, Plymouth, MA; Plymouth Manomet Branch, 12 Strand Avenue, Plymouth, MA 02360; and Carver Public Library, 2 Meadowbrook Way, Carver, MA. Email for questions: PlymouthMAAirportRW6EA@dubois-king.com”
The airport project will impact Environmental Justice Communities. These are neighborhoods that bear a disproportionate share of pollution. Read more here: Plymouth Airport Expansion Environmental Justice_10-31-23
Any expansion that will allow jets is outrageous, property values will go down and we will start a class action lawsuit , not to mention the emotional effects to our grandchildren fear because of the noise and very low flying jets, our grandchildren cry because how low and load the jets fly
I totally agree
Any expansion that will allow jets is outrageous, property values will go down and we will start a class action lawsuit , not to mention the emotional effects to our grandchildren fear because of the noise and very low flying jets, our grandchildren cry because how low and load the jets fly
The increase in frequency of planes flying over west plymouth has impacted our neighborhood in a negative way. They are louder, lower and more frequent. Some days we have so many planes that we can not be in our yard. We abut west recreation.
To expand this airport in the West Plymouth residential area that would significantly impact many issues concerning the environment, home values, etc, seems preposterous.
They used to have a sentence on their website and in front of the urinals that said “Please fly to a certain marker before turning out over the bogs or woods we want to be good neighbors. Guess they don’t give a crap about the neighbors anymore. Supported this place for a long time but no jets should fly out of here on a regular basis or beyond an emergency.
I have lived in my home in West Plymouth for 45 years. When I was thinking of buying my home I checked if the airport was going to become large. It was not. Recently every couple of years The airport says it needs to expand for safty reasons. Because they are letting larger passengers jets land there they go wright over my home. Now They are doing it again. They are using this safty reasons to build a large Airport. I have worked hard for my home. I have 4 children that live in Plymouth and 9 grandchildren. They deserve to live and grow up In with healthy air , and water. They also should be able to open windows to let in fresh air. I have developed chemical allergies and sensitivity from over exposure to chemicals
Jet fuel is on the list of chemical toxic. I love to plant a organic vegetable
garden. I don’t want jet fuel contaminating the soil. We have the best drinking water ranking They are finding traces of jet fuel in baby formula.
Safety
Stop the expansion of the Plymouth airport!! The noise alone has impacted our family negatively. The lead fuel will impact air quality creating more pollution for our growing family. Nothing good about this passing!
Just curious, how does the expansion of runway 6 affect the aquifer? I’m just asking
Please
vote no on an airport expansion. The residents of Plymouth have had their town environment challenged on a number of fronts; Holtec and concerns about Plymouth bay and now an airport expansion, that threatens aquifer, eco environment and exacerbates pollution.
Please stop the Plymouth Airport expansion! The quality of life for our citizens now and forever will be affected! The EPA really needs to step up and die some badly needed research on the safety of this proposed expansion! Thanks
Hi Mardi,
Yes we are working on it! Would you like to join the mailing list?
Here’s the petition to sign. Thanks for getting in touch!
https://actionnetwork.org/letters/stop-the-plymouth-airport-expansion-demand-change-now
The private jets are coming if more people don’t get involved! We already deal with enough noise, fumes and vibration. We don’t want anymore bc it will bring down our quality of life and our property values. The airport has been run safely since it opened in the 1930.s! In Marshfield they were told this and they regret not fighting it now! They say it’s about safety but the airport is already FAA compliant and what about the safety of the people on the ground? This will bring more Falcon aircraft to Plymouth which send off a deafening noise and toxic fumes. And our aquifer is at risk! Please attend the next meeting on May 2nd at 7 o’clock. Main entrance of the airport. We need to all come together and fight or we will regret it! Hope to see you at the meeting!
And sign the petition here! https://actionnetwork.org/letters/stop-the-plymouth-airport-expansion-demand-change-now
make do with what has already been. a larger airport is a very irresponsible choice while trying to combat the destruction of wild places. how much more does man need? nature keeps giving & giving till the impact is irreversible. no airport expansion!!!
Are there going to be jets?
Also is there going to be a casino?
My vote is a BIG no!
I live in Pinehurst right down the Street I’m oppose to more planes.
Not to mention if it’s approved is the street going to have to be 4 Lanes? And have traffic lights?
It would be hell getting out of the park!
Yes there are going to be more Jets. They already have allowed the Falcon 2000 jets at 30% payload. The extension will allow them to have 60% payload which will encourage more and more jets flying over our homes polluting our air!!! Can we put a lawn sign in your development to get the word out?
Please also visit taj
kebackourplymouthairport.org for more information.
The Airport Commission sitting in a back room preparing without a care to ruin our air, drinking water, homes and quality of life for generations to come.
Sign the petition! Plymouth Residents please get involved before it is too late!
The noise and the traffic from the lead-fueled flight school planes has increased significantly in the past 2 years. My family has been here for over 40 years and it was not to this extent. Makes me wonder what has changed at the airport in the past two years. The AC has told us that “we do not project an increase in jet traffic with the expansion”, however Matt Cardillo has been quoted to say that the expansion will draw more charter jets. Black and white.