Centerlines - January 2008 - (Page 28)

ENVIRONMENT was incorporated in 1994 with its focus on O’Hare, but has since grown to be an advocacy group seeking to balance environmental and economic issues. Its membership includes individuals as well as industry and educational groups. Along with the increasing number of flights that the runway project will accommodate, and consequent environmental and public health impact to a large percentage of the heavily populated area, Saporito points out that, despite claims to the contrary, the design manual has not assured a sustainable approach to the runway construction. “That’s the way it was sold,” he said. “But the fact is that we are getting an increasing number of calls from lawyers and construction workers reporting illnesses that seem to be related to the toxic materials which have been in the ground for decades and are being released into the environment due to the construction process.” Saporito reported that among the health problems being reported are skin irritations, nausea and vomiting, and, in some cases, short term multiple sclerosis type symptoms. He added that the reports are nothing new. “They began with the preparatory work which involved pipeline and electrical infrastructure work, which started several years ago. We’ve been getting more calls as the project has progressed.” Saporito also said that even though the runway project continues to move ahead, the group is exploring legal remedies still available, which include a stop work, or stop use injunction. “We are debating that now,” he said. A spokesman for the OMP has dismissed Saporito’s allegations. “They are absolutely unfounded. We have not heard anything about these claims. Safety in the field has been our number one priority,” he said. Citing the most recent figures, the spokesman reported that in more than 1.7 million hours of work on the OMP, the lost workday and injury rates are respectively 70 percent and 56 percent below the national average. He also pointed out that this can be attributed to an extensive safety training program, which, to date, has involved some 2,900 workers with 127 different companies and government agencies. The program includes unannounced visits to each jobsite to work with safety representatives to correct unsafe conditions; monthly safety committee meetings to exchange information and discuss new initiatives; weekly airport specific training classes. In addition, each OMP contractor’s safety program is reviewed. The OMP also claims that implementation of the manual has actually worked better than expected. “The main gripe we heard in the beginning was with the mandate to use Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel, which was thought to be in short supply. The fact is we haven’t had any supply issues and it hasn’t added to project costs,” said the OMP spokesman. ■ ACI-NA Air Service Data & Planning Seminar January 24–25, 2008 Chateau Sonesta New Orleans New Orleans, LA Designed for beginners and veteran air service recruiters, this two-day workshop will feature presentations by senior airline planners and experienced consultants, who advise airports on air service recruiting. Come learn how to use air service data to land new routes! Visit www.aci-na.org for more information. 28 CENTERLINES | JANUARY 2008 355903_Off.indd 1 12/4/07 7:04:31 PM 27Service.indd 1 11/28/07 6:05:34 PM http://www.multi-barrier.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Centerlines - January 2008

Contents President’s Message Canadian Airports Associates’ Corner Policy Center Regulatory Front On the Hill and On the Stump One on One: Dave Barger Revenue: The Concessions Awards Environment: O’Hare Expansion Passenger Focus: Houston Friendly Safety and Security: After Comair, What Next? Air Service Recruiting: Charleston’s Acquisition of AirTran On Management: Performance Benchmarking at DFW Now Underway Grand Opening Conference Previews and Reviews New Members Index of Advertisers/Advertiser.com Box Scores

Centerlines - January 2008

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