Opponents of New Runway Intensify Their Efforts

BOSTON-Local activists are stepping up their campaign against the proposed new runway at Logan Airport here, as the recent approval by the state’s environmental affairs office helped the runway overcome a major hurdle. State Environmental Affairs secretary Robert Durand approved the agency’s environmental impact report making it possible for the Massachusetts Port Authority to go to court to have a 25-year old injunction against the new runway lifted. In the court does lift the injunction, the runway only needs approval from the Federal Aviation Administration and it’s on its way.

A number towns and cities north and south of the airport are banding together to fight the proposed runway. They are reportedly taking money from their coffers to pay for an anticipated lawsuit against Massport over the runway. A citizen’s group, Communities Against Runway Expansion, is said to be lobbying local, state, and federal lawmakers and various groups are planning meetings and rallies to publicize the issue. The groups are all concerned about the potential pollution, noise and disruption a new runway would bring to their neighborhoods.