WASHINGTON, D. C. – U.S. Senators Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved a $6.0 million grant to support noise abatement activities at the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, part of an ongoing multi-year airport expansion project.

The grant will be awarded to the Gulfport-Biloxi Regional Airport Authority for easement acquisition to improve day-night average noise level (DNL) standards near the airport.

“This grant will be used to help mitigate the negative effects of noise from the Gulfport-Biloxi airport.  The noise abatement project is part of an ongoing and broader expansion program that will ensure that the airport can grow, increase its flight activities and still be a good neighbor on the Mississippi Gulf Coast,” Cochran said

“These funds will help the Gulfport-Biloxi Regional Airport continue to grow and offer quality air service, while minimizing the sound impact its operations have on surrounding residential communities. This is an important improvement to air transport services on the Gulf Coast,” said Wicker.

The FAA award will be used for a noise abatement project that will include installing insulation to improve interior soundproofing in 93 nearby homes.  The project will also involve the acquisition of noise easements and some homes within the “higher noise contour generated by aviation activity.”

Residences generally affected by the abatement program are those within a 65-69 and higher DNL area around the airport.  Measured in decibels, the DNL is a 24-hour average noise level used by the FAA to define the level of noise exposure from aviation activities on a community.

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