DECEMBER 2, 2005
MINNEAPOLIS

A Hennepin County district judge has denied efforts to dismiss an airport noise mitigation lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed against the Metropolitan Airports Commission by the cities of Minneapolis, Eagan and Richfield, and the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority.

It alleges the commission reneged on promises to provide sound insulation to homes. The lawsuit also names Northwest Airlines, claiming the carrier has kept certain passenger facility charges and other airline fees that it had said the airports commission could use for insulating homes near the airport.

MAC spokesman Pat Hogan has said the homeowners weren't guaranteed full noise insulation. But the city of Minneapolis says the MAC committed to full noise insulation at no cost for residents living in the 60-to-64 decibel range.

Source: Associated Press via KSTP.com