04/30/2010 - The Independent

PAGE 12 - The Independent, APRIL 29, 2010Livermore, Pleasanton Agree to Discuss Airport IssuesThe cities of Livermore andPleasanton have a tolling agreementwith regard to litigationinvolving Livermore’s recentvote to change the zoning of itsairport.The tolling agreement extendsthe right of Pleasanton to filea lawsuit by 15 days startingApril 21.Livermore City AttorneyJohn Pomidor commented, “Theagreement gives the two sides anopportunity to talk a little morewithout the threat of litigation.”He said any lawsuit would belimited to issues addressed duringthe discussion on changes atthe airport.As part of the hearings on rezoningof the Livermore Airport,Pleasanton sent a letter statingthey believe there are fundamentalflaws in the environmentalResidents of the area will havethe opportunity to add a horse orburro to their families, when theBureau of Land Managementbrings its Wild Horse and BurroAdoption Program to the LivermoreRodeo Grounds, RobertsonPark, 3500 Robertson Park Road,Livermore, on Saturday and Sunday,May 1 and 2.“We’re holding the adoptionin conjunction with the CaliforniaState Horseman’s SpringStampede,” said Doug Satica,manager at BLM’s Litchfieldwild horse and burro facilitynear Susanville. “We encourageeveryone to come out and enjoyboth events.”The BLM will offer 30 horses,mostly yearlings, and 10 burrosfor public adoption. Anyone interestedcan preview the animalswhen they arrive at about 3 p.m.on Friday, April 30.The event gates will be openfrom 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.Adoptions begin with silent biddingfrom 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.Saturday. Animals not taken duringbidding will be available fora $125 adoption fee.“With spring and summerdays ahead, this is a good timeto begin training an adopted mustangor burro,” said Satica. “Ourhorses and burros are certified tobe healthy and they are ready tobegin training.”The horses are from herdmanagement areas in NortheastCalifornia and Northwest Nevada.Burros (donkeys) camefrom Southern California deserts.All available animals havereceived de-worming treatmentsand vaccinations for West Nilevirus, rabies and common equinediseases. All have negative Cogginstest results. Adopters receivecomplete health records for theiranimals so they can begin healthcare programs with their veterinarians.To qualify, adopters must beat least 18 years old and haveno convictions for inhumanetreatment of animals. BLM staffmembers will interview all prospectiveadopters to be sure theymeet the BLM adoption requirements.Newly adopted horses andburros must be kept in corralswith at least 400 square feet ofspace per animal (20 feet by 20analysis and “disagree with theconclusions.”The letter points out thatthere was no analysis providedof future improvements. Theletter also raised concerns aboutimpacts from jet travel, whichcould be significant in those portionsof Pleasanton lying underthe flight path. Single event noiseis not dealt with in the analysis.The airport study is based on anoverall average of noise, the letterpoints out.Pleasanton also raised concernsabout language relating togrant assurances. When a publicagency accepts grant monies forthe purposes of acquiring land foran airport, it must agree to adhereto specific assurances relating touse, operation and maintenanceof the airport. The objectionPleasanton had was includingWild Horses, Burros Available for Adoption in Livermorefeet), surrounded by a fence builtof pipe or boards. The corral enclosuremust be six feet high foradult horses.Horses under 18 months oldcan be kept in corrals with fivefootfences. Four-and-a-half-footfences are allowed for burros.Adopters must provide a twosided,roofed shelter to provideprotection from extremeweather.“Adopted animals should bekept in this corral until they canbe approached, handled, halteredand led,” Satica explained. “Nongentledanimals should not beplaced in large, open pastures.”At the adoption event, Adoptersmust provide a halter and leadrope. BLM wranglers will halterand load adopted animals. Adulthorses must be transported instock trailers with side-swinginggates.Title to adopted wild horsesand burros remains with thefederal government for one year.After providing a year of goodcare, adopters can receive title.The BLM or a representativewill check on the condition ofthe animal during the adoptionperiod.Wild horses and burros areprotected by a federal law, theWild and Free Roaming Horsesand Burros Act. The law recognizesthe animals as “livingsymbols of the historic andpioneer spirit of the west,” andrequires the BLM to manage thethe construction of airport facilitiesin the assurances. They feltfacilities should not be part of theassurances.In addition to Pleasanton,those opposed to changes at theairport are most concerned aboutsingle event. They would like tosee a system put in place similarto that used by the City of Haywardat its airport.The City of Hayward has anordinance that limits the noiselevel (measured in decibels) ofplanes using the Hayward Airportand provides for fines for violationsof the limits. The airportmaintains four noise monitorsthat are designed to measurethe noise of aircraft taking offand landing. When someonecomplains about noise, airportstaff check noise monitor recordsto see if the noise reported exceededthe limits set by the ordinance.If it did, the staff will thenidentify the aircraft that exceededthe established noise limit.If the aircraft is based atthe Hayward Airport, airportstaff will speak to the owner tolearn why the aircraft may haveexceeded the noise limit. If theaircraft is not based at the HaywardAirport, the aircraft owneris notified that the aircraft maynot use the airport so long as theaircraft is unable to comply withthe noise limits.Dan McIntyre, Livermorepublic works director, said thatthe city conducts a noise studyevery two years. In 2007, thecouncil considered an option tostudy noise or to monitor it. Thedecision was to study the level ofnoise. “That’s all we are doing.”wild herds.The BLM periodically gathershorses and burros to control herdpopulations on ranges sharedwith wildlife and domestic livestock.Herd sizes are controlledto ensure there is sufficient feedand water for all range users andto ensure that natural resourcesare not over-used.For additional information onthe adoption event or wild horsemanagement, contact the BLMtoll free at 1-866-4MUSTANGSor the Litchfield Corrals at (530)254-6575. Information is alsoavailable online at www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov.At its meeting earlier thisyear, the council rescinded the35 year old airport master plan.It reduced projections of futureuse at the airport, down from370,000 operations to 220,000by 2030. Operations at the airporthave never reached the projectednumbers. The highest numberof annual operations was about283,000 in 1993. There are currentlyabout 140,000 annualoperations. The number of planesto be based in Livermore wasreduced from 900 to 720.The level of development isreduced from 1.9 million squarefeet to about 1.4 million squarefeet. To date, about 670,000square feet of facilities have beenconstructed.The new zoning would specificallyidentify the permittedland uses and development standardsfor the airport. It wouldconstrain development to theextent feasible under FAA rulesand regulations.The Livermore city councilalso approved a resolution thatincluded what they hoped wouldcalm those with concerns aboutthe airport.They include such thingsas staff will take no action toencourage a major cargo carrierservice to come to Livermore;the city does not intend to extendthe existing runways; and thecity will continue to aggressivelyfoster reduction of airport noiseconsistent with federal law andin cooperation with other Tri-Valley cities.