Dane County Regional Airport Withdraws Draft Noise Compatibility Program for Further Review and Collaboration

August 14, 2025
Tomasz Pajor, (608) 661-6442
Airport

(Madison, WI) After careful consideration of the 2024 Part 150 Noise Study by new Executive Director Mark Papko, Dane County Regional Airport (DCRA) is voluntarily withdrawing its previously submitted Noise Compatibility Program (NCP) Draft. Withdrawing the NCP now, which is yet to be finalized or published in the Federal Register by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), allows the airport to resubmit the NCP with changes that will better position DCRA for federal noise mitigation funding.

 

Papko, who became airport director last month, cited several reasons for the withdrawal, including a lack of coordination with surrounding partners, the need to ensure all noise mitigation measures are truly feasible, and, most importantly, the absence of FAA funding opportunities under the current plan.

 

“Taking the time to step back, evaluate our process, and work closely with local stakeholders ensures our noise plans are aligned and realistic,” said Papko. “To maximize federal and state funding opportunities, the County, City, and Wisconsin National Guard must speak with one unified voice. Collectively, our voice for support is louder as one.”

 

The NCP provides recommended and potential best practices for mitigating noise in and around the airport community. Typically, these recommendations are also reflected in the most recent Airport Master Plan/Airport Layout Plan to confirm feasibility. Papko noted that he will start the process to update the Airport Master Plan because many of the recommendations in the withdrawn draft had not been evaluated for feasibility under previous airport leadership.

 

“We are committed to developing a complete plan that offers real, actionable solutions with support from all parties involved,” Papko emphasized. “Coordinating our noise plans with an Airport Master Plan will better position the airport to access FAA noise mitigation funding.”

 

DCRA will continue to work with community members, government partners, and the FAA to ensure the revised NCP both meets the needs of the community and secures critical funding for noise mitigation efforts.

 

Part 150 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) establishes a voluntary, FAA administered program that includes procedures to be followed by airports to assess aircraft noise and land use compatibility. It includes Noise Exposure Maps (NEM) that define the existing and future aircraft noise exposure boundaries surrounding the airport and a Noise Compatibility Plan (NCP) to identify mitigation measures that could correct surrounding non-compatible land uses.

 

The NCP serves as the primary vehicle for guiding and coordinating the combined efforts and actions of essential agencies attempting to achieve a maximum degree of aircraft noise compatibility between an airport and its neighbors.

 

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