She is convinced the noise will only get worse since the new airport is not yet operating at full capacity. With the advent of the new Denver airport and the noise, Mrs. Katz claims the value of her home has fallen to practically nothing. The article states that Mrs. Katz and about 60 other residents are planning to sue the city and county of Denver for damages and new homes. Reportedly, dozens of other lawsuits are being planned. An average decibel level of below 65 is recommended for residential areas by the federal government according to this article.
Noise control is up to the airports themselves.
The Redbook article lists several steps for prospective homeowners to take to find out whether noise will endanger their homes. In the case of airport noise, Dr. Bronzaft, Bennett and others suggest contacting the noise abatement or community relations office of the local airport authority for contour maps that show the sound levels and current flight paths of planes. Bronzaft also recommends reading back issues of the local newspaper to find out about potential developments and controversies. Also cited in the article is the case of homeowners' lives being made miserable by noise from new highways. When the highway that completes a giant beltway around the New York metropolitan area was opened in November 1993, the article claims life was made miserable for many residents in three New Jersey counties.