Friday, August 31,
2001
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Residents readying class action suit over 5th runway By JOHN
THOMPSON A committee opposed to the expansion of the fifth runway at Hartsfield International Airport is now gathering signatures and funds to mount a class action lawsuit. Rex Renfroe, who represents the Hartsfield Community Advisory Committee, said the group met last weekend and has plans to file the suit against the city of Atlanta and its Department of Aviation. But before the suit can be filed, Renfroe said a final action, such as the city approving the expansion of the runway, must be complete. The issue centers on whether the runway will be 6,000 feet long to accommodate smaller planes or 9,000 feet, allowing all planes to use it as additional runway space. The 6,000-foot runway has already been approved, but officials later decided to seek approval to tack on 3,000 more feet to handle the big jets, igniting a storm of protest from residents of South Fulton, who say they'll suffer more noise, pollution, disruption and loss of property values due to the change. Renfroe said the lawsuit would revolve around three issues: Inverse condemnation. Renfroe claims the city has decreased the property values by placing the airport in the area and will not be compensating residents for the true worth of their homes and property. The Clean Air Act. "Hartsfield is the single largest polluter in the region and we feel the expansion would further violate provisions of the law," he said. Environmental justice. Because the area affected by the expansion is 80 percent minority and 40 percent poor, Renfroe believes the group has a valid complaint over the runway expansion. Renfroe lives off Ga. Highway 92 in Fulton County and has been fighting for citizens near the airport for years. He urges all residents who feel they have complaints against the airport to sign up for the suit at hartstop.com. County Commissioner Bill Edwards attended the meeting last week and told the committee about Fulton County's mitigation plan to try and seek some sort of relief for affected homeowners and businesses. The final environmental impact study on the runway options for the airport also was released late last week and Edwards said Fulton County officials are studying the document before they make any comments.
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