The Maryland Environmental Noise Act of 1974 provides for the protection of citizens from the impact of transportation related noise. The aviation portion of the Act requires the Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA) to create an Airport Noise Zone (ANZ) to control incompatible land development around BWI Marshall Airport and a Noise Abatement Plan (NAP) to minimize the potential impact of aircraft noise to those living near the Airport.

The initial ANZ and NAP for BWI Marshall Airport was established in 1976, and was updated and certified in 2014, incorporated by reference at COMAR 11.03.01.12-B(4). The MAA has completed an update to the BWI Marshall ANZ.

2025 BWI Marshall ANZ Update

In early 2025, MAA began the process to update the BWI Marshall ANZ. The updated ANZ will reflect existing conditions in 2025, and forecast conditions in 2030 and 2035. MAA has convened a Stakeholder Advisory Committee that will meet throughout the year and will host a public information meeting/public hearing near the end of 2025. The 2025 ANZ, once complete, will be the certified regulation and replace the 2020 ANZ. Please reach out to the MAA Project Manager, Mr. Bruce Rineer, via email at MDOT-MAA-ANZ@assedollc.com if you have any questions about the ANZ Update process.

2020 BWI Marshall ANZ Update

BWI ANZ MapIn 2019, the MAA initiated an update to the BWI Marshall ANZ. The ANZ is determined by a composite of three noise contours: the ANZ study process considered existing conditions (2020) and two forecast years (2025 and 2030). The largest of the three contours in any area around the Airport determines the Noise Zone, thereby offering protection within the largest of the existing or future noise exposure contours. The noise environment around an airport is described by contours of equal noise exposure, representing the noise that occurs during an average 24-hour day, in terms of the Day-Night Average Sound Level (DNL, Ldn).

A Public Workshop and Public Hearing for the BWI Marshall ANZ update was held virtually on Thursday, January 28th, 2021. The Public Workshop and Public Hearing provided an opportunity for all interested persons to learn, ask questions, and comment on the ANZ. A presentation that provided an overview of the ANZ update process and the contour maps depicting the current and proposed boundaries of the BWI Marshall ANZ was given, and can be reviewed here.

If you have any additional questions or comments regarding the ANZ Update, please contact Mr. Bruce Rineer at BRineer@bwiairport.com. The MAA is providing a response to some questions that were posed at the public workshop for which the MAA indicated a follow up would be provided.

Presentation