Environmental Responsibility
It is essential to use de-icing fluids for safe winter airport and aircraft operations. Over 10 years
ago DCRA switched from glycol to the more environmentally friendly potassium acetate (similar to vinegar
in composition) to deice runways.
The airlines use ethylene glycol to de-ice aircraft prior to departure. The airport has a program that
controls and monitors runoff to ensure that chemical runoff doesn’t endanger local waterways, including
Starkweather Creek, which closely borders the airfield.
It is this concentrated use of the chemical in one area that prompted the Department of Natural Resources
and the Dane County Regional Airport to establish a program that controls and monitors ethylene glycol
runoff. Because Starkweather Creek closely borders the airfield, the program ensures that chemical runoff
doesn't endanger local waterways.
The glycol used at the airport is drained into a plastic-lined storage pond near the terminal. There, the
chemical breaks down naturally in about 20 days; once the product has sufficiently broken down, the contents
of the pond can be released into a nearby drainage ditch. If the pond doesn't reach acceptable limits, the
airport pumps it out through the sewer system where it can be treated.
Frequently Asked Questions About Canada Geese And Airport Safety
Dane County enjoys an abundance of natural resources, but at times we are faced with an over-abundance of certain wildlife, such as Canada geese, which can be especially hazardous at an airport. The City of Madison Parks Commission recently granted permission for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services Program to remove the geese from Warner Park on Madison’s north side to eliminate the public safety hazard the birds pose for the Dane County Regional Airport. Since that permission was granted, there have been many inquiries about the plan, which we will attempt to answer here.
1. Why has the Airport requested cooperation of the City of Madison Parks Department to conduct a goose round up at Warner Park? What is to keep other geese from Cherokee or other parts of Madison from going to, flying over, or flying past the airport?
Answer: It is true that geese from a variety of locations wind up on airport property; however, the Warner Park flock has been positively identified as a source population of geese posing a threat to public safety, and causing the Dane County Regional Airport to be liable and accountable to take further action.
Warner Park geese also attract migrating geese in the fall and spring, so the bird numbers in the park increase dramatically during that time.
If a qualifying wildlife event occurs at a commercial airport, FAA regulations require a comprehensive wildlife assessment to be conducted.
We cannot stop all birds from flying on or over the Dane County Regional Airport, but we can minimize the potential of a wildlife strike.
2. What exactly is the emergency or crisis? Did something happen recently at the airport to prompt this mitigation effort?
Answer: Since the US Airways bird strike incident (the so-called “Miracle on the Hudson”), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has placed greater emphasis for airports to manage the potential hazards wildlife present to aviation safety. Resident (non-migratory) geese have accounted for four strikes on planes at the Dane County Regional Airport between 1990 and 2004. In 2001, an aircraft at the Dane County Regional Airport was damaged by a goose, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing. The damage was significant and destroyed one of the aircraft’s engines, however there were no injuries. This is just one example of the potential for a catastrophic incident if action is not taken.
3. Why is the airport concerned about resident Canada geese at Warner Park?
Answer: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires certificated airports, or airports that have commercial air service to comply with 14 CFR Part 139 regulations. How airports document and manage wildlife is addressed in Part 139.337. The FAA also produces Advisory Circulars to provide regulatory guidance to airport operators. Advisory Circular (A/C) 150/5200-33B “Hazardous Wildlife Attractants on or Near Airports.” This advisory circular states, “Airports that have received Federal grant-in-aid assistance must use these standards.”
The A/C, in section 2-4, paragraph a., “At public-use airports, the FAA recommends immediately correcting, in cooperation with local, state and federal regulatory agencies, any wildlife hazards arising from existing wetlands located on or near airports.”
4. What will happen to the Canada geese in question?
Answer: At the time of year when the geese are molting and flightless, crews from the USDA will conduct a round up at Warner Park. The geese will be taken from the site where they will be euthanized in accordance with methods approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association or under the practices established and registered by state licenses poultry processors. Adult bird carcasses will be tested for mercury, lead, PCB’s, and pesticides then processed for distribution to food pantries. Juvenile bird carcasses will be used as feed in animal sanctuaries or on farms.
5. Are any other airports/city parks taking these types of actions?
Answer: In Wisconsin, the USDA has been conducting goose round-ups at many city parks throughout the state, and in 2009 many took place in city parks and near airports. Similar round ups have taken place at General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, as well as New York City and Minneapolis/St. Paul, among others.
6. Have any other methods to control the goose population been used?
Answer: A number of things have been done to scare away geese and other wildlife from airport property. However, “hazing” as it is called, is only a short-term solution. Geese especially become used to the scare tactics, such as loud noises, and merely return to the same site once they realize there is no real danger. According to wildlife experts, hazing techniques can force the geese to concentrate in areas nearby, which doesn’t relieve the threat. Other non-lethal methods used to discourage geese from the airport include:
- Habitat management
- Horns, sirens
- Lights
- Lasers
- Pyrotechnics
- Coyote effigies
- Canine hazing
- Electronic bird-in-distress callers (Four permanent, one portable)
7. Will there be a roundup every year?
Answer: After the round up occurs, a long-range wildlife management plan should be implemented to keep the Warner Park goose population at acceptable levels. If this roundup is successful and is combined with the City of Madison acquiring the permits to conduct nest destruction and egg addling, and habitat management of Warner Park is focused on goose deterrence, then another round up may not be needed.
8. Why is the airport concerned with geese?
Answer: In A/C 150/5200-33B, Section 2-7, para c, “The FAA recommends that operators of airports surrounded by woodlands, water, or wetlands refer to Section 2.4 of this A/C. Operators of such airports should provide for a Wildlife Hazard Assessment (WHA) conducted by a wildlife damage management biologist. This WHA is the first step in preparing a Wildlife Hazard Management Plan (WHMP), where required.”
Dane County Regional Airport conducted a WHA in 2002, followed by a WHMP that is part of the Airport Certification Manual. In January 2010, following the guidance of FAA Cert Alert #09-10, DCRA contracted with USDA-Wildlife Services to conduct another WHA and to update the WHMP, as needed.
A/C 150/5200-33B, Section 3-5; “The goal of an airport’s Wildlife Hazard Management Plan is to minimize the risk to aviation safety, airport structures or equipment, or human health posed by populations of hazardous wildlife on and around the airport.”
9. Does the airport decide what birds to chase?
Answer: The airport is obligated to “chase” or manage any species identified through actual strike data, the Wildlife Hazard Assessment, Wildlife Hazard Management Plan, and local known hazardous populations.
Additional Information:
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports that, nationally, the resident or non-migratory Canada goose population has increased about 4-fold in 19 years: From 1 million in 1990 to nearly 4 million in 2008.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires certificated airports--airports that have commercial air service--to comply with 14 CFR Part 139 regulations. How airports document and manage wildlife is addressed in Part 139.337. The FAA also produces Advisory Circulars to provide regulatory guidance to airport operators. Advisory Circular (A/C) 150/5200-33B “Hazardous Wildlife Attractants on or Near Airports.” This advisory circular states, “Airports that have received Federal grant-in-aid assistance must use these standards.” The A/C, in section 2-4, paragraph a., “At public-use airports, the FAA recommends immediately correcting, in cooperation with local, state and federal regulatory agencies, any wildlife hazards arising from existing wetlands located on or near airports.”
According to the FAA, between 1990 and 2008, there were over 600 incidents nationally in which geese collided with planes. In fact, geese have accounted for four strikes on planes at the Dane County Regional Airport between 1990 and 2004.
The FAA also reports that during that same 19 year period, wildlife strikes accounted for 16 human fatalities nationally. Geese ranked second only to white pelicans in nine of these fatal strikes. During that same period, there were 167 wildlife strikes resulting in over 200 human injuries. 40 of those strikes involved waterfowl (ducks and geese) and resulted in injuries to 45 people. During that 19 year period (1990-2008), 49 aircraft were destroyed or damaged beyond repair due to wildlife strikes. The FAA reports that geese rank second behind whitetail deer as the cause of that damage.
Again, the airport wants to stress that the safety of our passengers, crews, and neighbors is, and always will be, the prevailing concern at the Dane County Regional Airport. Because of the FAA’s emphasis on managing Canada geese, and the liability placed on the Dane County Regional Airport should an accident involving a goose or flock of geese occur, there is simply no other choice but to mitigate this population of geese. In the meantime, staff with the Dane County Regional Airport, the City of Madison Parks Department, the USDA and the Wisconsin DNR will continue to look for long term, non-lethal ways to control the population of Canada geese around the airport.
Additional info links
Managing Canada Geese in Urban Environments; A Technical Guide
-Arthur Smith, Scott Craven, and Paul Curtis
Letters in support of Canada geese hazard mitigation by Dane County Regional Airport
Improving Marsh and Water Quality
The Runway 14/32 Safety Area Improvement Project, completed in 2007, improved to FAA-mandated standards
(that were previously subject to waivers), the runway safety area off the end of one of the airport's two
secondary runways. The improvement provides an unobstructed area for aircraft that could potentially
undershoot, overrun or veer off the runway.
The two-year, two-phase RSA Improvement Project necessitated the relocation of portions of a Canadian
Pacific railway line, County Highway CV, Starkweather Creek and a section of the airport perimeter fence
and road.
The project made several environmental improvements to the area.
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Improved over 90 acres of the Cherokee Marsh and fen by restoring groundwater hydrology, removing invasive
species to allow recovery of rare plant habitat, removing sediment, and creating over 40 acres of prairie
and wet meadow buffer to promote infiltration and improve water quality.
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Reduced the railway "footprint" through wetlands, and established a flood plain to improve storm water
management.
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Created a functionally superior Starkweather Creek corridor to restore riparian wetland habitat and,
ultimately, fisheries habitat.
The Federal Aviation Administration provided 95 percent of the funding for this $22 million project. The
State of Wisconsin and Dane County each contributed 2.5 percent.
Due to the great lengths taken to protect the marshland affected by the RSA Improvement Project, DCRA was
awarded the 2006 Outstanding Achievement Award for Environmental Stewardship by the FAA Great Lakes Region.
For information on this project, contact Mike Kirchner, PE, at 608-246-3393 or email
kirchner@msnairport.com