Fort Smith schools set to receive federal noise mitigation grant

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by Tina Alvey Dale ([email protected]) ago 106 views 

The City of Fort Smith, in partnership with the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce and Fort Smith Public Schools (FSPS), was selected as one of 13 communities eligible to apply for the newly established federal Community Noise Mitigation Program.

Brendan Owens, assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment, approved on Dec. 9 the selection of 13 proposals to be invited to apply by the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC). These invitations were issued on Dec. 13, and awards are expected to made in early 2025, according to the City of Fort Smith.

The invitation to the city is to undertake a $4.35 million project to install noise mitigating insulation at two FSPS elementary schools, Orr and Carnall, that are within a 70-74 decibel noise contour. The schools are located within a day-night average sound level and were identified after completion of a noise contour study associated with the foreign military sales pilot training center at Ebbing Air National Guard Base.

This is only an invitation to apply, and no timeframe is expected until the grant is awarded and the FSPS Board of Education approves it, said Allan Marshall, FSPS chief communications and engagement officer. Once awarded and approved by the FSPS Board of Education, the installation will take 12 months to complete, he said.

Orr Elementary School, one of the schools to receive the potential grant, has been scheduled to close at the end of the current school year (2024-2025). The plan is for Orr Elementary to be repurposed as a future K-12 ALE (alternative learning environment), Allan said. Belle Pointe Center, the district’s ALE, was one of the FSPS facilities recommended for closure in 2024.

“FSPS will evaluate the process and decide what next steps are needed as the District awaits the decision of the award and the FSPS Board of Education’s approval,” Allan said.

The Community Noise Mitigation Program is authorized under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022. The competitive program is designed to assist State and local governments and Indian Tribes impacted by military fixed-wing aviation noise through the installation of noise mitigating insulation at covered facilities.