City defends trash plant near LaGuardia

New York City officials are defending their decision to build a garbage transfer station less than a half-mile from LaGuardia airport even though opponents say it will attract birds and endanger airplanes.
 
Critics have asked a federal court to stop construction of the North Shore Marine Transfer Station. They say the station will raise the risk of bird strikes like the one that forced U.S. Airways Flight 1549 to land in the Hudson River in 2009.
 
City spokeswoman Julie Wood says the opponents are just trying to scare people. She says the city is taking steps to make the building less attractive to birds.
 
The garbage transfer facility is located 2,200 feet from La Guardia’s Runway 31.
 
FAA regulations prohibit garbage facilities within 2,500 feet of the end of most runways at major airports. But the zone shrinks to 1,700 feet for certain runways like LaGuardia’s Runway 31.