WASHINGTON - The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered air-traffic controllers to receive quarterly refresher training in procedures to control noise from flights in and out of Ronald Reagan National Airport. Flying over the Potomac River will minimize noise.
The agency's actions come in response to a study that found air-traffic noise has steadily increased in some Northern Virginia neighborhoods since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The McLean Citizens Association found that noise from flights has increased an average of 3.6 decibels in eastern McLean and 2.4 decibels in Great Falls, raising noise levels in both locations to about 55 decibels. The FAA sets 65 decibels as the acceptable maximum for aircraft noise.
Flights have drifted to the Virginia side of the river since Sept. 11 because controllers and pilots want to avoid the restricted airspace in Maryland and Washington, officials said.
Dollar Tree plans to buy back more shares
Chesapeake-based Dollar Tree Stores Inc. said it entered into an agreement with Goldman, Sachs & Co. to repurchase about $150 million of its common shares under an accelerated share-repurchase program.
All of the repurchased shares - more than 2.6 million - will be retired.
The company expects the latest program to be completed within four months.
Dollar Tree recently completed a $100 million accelerated share-repurchase program.
THE NATION
Sprint Nextel loses to rivals in contract bid
WASHINGTON - Dealing a significant blow to Sprint Nextel Corp., the federal government yesterday awarded the largest-ever federal telecommunications contract - a 10-year deal worth up to $48 billion - to rivals AT&T, Qwest Communications and Verizon Communications.
The Reston, Va.-based company has been a major provider of telecom services to the government for nearly 20 years.
The three contract winners will split $525 million, but then compete with each other for the business of dozens of federal agencies needing to enhance the quality and security of voice, video and data technologies, according to the General Services Administration.
FDA urges Iams to remove food substance
WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration said yesterday that it has issued a warning letter to Iams Co. that says some of its diet pet foods contain an unapproved substance.
Eukanuba Veterinary Diets Optimum Weight Control/Canine dry, Optimum Weight Control/Feline dry, Restricted-Calorie/Canine dry and canned, and Restricted-Calorie/Feline dry and canned contain chromium tripicolinate, which is not an approved food supplement, the FDA said.
The warning follows a recall of nearly 100 brands of pet food made by Menu Foods after animals suffered kidney failure. That recall included some Iams items.
Iams was urged to remove chromium tripicolinate from the products but did not ask for a recall. Chromium can affect the metabolism of glucose in animals.
