Air Traffic Noise and Pollution Expert Consensus Act of 2023
Impact
This legislation intends to address a significant community concern regarding air pollutants generated by air traffic and the resultant noise pollution. By directing the FAA to commission an expert consensus report, the bill is positioned to create a clearer link between air traffic operations and health outcomes, which may potentially lead to more informed policy decisions in the future. It represents an acknowledgment of the need for scientific inquiry into the consequences of aviation activities on resident health and raises awareness of environmental impact within aviation discourse.
Summary
House Bill 2562, titled the 'Air Traffic Noise and Pollution Expert Consensus Act of 2023', mandates the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to collaborate with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. This collaboration aims to produce a comprehensive report on the health effects associated with air traffic noise and pollution. The bill emphasizes the necessity for evidence-based evaluations to understand better how air traffic emissions may impact public health, particularly in communities near airports.
Contention
While the bill has broad support for its intention of improving public health, there are still points of contention regarding the scope of the study and its implications. Critics may argue that the bill does not go far enough in addressing immediate regulatory measures for noise and pollution but rather focuses on long-term research that could delay necessary actions. Others may advocate for more stringent regulations on air traffic management in order to mitigate health risks rather than simply studying them.
Aviation-Impacted Communities ActThis bill increases access to noise mitigation measures for aviation-impacted communities. Under the bill, an aviation-impacted community is a community that is located not more than one mile from any point at which a commercial or cargo jet route is 3,000 feet or less above ground level.The bill expands noise mitigation program funding under the Airport Improvement Program to include aviation-impacted communities that are not currently within the 65 day-night average sound level (DNL) standard.The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must conduct outreach to aviation-impacted communities to inform them of the opportunity to be a designated community. A designated community must form a community board to provide information to airport operators and the FAA concerning aviation impacts (e.g., aircraft noise).A community board may petition the FAA to conduct a community assessment and, based on the assessment, the FAA must devise an action plan that alleviates or addresses the community’s concerns.In addition, the FAA must enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study and provide the FAA with a framework and diagnostic tool for conducting community assessments.The FAA must provide grants for necessary noise mitigation in a designated community for residences, hospitals, nursing homes, adult or child day care centers, schools, and places of worship. Further, the FAA and airport operators must provide (1) noise mitigation grants for communities subject to significant frequency of overhead flights, and (2) noise mitigation for residences impacted by significant nighttime aircraft noise.