Airport Highlights 2009 0306 - Laserfiche WebLink

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~, , 2008 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES 19. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN AIRSPACE AND TRAFFIC REDESIGN NOISE urges Congress and the FAA to ensure that local communities are included as active and substantive partners when considering the redesign of airspace and airport traffic patterns. FEDERAL POLICY ISSUES 2O. ENHANCE MITIGATION POLICIES NOISE supports setting 60 DNL as the minimum for the threshold of community compatibility. NOISE opposes the categorical exclusion from environmental review of air traffic control procedures that occur above 3,000 feet (FAA Order 1050.1D), and supports raising the 3,000 foot exemption to 10,000 feet. 21<. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PROJECTS NOISE supports the continued study of noise contour projects, and supports the extension of Environmental Assessment projects out to the 55 DNL contour. Further, Environmental Assessments should be conducted for all changes in nighttime procedures. 22. FULL DISCLOSURE NOISE calls on Congress to require that Part 150 and Master Plan studies should include full disclosure and documentation of lobbying efforts for recommended development alternatives. OPERATOR ISSUES 23. ALLOW OPERATOR CONTROL OVER VOLUME OF TAKEOFFS/LANDINGS NOISE supports legislation to give local operators the power to refuse to schedule a volume of flights that are well beyond its capacity. 24. AVOID FEDERAL CIRCUMVENTION OF LOCAL CONCERNS NOISE strongly opposes federal legislation mandating capacity expansion of any individual airport. Such an unprecedented intrusion of the federal government in local transportation decisions is worrisome for many reasons, including calls for expedited environmental reviews and lack of sufficient guarantee that local communities will have a voice in deciding noise mitigation strategies. 25. DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION DEMONSTRATION PILOT PROGRAMS NOISE supports the development of Environmental Mitigation Demonstration (EMD) Pilot Programs as proposed by the FAA (NextGen section 604.) EMD projects would demonstrate at public-use airports the practical benefits of promising research to reduce impacts on noise, air or water quality in the airport environment, with significant support from the AIP noise / environmental set-aside. The benefit of the initial six pilot projects would extend beyond the individual airport, as the FAA would identify and disseminate best practice information based on project results. 26. BROADEN SCOPE FOR AIP FUNDING ELIGIBILITY NOISE supports making special studies or reviews eligible for AIP funding as proposed by the FAA (NextGen section 603.) The proposal (H.R. 1356) would broaden current authority for the FAA and airport sponsors to enter into voluntary reimbursable agreements that are eligible for AIP assistance, including environmental reviews for airport development, environmental mitigation in an airport EIS, and part 150 approved mitigation programs.