Washington, D.C. – This week, U.S. Representative Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08), Co-Chair of the Quiet Skies Caucus (QSC), sent a letter with QSC Co-Chair U.S. Representative Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and QSC Vice Chairs U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (IL-05) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY), to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Steve Dickson expressing their concerns over the FAA’s nationwide survey about aircraft noise annoyance. The letter points out that the noise metrics are outdated and do not accurately reflect the level of disruption caused by aircraft noise.
“These metrics are the very foundation of the FAA’s understanding of aircraft noise in the United States,” the members wrote. “If these metrics are not reliable, that calls into question the FAA’s entire framework of regulations and programs to reduce aircraft noise. It also suggests the FAA may not be doing enough because, to date, it has not understood the true scope of the problem.”
“The FAA’s report is long overdue and demonstrates the severe impact airplane noise has on communities,” said Rep. Lynch. “Despite my extreme displeasure with the FAA’s lack of effort to address this issue over the years, and despite their unwillingness to listen to public concerns, I am hopeful that this will lead to meaningful action. I will continue to fight to hold the FAA accountable to ensure the communities in and around my district do not have to needlessly endure constant, debilitating airplane noise.”
“We continue to receive complaints about interrupted sleep, disruption of business and economic activities, shaking homes, and the effect on youth development and education,” Rep. Norton said. “Furthermore, the FAA’s view that community noise concerns are solely an aviation industry issue is not only inadequate, but false. The FAA has a responsibility to help reduce and mitigate noise in impacted communities, and the FAA’s failure to recognize these concerns speaks volumes about why our communities feel slighted and shows a lack of willingness to make the necessary improvements.”
“The release of the FAA’s report was long overdue and demonstrates that the impacts of airplane noise are even more significant than previously known,” said Rep. Quigley. “I have spent years pressing the FAA for a serious, comprehensive response to the concerns of residents around O’Hare and other airports across the country, and the results of Neighborhood Environmental Survey underscore just how important this is. I am committed to fighting for my constituents until we get clear answers and a workable, long-term solutions from the FAA.”
“The FAA’s Neighborhood Environmental Survey tell us what we already knew loud and clear – our communities are ravaged by aircraft noise,” said Rep. Suozzi. “I hope the FAA has learned that they must collect and release data on noise complaints far more regularly so we can engage in effective policy solutions like reevaluating alternative metrics to the current DNL 65 average.”
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