NJ's Lautenberg Introduces Measure to Phase Out Noisy Jets
MORRISTOWN, N.J., Dec. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Neighbors of busy airports
across the country are a step closer to getting relief from aircraft noise,
based on legislation introduced by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ). In the
closing days of the 109th Congress, he sponsored the Aircraft Noise
Reduction Act of 2006, a measure that gives aircraft owners of older,
noisier Stage 2 aircraft three years to either discontinue their use or
upgrade them to meet Stage 3 standards.
"Senator Lautenberg's efforts send an important message to airports,
aircraft owners and airport neighbors that the impacts of these aircraft
can no longer be tolerated," said John Lindemann, campaign coordinator for
the national organization "Sound Initiative, a Coalition for Quieter
Skies."
"S.4109 lays important groundwork for this issue to be considered when
the new Congress convenes in January. Congress has an opportunity to finish
what it started when it ordered airlines to retire older, noisier aircraft
in 1990."
The Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990 gave the operators of Stage
1 and Stage 2 aircraft weighing more than 75 thousand pounds a ten-year
window during which to either retrofit them to Stage 3 standards or
otherwise remove them from their fleets. The Act excluded aircraft weighing
75 thousand pounds or less, an effort that was designed to protect the
nation's corporate and private-use aircraft because a much larger
percentage of them were operating at the time.
"In the 15 years since ANCA was passed, advanced technologies have
provided aircraft owners with new, quieter and more efficient options that
provide measurable improvement for people living near airports," Lindemann
added. Estimates show that approximately 1,000 to 1,300 Stage 2 aircraft
are still in operation out of a fleet ten times that size, but they account
for an inordinate percentage of noise complaints at some of the nation's
busiest airports, many of which are located in densely populated areas.
Using one of the coalition's member airports as an example, New
Jersey's Morristown Municipal Airport, Lindemann noted that neighborhood
complaints related to Stage 2 aircraft account for up to 80 percent of
complaints lodged with the airport.
"Tenants at many of these airports have replaced their outdated
aircraft with newer, quieter models. The complaints occur when transient
Stage 2 aircraft arrive and depart," said Lindemann. "All the efforts by
the airport to maintain good relationships with neighbors becomes
meaningless with the actions of a few."
Sound Initiative was formed by airport owners and operators to address
the Stage 2 issue in response to noise complaints by neighbors. Its
membership includes airports, local government and airport neighbors who
hope to gain congressional action as outlined in Lautenberg's S.4109.
Lindemann noted that his coalition will continue to work with Senator
Lautenberg and his colleagues stating that Sound Initiative will secure
additional support among the airport community and airport neighbors in an
effort to encourage bi-partisan support for a newly introduced measure next
year.
"The methods airports use to mitigate aircraft noise are limited to the
tools given them by the Federal Aviation Administration -- and there aren't
many," said Lindemann. "While not a panacea, phasing out older, less
efficient and louder aircraft from the skies is a real, and realistic,
solution that will improve the environment for airport neighbors across the
country."
For more information about Sound Initiative and a pdf file of the
December 7, 2006 Congressional Record containing Senator Lautenberg's
statement and bill, please visit http://www.soundinitiative.org.
Or visit the government website for the Congressional Record by copying
and pasting the below URL into your browser:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-
bin/getpage.cgi?dbname=2006_record&page=S11504&position=all
SOURCE Sound Initiative
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.soundinitiative.org
CONTACT:
John Lindemann of Sound Initiative,
+1-908-334-9044, info@soundinitiative.org
|
