Support H.R.1484 – The Air Traffic Noise and Pollution Expert Consensus Act

Support the Air Traffic Noise and Pollution Expert Consensus Act

Issue

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) handles an estimated 45,000 daily flights and more than 16 million flights per year. Vulnerable communities nationwide continue to report the debilitating impact of airplane noise resulting from revised flight paths implemented under the FAA's so-called "Next Generation Air Transportation System." As the FAA further attempts to implement this misguided program, it is imperative that the Administration and Congress receive the most updated and comprehensive scientific information on the health impacts of air traffic noise and pollution.

Background

This legislation will require the FAA Administrator to sponsor an Expert Consensus Report from the Health Division of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Under the bill, the National Academies would convene a committee of health and environmental science experts to examine the various health impacts of air traffic noise and pollution within 30 days of enactment. The expert committee would subsequently issue an Expert Consensus Report setting forth current scientific knowledge regarding the various health impacts of air traffic noise and pollution. Upon completion, the National Academies will submit the report to the FAA Administrator, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and relevant Congressional Committees, including the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Key points

• Expert Consensus Reports issued by the National Academies are "produced by a committee of experts convened by the National Academies to study a specific scientific or technological issue of national importance." Moreover, these reports are "viewed as being credible and authoritative because of their independence and the unique ability of the Academies to recruit the world's top experts to serve on these committees and because of the unique study process" involving robust peer review conducted by independent experts. The primary sponsors of Expert Consensus Reports are federal agencies.
• The health and safety of our communities in the midst of relentless air traffic noise and pollution is clearly an issue of national importance that merits rigorous examination and review by the National Academies. By requiring the FAA to sponsor a National Academies Expert Consensus Report, this legislation will ensure the availability of the best scientific information on the health impacts of air traffic noise and pollution as the FAA continues to implement its NextGen program and as we continue our efforts to mitigate its impact on our constituents.