South King News

Rep. Smith Voices Concerns About Impact of Aviation Noise and Emissions on Environment, Health, and Quality of Life of People in Washington's Ninth

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) recently shared his priorities for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill with the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The FAA reauthorization is a crucial opportunity to more effectively address the environmental, health, and quality of life concerns of aviation impacted communities in the Puget Sound region and across the country. 

“As a member of Congress whose district is home to one of the busiest and fastest-growing airport hubs in the country, Sea-Tac International Airport, I know the importance of the aviation system for jobs and the economy. However, I have also seen first-hand the impacts of aviation noise and emissions on the environment, health, and quality of life of these communities,” said Rep. Smith. 

“As the aviation sector has grown, with more people flying more frequently, significant investments have been put toward airport infrastructure. We need to make similar investments in communities that feel the negative effects of aviation. This means not only investing in new technologies to reduce air travel emissions and expanding other forms of zero-emissions travel, but also directing funding to the communities disproportionately impacted by aviation.” 

“Residents living in aviation-impacted communities cannot wait any longer for relief from the public-health consequences of exposure to high concentrations of pollutants and high levels of aviation noise. Congress and the federal government must establish new programs to better measure the environmental and public-health consequences of exposure to high levels of noise and emissions and invest in resources to reduce those impacts on these communities. Millions of Americans who live near aviation hubs — like my constituents in the 9th District — deserve nothing less,” said Rep. Smith. 

Rep. Smith has worked throughout his career to push the federal government to recognize aircraft noise and emissions as serious environmental and health issues to support communities impacted by aviation. In his testimony, Rep. Smith urged members of the committee to include legislation he has introduced in the FAA reauthorization bill. 

In his testimony, Rep. Smith advocated for policies to:

• Encourage the FAA to reevaluate its selection of noise measurement methodologies, health impact thresholds, and abatement program effectiveness.
• Require the FAA to consider the impact on human health and environment when determining airport capacity and approving new flight routes.
• Ensure the FAA’s approach to community engagement on the issues of environment, health, and quality of life is more robust, inclusive, and responsive to all community members. Rep. Smith has introduced the Aviation Impacted Communities Act to help cities, localities, and neighborhoods to better and more productively engage with the FAA.
• Ensure greater access to the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP) for noise insulation. Rep. Smith has introduced the Sound Insulation Treatment Repair and Replacement Program Act with Senator Patty Murray to help ensure that residents have access to federal funds for necessary repairs or replacements and homes are properly insulated from the harmful impacts of aviation noise.
• Enable more extensive research on harmful ultrafine particles (UFPs) to properly regulate this pollution and help ensure that individuals and families living near aviation hubs are protected from the worst health implications of aviation emissions. Rep. Smith has introduced the Protecting Airport Communities from Particle Emissions Act to require the FAA to work with the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a national study of UFPs.
• Engage the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Health and Human Service to address the environmental and health challenges of aviation activity.
• Enable hyperlocal studies of air quality and noise impacts and for mitigation programs in communities. Rep. Smith has introduced the Aviation Noise and Emissions Mitigation Act to help us to better understand the effects of noise and emissions and fund initiatives driven by impacted communities to mitigate the effects of aviation activity.

More information about the Aviation Impacted Communities Act, the Aviation Noise and Emissions Mitigation Act, and the Protecting Airport Communities from Particle Emissions Act can be found here.

More information about the Sound Insulation Treatment Repair and Replacement Program Act can be found here. 

Read Rep. Smith’s full testimony to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure here.

Original source can be found here.