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INTRODUCTION OF THE WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA HELICOPTER NOISE INFORMATION
EXCHANGE ACT OF 2021
______
HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON
of the district of columbia
in the house of representatives
Monday, March 29, 2021
Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, today, I introduce the Washington, DC Area Helicopter Noise Information Exchange Act of 2021, which would require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to implement a Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommendation to create a mechanism to exchange information about helicopter noise in the Washington, DC area between FAA and helicopter operators. I am pleased that Representatives Gerald E. Connolly and Donald S. Beyer, Jr. from Virginia and Representatives Jamie Raskin, Anthony G. Brown and David J. Trone from Maryland join me in introducing this bill, underscoring its regional importance.
Residents of the District of Columbia and the national capital region
(NCR) have been plagued by helicopter noise for years. Yet, there is no centralized complaint system nor any comprehensive data about helicopter noise in the NCR. In January 2019, Representatives Connolly, Beyer, Raskin, Brown, Trone and I wrote GAO requesting that it conduct a study of helicopter noise in the NCR. In that letter, we wrote,
``Many of our constituents live with the impacts of regular helicopter noise that interrupts sleep patterns, causes their homes to shake and negatively impacts their quality of life. While disturbances from helicopter noise have been a longstanding problem for some, others have noted recent increases in the frequency and severity of helicopter noise in their neighborhoods. We understand that helicopter activity is an essential part of law enforcement, military and medical operations and appreciate the critical efforts of employees serving in those sectors. However, we also believe that, through information collection, analysis and coordination, we can identify strategies to minimize the negative impacts of helicopter activity without impeding the work of the agencies operating helicopters within the region.''
In response to our request, GAO announced in June 2019 that it would conduct the study. GAO released its report in January 2021. GAO found that FAA's current ability to work with helicopter operators in the NCR is limited because of the absence of effective information sharing mechanisms. GAO recommended that FAA direct its Office of Environment and Energy to develop a mechanism to exchange helicopter noise information with operators in the NCR. FAA concurred with GAO's recommendation, but this bill would require FAA to develop such a mechanism.
This bill would direct the creation of a more effective information sharing mechanism, which would also allow for better, more comprehensive data on helicopter noise complaints. This data would in turn help us develop solutions to address helicopter noise.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 58
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