TagAirport Noise Law(21)

Brief Description: Increasing environmental justice by improving government decisions. Sponsors: Representatives Mena, Berry, Reeves, Reed, Ormsby, Salahuddin, Ramel, Pollet, Nance, Doglio and Scott. Brief Summary of Bill Adds environmental justice to the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review process, including the elements of the environment considered under SEPA and the SEPA checklist filled out by project proponents or SEPA lead agencies. • Requires SEPA lead agencies to complete an environmental justice impact statement, meeting specified substantive criteria and following specified processes, for potentially impactful projects in certain communities. • Prohibits, under the Clean Air Act, approvals for certain new air contaminant sources located in specified communities. • Hearing Date: 1/23/25 Staff: Jacob Lipson (786-7196). Background: State Environmental Policy Act. The State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) establishes a review process for state and local governments to identify environmental impacts that may result from governmental decisions, such as the issuance of permits or the adoption of land use plans. The SEPA environmental review process involves a project proponent, or the lead agency, completing an environmental This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research HB 1303- 1 -House Bill Analysis checklist to identify and evaluate probable environmental impacts. The Department of Ecology (Ecology) has adopted rules that spell out the elements of the environment whose impacts must be…

Washington state law defining requirements for port commissions to investigate and monitor aircraft noise impact before initiating abatement programs. Establishes geographic boundaries for “impacted areas” where port districts may undertake noise programs, with specific distance limitations from runway ends and centerlines.

A white paper by Vianair, Inc. examining noise abatement procedures at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and proposing the development of a comprehensive Fly Quiet program to reduce aircraft noise impacts on surrounding residential communities.

Washington State legislation that amends RCW 53.54.010, 53.54.020, and 53.54.030 to expand aircraft noise abatement programs. The bill reduces the threshold for port districts to undertake noise abatement programs from twenty to nine hundred scheduled jet aircraft flights per day and modifies the boundaries of impacted areas eligible for various remedial programs including property acquisition,

Washington State legislation (Chapter 105, Laws of 2020) that amends aircraft noise abatement provisions, reducing the threshold for port district noise programs from airports serving twenty to nine hundred scheduled jet flights per day and expanding impacted area definitions.

Academic review paper examining perception of low frequency noise and infrasound, including human responses, measurement challenges, and the historical misconceptions that have created public fear around these sound phenomena. The paper addresses hearing thresholds, sensitivity variations, and unexplained complaints of low frequency noise.