TagHR61618(2)

Aviation Noise and Emissions Mitigation Act – Fact Sheet Rep. Adam Smith (WA-09) Background: Studies have demonstrated that communities near airports are exposed to higher proportions of ultra and ultra-ultrafine particles from aviation emissions.iii This kind of exposure suggests that these communities may face increased risks of breast cancer, heart disease, asthma, and a variety of other lung and cardiovascular conditions.iii In addition to poor air quality, airport adjacent communities are increasingly subject to high levels of aircraft noise due to the uptick in air travel over the last several decades. A number of studies have found correlations between exposure to high levels of airport noise and poor health outcomes and negative impacts on children’s learning.iv In order to better support airport adjacent communities impacted by higher level of noise and emissions, the federal government must invest new resources into research and data on community- level impacts and grants to mitigate these impacts. Aviation Noise and Emissions Mitigation Act seeks to help communities near airports and airflight pathways monitor and mitigate aviation noise and emissions. This legislation would create two new pilot grant programs at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for hyperlocal studies of air quality and noise and for mitigation projects in these communities: (1) Noise and Air Quality Monitoring and Research Grant Program – a three-year grant at the EPA for higher education institutions, health entities, or local governments to measure noise and emissions levels, and its impacts, on local communities. It would require grantees to collect data…

This is Congressman Smith's first pass at comprehensive legislation to give surrounding communities a voice in how they are impacted by airports.