TagLegislation(135)

Washington State's Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5141, signed into law in May 2021, aims to reduce environmental and health disparities by implementing recommendations from the state's Environmental Justice Task Force. The law requires covered state agencies—including the departments of ecology, health, transportation, and others—to address the disproportionate environmental burdens faced by low-income communities and communities of color. It establishes an Environmental Justice Council and directs state programs to prioritize benefits for communities with the greatest environmental and health burdens.

Washington State Senate Bill 5141 requires several state agencies, including the departments of Ecology, Health, Transportation, and others, to incorporate environmental justice principles into their planning and decision-making processes. The bill mandates that these agencies complete environmental justice assessments for significant actions, create community engagement plans for overburdened communities, and consult with Indian tribes on decisions affecting tribal lands. An environmental justice council would be established to oversee implementation, and the Department of Health would maintain an environmental health disparities map tracking conditions across Washington communities.

This presentation by attorney Peter J. Kirsch, delivered at the 2021 Aviation Noise and Emissions Symposium, examines anticipated legislative priorities related to aircraft noise and emissions in the new Congress. It references key noise measurement tools, including the Schultz Curve and a updated National Curve, both of which plot the percentage of people highly annoyed against Day-Night Average Sound Level (DNL) in decibels. The materials suggest growing public sensitivity to aircraft noise even at lower decibel levels, with implications for how policymakers may revisit the longstanding 65 DNL threshold used in federal noise compatibility programs.

This presentation by Sanford Fidell and Vincent Mestre, delivered at the UC Davis Aviation Noise and Emissions Symposium on February 26, 2021, discusses priorities and predictions for U.S. aircraft noise legislation. It is based on their book 'A Guide to U.S. Aircraft Noise Regulatory Policy,' which covers topics ranging from the history of noise regulation and its effects on communities to airport land use planning, noise mitigation, and potential future changes to regulatory policy.

HB 1099 is a Washington State bill focused on improving the state's climate response by updating the Growth Management Act to require counties and cities to include climate change and resiliency planning in their comprehensive land use plans. The bill mandates reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled, and requires the Department of Commerce to publish guidelines for achieving statewide emissions targets. It also addresses coastal resilience by requiring Shoreline Master Programs to account for sea level rise and increased storm severity.

Washington State's E2SSB 5141, enacted in 2021, requires key state agencies including Transportation and Ecology to incorporate environmental justice principles into their planning and decision-making processes, with a focus on protecting overburdened communities from disproportionate environmental and health harms. Agencies must develop community engagement plans by 2022, environmental justice implementation plans by 2023, and conduct formal environmental justice assessments for significant actions such as new rules, grants, and capital investments. Note: this legislation addresses statewide environmental justice policy broadly and does not specifically address Sea-Tac Airport noise issues.

A 2021 presentation by Darlene Yaplee, founding member of the Aviation-Impacted Communities Alliance (AICA), argues that the FAA's current systems for assessing and addressing aircraft noise and health impacts are outdated and in need of legislative reform. The document outlines community perspectives on aircraft noise and emissions legislation, covering problem framing, insights for future laws, noise reduction strategies, and real examples of community input. Residents across impacted communities are calling for meaningful relief from the noise and emissions burdens caused by modern air traffic.

H.R. 5874, the 'Decrease Noise Levels Act,' introduced in February 2020, would require the FAA to lower the threshold for significant aircraft noise from a day-night average sound level of 65 to 60 decibels. The bill also directs the FAA to publish a public report within one year outlining a strategy to further reduce residential noise levels to 55 decibels over the following decade. Additionally, it mandates that community outreach efforts include evaluations of alternative noise measurement metrics beyond the current standard.

Washington House Bill 2688, introduced in the 2020 legislative session, proposes updating the state's transportation policy goals to prioritize accessibility, environmental justice, public health, and climate by replacing older goals focused primarily on economic vitality and mobility. The bill would require transportation projects to undergo a multi-agency evaluation—including input from vulnerable and impacted communities—before receiving budget authorization. Projects that do not meet a minimum score based on the new policy goals would generally be excluded from funding.

The 'Cleaner, Quieter Airplanes Act,' introduced in the 116th Congress by Mr. Beyer, would require NASA to establish an initiative to develop and demonstrate new aircraft technologies capable of reducing both greenhouse gas emissions and noise emissions by at least 50 percent compared to the best-performing aircraft in service as of December 31, 2019. The bill responds to findings that aviation noise pollution is worsening in some communities as air traffic increases and performance-based navigation technology is adopted. It reflects a broader U.S. goal of carbon-neutral aviation growth from 2020 onward.