TagNoise Mitigation(259)

This April 2023 memo from the Port of Seattle outlines the agenda and goals for the first-ever StART DC Fly-in, a trip in which Port and local city officials traveled to Washington, DC to advocate for federal policies addressing aircraft noise and emissions near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The delegation met with members of Congress, including Senator Maria Cantwell and several House Representatives, to push for legislation such as the Sound Insulation Treatment Repair and Replacement Program Act and the Aviation Noise and Emissions Mitigation Act. Key priorities included expanding eligibility for home sound insulation funding, involving the EPA in noise mitigation efforts, and establishing a formal Aircraft Noise Advisory Committee with a clear timeline for policy action.

The Sound Insulation Treatment Repair and Replacement Program Act, introduced by Rep. Adam Smith (WA-09), would allow the FAA to waive a rule that currently prevents airports from using Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds to repair or replace sound insulation in the same home more than once. The bill addresses problems caused by faulty materials and poor installation during noise mitigation programs in the 1980s and 1990s, which have led to structural damage and mold in some homes near airports like Sea-Tac. Eligible homeowners must have their issues verified by an FAA-compliant noise auditor, and repairs are generally limited to residences still within the airport's current 65 DNL noise contour.

H.R. 2533, the Sound Insulation Treatment Repair and Replacement Program Act, was introduced in April 2023 to allow airports to receive additional federal funding to repair or replace previously installed sound insulation in homes affected by aircraft noise. The bill allows the Secretary of Transportation to grant a one-time waiver so that prior government spending on a home's soundproofing does not count against the allowable project cost for new work. Homes are eligible if they fall within the FAA's DNL 65 noise standard or if an FAA-certified auditor determines that the original soundproofing caused physical damage to the residence.

This 2023 study, prepared by aviation consulting firm Vianair for the City of Alexandria, Virginia, assesses aircraft noise impacts on communities south of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and proposes solutions acceptable to the FAA. The work involves analyzing historical flight operations and noise exposure data from 2014–2019, examining changes in flight paths and procedures, and developing recommendations to reduce noise for residents in Alexandria, Fairfax County, and Prince George's County. The findings are intended to be accessible to the general public and local policymakers, not just aviation experts.

H.R. 1048, the Aviation Noise and Emissions Mitigation Act, introduced in February 2023, would direct the EPA to establish a 3-year pilot grant program to measure aircraft and airport noise and emissions—including greenhouse gases, particulate matter, and ultrafine particles—in communities near airports and flight paths. Grant recipients would be required to use technology capable of tracing noise and emissions to specific sources, produce neighborhood- and ZIP Code-level data, and work with local organizations to develop mitigation strategies. The program aims to create a replicable national model for ongoing monitoring and to identify frontline communities disproportionately impacted by aviation-related pollution.