Steven Taber

2026-07-18
2026.07

A legal review of the FAA's new Aircraft Noise Advisory Committee (ANAC) finds that while the committee includes community representatives, aviation industry members are likely to outnumber and outvote them, limiting residents' real influence over noise policy decisions. The review also raises concerns that key technical work done in subcommittees may happen outside public view, with no requirement for minority reports when community members are overruled. The author recommends the FAA adopt clearer voting rules, guaranteed community seats on subcommittees, and routine public disclosure of meeting records and competing recommendations.

TagsAdvisory Committees, FAA, Federal Register, Noise, Steven Taber
2026-07-18
2026.07

A legal review of the FAA's new Aircraft Noise Advisory Committee (ANAC) finds that while the committee includes community representatives, aviation industry members are likely to outnumber and outvote them, limiting residents' real influence over noise policy decisions. The review also raises concerns that key technical work done in subcommittees may happen outside public view, with no requirement for minority reports when community members are overruled. The author recommends the FAA adopt clearer voting rules, guaranteed community seats on subcommittees, and routine public disclosure of meeting records and competing recommendations.

TagsAdvisory Committees, FAA, Federal Register, Noise, Steven Taber

As the source for federal transportation grants, the Puget Sound Regional Council was charged with developing a system to meet the growing need for commercial aviation. When the search for a second airport failed, they authorized the Port of Seattle to build the Third Runway, with a mandate to develop a noise abatement and mitigation program. In their effort to stop the Third Runway, the ACC argued over every detail of the Port's efforts--including property buyouts and sound insulation. The dispute was meant to be settled by a three member Expert Arbitration Panel. This is their final report. It finds 2-1, that the Port's program was insufficient in several respects. Despite that, funding for the Third Runway was approved by the PSRC, and the 'Port Package' program, proceeded largely unchanged. Expert Arbitration Panel's final decision finding that the Port of Seattle had not shown sufficient reduction in real on-the-ground noise impacts to satisfy noise reduction conditions required for approval of a third runway at Sea-Tac International Airport. The majority decision concluded the Port's noise abatement programs were insufficient despite being impressive in scope.

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