Aviation-Impacted Communities Act

Summary#

This bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to support communities affected by aircraft noise even if those communities are outside the FAA's traditional 65 DNL contour. Key actions in the bill include: a National Academy of Sciences study and a science-based framework and diagnostic tool to measure aviation impacts; outreach and a process to let communities become "designated communities"; creation of local community boards that include elected officials, airport operators, residents, and public health/environment representatives; community assessments and regional assessments based on the new framework; FAA-provided noise measurement instruments on request; action plans developed with communities after assessments; an appeals process using an independent expert panel if the FAA declines certain changes; and grants for noise mitigation for residences, hospitals, schools, places of worship, and other impacted facilities. The bill defines "aviation-impacted community" and other terms, and authorizes funding from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund.

What it means for you#

  • Residents in neighborhoods near large hub airports can ask to be a designated community and form a community board that participates in assessments and planning.
  • Community boards can request FAA-conducted community assessments using the National Academy's framework and, when asked, receive noise monitoring equipment.
  • If an assessment finds issues, the FAA must work with the community to make an action plan that may include sound insulation, air filtration, noise barriers, or changes to flight procedures.
  • The FAA must explain in the action plan if it decides not to implement changes the community requested, and communities can appeal that decision to an independent panel.

Expenses#

  • The bill authorizes $750,000,000 from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund for fiscal years 2025 through 2034.
  • For fiscal years after 2034, the bill allows sums not to exceed 0.25 percent of the annual change in the Trust Fund's uncommitted balance.
  • Up to 5 percent of any amounts appropriated may be used for FAA administration of the program; the rest is for grants under the bill and, if not spent, for other specified FAA grant uses.
  • No publicly available information on specific per-community or per-project grant amounts or exact funding formulas beyond the authorized totals.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.