U.S. Congressional Representatives Urge FAA to Reduce Aviation Noise Level Metric

By Miki Barnes, LCSW
September 17, 2014

Below is a press release regarding the efforts of several U.S. Congressional Representatives urging the FAA to reduce the aviation noise metric from the 65 DNL to 55 DNL. See U.S Representative Grace Meng's website for additional information.

To urge your U.S. Oregon Congressional Representative to address the adverse impacts of aviation noise on health and livability contact:
Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D - 01) ph 202-225-0855, fax 202-225-9497
Representative Greg Walden (R - 02) ph 202-225-6730, fax 202-225-5774
Representative Earl Blumenauer (D - 03) ph 202-225-4811, fax 202-225-8941
Representative Kurt Schrader (D - 05) ph 202-225-5711, fax 202-225-5699
Representative Peter De Fazio (D - 04) ph 202-225-6416

To search for your representative by zipcode click on FIND YOUR REP BY ZIP.

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Sep 12, 2014
Press Release

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representatives Grace Meng (D-NY), Steve Israel (D-NY) and Mike Quigley (D-IL) today urged the head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to change the national standard at which the agency determines acceptable levels of aircraft noise.

In a letter to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, the lawmakers called for lowering the national noise level standard used to measure noise effects on individuals due to aviation activities. Reducing the current 65 decibel Day-Night Average Sound Level (DNL) to 55 DNL would help address concerns about excessive airplane noise. It would allow more residents to qualify for sound insulation programs and mitigate noise pollution in their homes. The change would also create the potential for further noise reduction improvements by the FAA in the future.

The 65 DNL has been in place since the 1970s when air traffic volume was far lower than it is today. The representatives contend the outdated metric no longer meets the needs of their communities because it does not accurately reflect the daily reality of noise pollution they face.

“The constant barrage of airplane noise over my district in Queens, New York continues to ruin the quality of life of my constituents,” said Meng. “Time and again, the FAA has carelessly ignored the needs and concerns of the communities I represent by doing virtually nothing to address the problem of increased aircraft noise. That is why it's time to take this fight to the national level, and demanding a lower DNL is the best approach to securing relief from the blistering airplane noise that has plagued our area for far too long.”

“Airplane noise is having a significant negative impact on the quality of life of too many of my constituents in Queens and Nassau County, and I know the problem isn't just confined to my district,” said Israel. “That's why I'm joining colleagues from across the country who also have constituents suffering to call on the FAA to change the national standard at which the agency determines an acceptable level of noise from aircraft. It's time for the FAA to listen to the needs of our constituents and our communities, and we will continue fighting until they do so.”

“My constituents back home in Chicago are facing unprecedented noise pollution that is eroding their quality of life and impacting their health,” said Quigley. “Our residents can't get a decent night's sleep or even enjoy quality time outside with their children. These are families, not statistics, and they deserve a national standard that properly addresses the unacceptable amount of noise pollution they've come to experience day in and day out.”

A copy of the letter, which is signed by 23 other members of Congress, is below. DNL is the metric that the FAA uses to measure aircraft noise.

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September 12, 2014

Michael P. Huerta
Administrator
Federal Aviation Administration
800 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20591

Dear Administrator Huerta:

As Members of Congress who represent thousands of constituents negatively affected by airplane noise, we write to express our disappointment in the lack of progress on the part of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to address growing noise pollution in our districts and the negative effects noise pollution has on the health, well-being, and property values of our constituents. Rather than addressing this issue piecemeal in fragmented areas of the nation, we believe it is time for the FAA to tackle this issue on a national level by changing the standard by which it determines acceptable noise pollution. The current 65 decibel Day-Night Average Sound Level (DNL) metric is outdated and disconnected from the real impact that air traffic noise is having on our constituents and should be lowered to a more reasonable standard of 55 decibel DNL.

Although we represent different airports with unique regulations and operating procedures, we are united in our call for lowering the current 65 DNL metric. We believe the 65 DNL, which has been in place since the late 1970s, is no longer a reliable measure of the true impact of aircraft noise. Since the 65 DNL was instituted by the FAA in its Aviation Noise Abatement Policy of 1976, airplane traffic has increased dramatically and will continue to do so over the next two decades. The FAA's own Aerospace Forecast projects that revenue passenger miles­the standard for measuring commercial air traffic volume­will nearly double over the next twenty years. Similarly, the number of operations at FAA and contract towers is expected to increase by more than 45 percent from current levels.

It is not just our communities that question the FAA's use of the 65 DNL. Support for a lower DNL standard, specifically 55 DNL, originates from a 1974 report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that was the beginning of a long line of studies - and a recent flurry of complaints - that support the need to lower the FAA's DNL standard. The FAA's use of 65 DNL may be based upon severe and immediate health impacts, but it is essential the FAA consider quality of life, long-term health impacts, home values and overall economic impact. As such, we urge the FAA to expedite its ongoing four-year-long review of the 65 DNL metric and institute overdue and much needed changes. Telling constituents that the FAA's study is not near completion after five years offers them cold comfort when jet noise is blanketing their communities.

We also urge the FAA to utilize Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) technologies to minimize airplane noise. NextGen technologies offer incredible benefits when used correctly including increased safety and efficiency in air travel for the airline industry and its passengers. However, it appears that the FAA has not fully considered the consequences of NextGen's implementation on airplane noise levels. It is imperative that the FAA properly balance emission and noise concerns. This includes variations of daily flight routes, continuous descent approaches, and rapid ascents. We have seen success using continuous descent in some areas and hope you will institute a national policy to improve the NextGen implementation, with an emphasis on reaching 55 DNL nationally.

We understand that air travel is a key component of the U.S. economy, and we appreciate that commercial aircraft are quieter than ever. However, each day many of our constituents are subjected to unreasonable levels of airplane noise. Economic growth­and efficient, safe air travel­should not be incompatible with vibrant, livable neighborhoods. By lowering its DNL standard, the FAA will greatly improve the lives of our constituents. We stand ready to assist you in achieving this goal, and ask you to inform us how we can help you in this task.

We look forward to your response and thank you in advance for working to achieve this important goal.

Sincerely,

GRACE MENG, Member of Congress
STEVE ISRAEL, Member of Congress
MIKE QUIGLEY, Member of Congress

A copy of the letter signed by 26 U.S. Congressional Representatives is available at http://meng.house.gov/sites/meng.house.gov/files/wysiwyg_uploaded/Letter%20to%20FAA.pdf.