NEW YORK: In a recent letter to Jane Garvey, Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY 14th) and Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY 8th) urged the FAA to complete accurately a long-overdue, Congressionally mandated report on the impact of helicopter noise on individuals in densely populated areas.

In the letter, Maloney and Nadler emphasize the FAA's significant delay in completing the report, as well as the inaccurate focus of the study. The FAA has decided to conduct a report on "the types of helicopters that elicit a negative response from individuals," the Maloney/Nadler letter states, rather than the Congressionally mandated report on "the effects of nonmilitary helicopter noise on individuals in densely populated areas." The following are excerpts from the letter:

"The 106th Congress mandated a study to investigate 'the effects of nonmilitary helicopter noise on individuals in densely populated areas in the continental United States; and to develop recommendations for the reduction of the effects of nonmilitary helicopter noise.' Furthermore, the bill specified that 'Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to Congress a report on the results of the study conducted under this section.' However, to date the Congress has not been provided with the aforementioned report. In short, the FAA has not yet completed this study and the process as a whole has been fraught with delays and a troubling lack of focus and direction.

"In July of 2000, we contacted the FAA to express concern over the agency's proposal to conduct a study of 'the types of helicopters that elicit negative responses from individuals,' pointing out that this would not address the effect of this noise on individuals as was mandated by law. At that time, we urged the FAA to reach out to those most affected by this issue- the communities that must endure excessive helicopter noise on a continual basis and those who have been actively involved with this issue- by extending the deadline for comment so that concerned parties could have the opportunity to have their voices heard. The response from the community was unequivocal. From the perspective of many New York residents, the FAA's limited outreach to the public indicates a lack of concern and appreciation for the issues at hand."

Maloney and Nadler have requested a meeting with FAA officials to discuss remedies to the delayed and inaccurate study. Both Maloney and Nadler detailed several concerns about the flawed study to Administrator Garvey at an Aviation Subcommittee Field Hearing of the U.S. House of Representatives held in New York City this week. Garvey responded saying that she believes the concerns expressed were on point and that she has scheduled a full briefing on the study in coming weeks.

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