From the Office of Utah Congressman Jim Matheson

MATHESON NEWS
Second Congressional District

For Further Information
Alyson Heyrend: (801) 455-5593 (cell)
www.house.gov/matheson

June 22, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Matheson Requires Flight Agency to Consider Noise Pollution

Washington D.C.-Congressman Jim Matheson today added a requirement to a bill reauthorizing research and development programs at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to prioritize noise pollution when changing commercial flight paths.

Matheson is a member of the House Science and Technology Committee, which today cleared HR 2698 - the Federal Aviation Research and Development Reauthorization Act.

"Though safety should be the most important consideration in airspace design, I believe that considering noise pollution is also in the public interest," said Matheson.  "My amendment requires the FAA to take a more serious approach to noise pollution-an issue affecting many communities across the country."

Matheson's language helps preclude future occurrences by the FAA of ignoring local environmental concerns.  Matheson successfully opposed a recent FAA proposal for the Salt Lake Valley that would have rerouted jet planes directly over the recreational canyons of the Wasatch Mountains as well as over hundreds of thousands of homes, hospitals and schools.

Matheson's amendment was adopted by voice vote. The legislation is expected to be folded into a larger FAA reauthorization bill being drafted by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.  The current FAA authorization expires at the end of September.

#  #  #

Alyson Heyrend
Communications Director
240 East Morris Ave. #235
South Salt Lake, UT 84115
(801) 486-1236 (phone)
(801) 455-5593 (cell)
(801) 486-1417 (fax)