The Federal Policy Working Group is tasked with advocating for policies that create new aircraft noise

and emissions reduction tools, authorities, resources and approaches at the federal level. The working

group meets six times a year and – in 2023 – focused on advocating for our shared policy priorities to

be included in the new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act. In particular, StART

members and staff participated in the first ever StART DC Fly-in, traveling to Washington, DC to discuss

our seven policy priorities with members of Congress and the FAA. As of March 2024, four of the

seven priorities were included in the FAA Reauthorization in either the House and/or the

Senate

version:

Action on the FAA Noise Policy Review:

We proposed two policies for inclusion in the

2023 FAA Reauthorization – a one-year deadline for action on potential changes to FAA

noise policy, and the creation of a stakeholder advisory committee to help shape those

recommendations.

Renewal of the FAA Environmental Mitigation Pilot Program:

Authorizing $6 million per

year for grants to support new technologies and approaches to reducing aircraft noise

and emissions.

HR 1049 – The Protecting Airport Communities from Particle Emissions Act:

U.S.

Representative

Smith’s

legislation

that

will

bring

federal

attention

and

engagement

on ultrafine particulates from aircraft engines.

FAA support for new regional airport capacity:

Requiring a report that clarify the process

for FAA regulatory review and agency collaboration with cities and states in high air

travel demand regions looking to invest in new airport capacity.

In addition, the Federal Policy Working Group submitted several joint comment letters on agency

rulemakings, including a highly detailed response to the FAA’s Noise Policy Review – their ongoing

process to identify necessary changes to FAA noise policy – including the potential for enhancing,

supplementing, or replacing the current 65 DNL noise metric.

2023 Annual Report

Item No. 11a_attachment_4

Meeting Date: May 14, 2024