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GOVERNMENT RESOURCES
State Government Revised December 3, 2005 |
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
California Law
Search for statutes and regulations from this Web site and retrieve the full text. You can search by topic or go directly to specific parts of the code.
California Department of Transportation (CalTrans)
CalTrans is responsible for developing a State Transportation Plan, which is approved by the California Transportation Commission. This plan must integrate regional transportation plans developed by local communities (see State and Regional Transportation Plans).
Aeronautics Program
MS #40, P.O. Box 942874
Sacramento 94274-0001
Telephone 916.654.3775
Fax 916.653.9531
California Environmental Protection Agency
County Airport Land Use Commissions -- Each county must have a commission (or its equivalent) that prepares and adopts an "airport land use plan". The plan defines an "airport influence area" for each airport in the county, designed to protect airport operational safety and prevent construction of housing and other noise-sensitive uses near airports. The commission reviews county and city general and specific plans as well as individual development proposals in the vicinity of an airport to determine their consistency with the airport land use plan. In recent years the commissions throughout the state have created considerable controversy inasmuch as they are independent of county and city government, which has responsibility for permitting new development.
OTHER
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FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
Aviation Noise Ombudsman
The ombudsman links the FAA and the public to resolve noise issues that already have been presented to local officials. See About the Ombudsman.
Phone: 202.493.5047
Fax: 202.267.5594
Aviation Operations Research Center of Excellence
This center manages cooperative research by academic institutions and aviation industry "partners". The Port of Oakland is one such partner. The center is a co-sponsor with the Institute of Transportation Studies at U.C. Berkeley of an annual Airport Noise Symposium.
Management Advisory Council
The council provides advice to the FAA Administrator on policy, spending, and regulatory matters affecting the aviation industry. The council was established by the FAA Reauthorization Act of 1996 but did not get off the ground until 2000.
Office of Airports (ARP)
Office of Environment and Energy (AEE)
This FAA Office (part of the FAA Headquarters) recommends and coordinates national aviation policy on environmental and energy matters; provides guidance, oversight, and technical assistance for FAA compliance with environmental regulations; and conducts studies of aircraft and airport operations and development programs that could lead to reductions in adverse environmental impacts, including noise. The traditional emphasis of the Office has been on alleviating aviation noise impacts
Policy and Regulatory Division
AEE's Policy and Regulatory Division (AEE-300) provides policy and regulatory guidance on environmental protection and energy conservation to FAA activities and the public. This responsibility includes conducting studies, setting standards, and providing assistance on aviation environmental and energy matters. The division manages the airport noise compatibility planning program, maintaining the program's implementing regulations in FAR Part 150. In coordination with the Community and Environmental Needs Division in the FAA's Office of Airport Planning and Programming, the divison reviews noise exposure maps submitted for FAA acceptance and noise compatibility programs referred for FAA review and approval. It also oversees the national transition to a stage-3 (quieter) airplane fleet.
San Francisco Bay Area Offices
Local agencies that control local air traffic and administer federal grants to airports.
Western-Pacific Regional Office
See the statement by the Regional Administrator on the role of the FAA in airport noise abatement.
Proposed Rules and Requests for Comments
The FAA has a mailing list system for notices and advance notices of proposed rulemaking (NPRMs and ANPRMs). Persons interested in obtaining future copies of all of those documents to be issued by the FAA or only of those concerning certain parts of the Federal Aviation Regulations should request a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2, which describes the application procedure, by calling (202) 267-3484 or by writing to: Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Public Affairs, Attention: Public Inquiry Center, APA-230, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591.
FAA Regulatory and Guidance Library -- includes information on how citizens can initiate rulemaking.
Documents, Records, and Publications
Selected Documents:
Freedom of Information Act and the FAA
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) gives citizens a statutory right to records of the FAA and other federal agencies. FOIA lists nine exemptions from disclosure, but these exemptions do not cover the vast majority of records. (The FAA's FOIA webpage states: "FAA publications and much regulatory information and data are publicly available and an FOIA request may not be necessary to obtain it. If you have questions about the need for an FOIA request, please contact the headquarters FOIA office.") See Department of Transportation FOIA Rules (49 CFR Part 7), which cover the FAA.
Inspector General Reports on the FAA
The Inspector General for the Department of Transportation investigates and audits the FAA. The link is to the IG's reports.
U.S. House of Representatives
Government and Industry Plans with Respect to Stage 4 Commercial Aircraft (Sept. 21, 2000) -- looking forward to advances in aircraft engine noise-suppression technology ("stage 4").
Subcommittee on Technology, Science Committee, Room 2320, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515; (202) 225-6371. See the website at Science Committee.
U.S. Senate
National Civil Aviation Review Commission
The commission was created by Congress, named in March 1997, and finished its work Dec. 12, 1997. It was charged with reviewing FAA's funding needs through 2002 and developing recommendations on ways to meet these needs.
The panel was split into an aviation funding task force and an aviation safety task force. Chairman was Norman Mineta, senior vice president and managing director, Lockheed Martin. Mineta formerly was a long-time congressman from San Jose, California and served as chairman of the House Subcommittee on Aviation.
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European Union Noise Policy
The European Commission, the policy-making arm of the EU, is studying airport noise standards that would better reflect the effects of noise on humans, with the aim of possibly establishing standards that would apply in all member nations.
German Organizations Against Airport and Aircraft Noise
This website in both English and German provides rich links to technical information and European government agencies.
Netherlands Directorate for Noise and Traffic
This unofficial Web site for the Netherland's Ministry of Environment, Directorate for Noise and Traffic, provides information on progressive research being conducted in Europe on the issue of airport noise.
Union Française Contre les Nuisances
Aériennes
This website in French and English provides information on efforts in France to reduce airport-related noise, and has many links to related European websites. It also hosts an on-line forum in English.
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The organizations listed here are potentially powerful allies in the fight to reduce airport noise. Airport noise issues can be raised in these organizations by your elected representatives. If there is sufficient concern, the organization will adopt a policy. All of these organizations can provide important support (or opposition) to legislation.
National Association of Counties
National League of Cities -- see the NLC's Noise Control Policy.
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