[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 729 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 729

   To provide for development and implementation of certain plans to 
  reduce risks to the public health and welfare caused by helicopter 
                              operations.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 11, 1999

 Mrs. Maloney of New York (for herself, Mr. Towns, Mr. Nadler, and Mr. 
   Berman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
             Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To provide for development and implementation of certain plans to 
  reduce risks to the public health and welfare caused by helicopter 
                              operations.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Helicopter Noise Control and Safety 
Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    For the purposes of this Act, the following definitions apply:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
            (2) Helicopter operations.--The term ``helicopter 
        operations'' means any function which is reasonably related to 
        helicopter traffic, including helicopter takeoffs, landings, 
        and overflights.

SEC. 3. PLAN.

    (a) In General.--If the Administrator determines, independently or 
after review of a study submitted under section 4, that helicopter 
operations pose a risk to the public health and welfare in a county or 
municipality with a population of more than 500,000, the Administrator 
shall develop and implement a plan, in accordance with this Act, to 
reduce that risk.
    (b) Requirements.--A plan implemented pursuant to this Act must--
            (1) be related to the risk documented by the Administrator 
        or by a study submitted under section 4;
            (2) reduce the documented risk in a reasonable way;
            (3) not adversely affect aviation safety; and
            (4) be technologically practicable and appropriate for the 
        particular type of aircraft and aircraft operation to which it 
        will apply.
    (c) Options.--A plan implemented pursuant to this Act may--
            (1) include curfew restrictions on the number and time of 
        helicopter operations;
            (2) include restrictions on the daily number of helicopter 
        flights, including different restrictions for weekday and 
        weekend flights;
            (3) include restrictions on the type of helicopter used;
            (4) relate to a particular heliport or heliports, or to 
        helicopter operations within the city generally;
            (5) include exceptions necessary for helicopter operations 
        relating to administrative, emergency, media, and military 
        operations; and
            (6) include any other restrictions on helicopter operations 
        that may be necessary to protect public health and welfare.

SEC. 4. SUBMISSION OF PLAN; REVIEW; PUBLIC COMMENT; APPROVAL.

    (a) Submission.--A city, State, governmental subdivision, agency, 
or instrumentality, or a person responsible for the operation of a 
heliport may request that the Administrator implement a plan pursuant 
to this Act by submitting to the Administrator--
            (1) a study demonstrating that noise or safety conditions, 
        or both, resulting from helicopter operations pose a risk to 
        the public health and welfare of a county or municipality with 
        a population of more than 500,000; and
            (2) a plan to reduce the risk documented by the study 
        submitted under paragraph (1).
    (b) Review.--Not more than 60 days after receipt of a plan and 
study submitted under subsection (a), the Administrator shall complete 
a review of such plan and make any modifications necessary to ensure 
that such plan is in accordance with section 3.
    (c) Public Comment.--Not more than 60 days after the Administrator 
has completed a review and, if necessary, modifications of a plan 
submitted under subsection (a)(2), or after development of a plan based 
upon independent study by the Administrator, the Administrator shall--
            (1) issue public notice which includes a draft of the plan;
            (2) make copies of the plan and the supporting study 
        available at the appropriate regional offices of the Federal 
        Aviation Administration; and
            (3) allow 90 days for public comment on the plan.
    (d) Approval and Implementation.--Not less than 60 days after the 
expiration of the period for public comment provided under subsection 
(c)(3), Administrator shall implement a plan which--
            (1) is in accordance with section 3; and
            (2) takes into consideration any public comments on the 
        plan.
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