[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 38 (Friday, March 21, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E557]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION TO RESTRICT FLIGHTS OVER CERTAIN AREAS OF 
                     HAWAII'S NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PATSY T. MINK

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 20, 1997

  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce legislation 
limiting adverse impacts of commercial air tour operations on national 
park units in the State of Hawaii. Natural quiet is as much an 
experience in our parks as enjoying the beauty of treasures the parks 
were established to protect and preserve.
  A decade ago, Congress recognized that noise problems within our 
parks nationwide created by overflights had reached a point critical 
enough for congressional intervention, by passing the National Parks 
Overflights Act of 1987.
  Not much happened since then to solve the problem until President 
Clinton on Earth Day 1996 called upon the Transportation and Interior 
Departments to issue regulations to restore quiet to our parks. As a 
result of this action, new regulations were released in January of this 
year for Grand Canyon National Park. To take effect May 1, these 
regulations would double the current flight-free area, limit the number 
of tour aircraft that may overfly the park, ban flights from sunset to 
sunrise, and develop rules requiring quiet aircraft technology.
  The National Park Service and Federal Aviation Administration are 
currently constructing regulations for overflights above Hawaii's 
parks. However, I understand these could be years in coming and, in the 
meantime, air tours are operating under voluntary agreements that have 
not been effective in controlling overflight noise. I continue to 
receive complaints from hikers and visitors to Hawaii's parks, as well 
as residents living next to the parks. My bill is necessary to enforce 
noise controls on these operations.
  Main provisions of my bill include prohibitions of flights over 
Kaloko Honokohau, Pu'u honua o Honaunau, Pu'u kohola Heiau, and 
Kalaupapa National Historical Parks, as well as sections of Haleakala 
and Hawaii Volcanoes National Parks. A minimum 1,500-foot altitude 
restriction is enforced for all other parts of Haleakala and Hawaii 
Volcanoes National Parks.
  The need for restrictions on Hawaii's commercial air tour industry 
for safety reasons was made clear in July 1994 with two helicopter tour 
crashes near the Island of Kauai and on the Island of Molokai, the 
former resulting in three fatalities. In response, the FAA put in place 
SFAR 71 emergency regulations applying to Hawaii's commercial air tour 
operators. As a byproduct, these regulations worked to partially 
alleviate noise problems in Hawaii's parks. However, the SFAR 71 will 
expire in October. My legislation is necessary to continue controls on 
Hawaii's air tour industry.
  I strongly urge my colleagues' support of my legislation.

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