[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 144 (Monday, October 12, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H10565]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             OCEAN ROUTING

  (Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, for more than a decade, 
residents of Northern and Central New Jersey have been forced to endure 
intolerable levels of jet aircraft noise 24 hours a day. Recently the 
FAA experimented with a route change, but my constituents found that 
this test of the 260-degree turn was an unmitigated disaster, 
subjecting them to even more noise. It is time for the FAA to finally 
test a citizen-driven alternative, ocean routing.

                              {time}  1415

  Computer modeling has shown that routing planes over the Atlantic 
Ocean would be safe and would dramatically reduce aircraft noise for 
hundreds of thousands of residents.
  This plan has widespread support from the New Jersey congressional 
delegation. I urge the FAA to stop stonewalling and finally give ocean 
routing a thorough and legitimate test. I call on the FAA to approve a 
90-day test of ocean routing so we can determine once and for all 
whether it can bring peace and quiet to New Jersey communities, while 
keeping the flying public safe.

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