[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 93 (Thursday, July 11, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1244]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1244]]


        H.R. 4481, THE AIRPORT STREAMLINING APPROVAL PROCESS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. MAXINE WATERS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 9, 2002

  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my opposition to H.R. 
4481, the Airport Streamlining Approval Process Act, which encourages 
the construction of airport capacity expansion projects at congested 
airports like Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
  LAX is the third largest airport in the United States, serving 
approximately 65 million air passengers per year. Nevertheless, the 
operator of LAX had proposed a massive expansion plan that could have 
increased the airports' capacity to as many as 120 million air 
passengers per year. A diverse coalition of over 80 cities and several 
grassroots organizations, known as the Coalition for a Truly Regional 
Airport Plan, organized to oppose LAX expansion and support a regional 
approach to Southern California's air transportation needs.
  The proposed expansion of LAX would have had a severe impact upon the 
surrounding communities. According to the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement and Report released by LAX expansion proponents, increased 
traffic in and out of LAX would have added 1,592 tons of pollutants per 
year to Los Angeles' air; an additional 7,150 persons would have been 
exposed to noise levels above 65 decibels; and inadequate noise 
mitigation efforts would have forced residents to remain indoors or 
move. Because of these negative impacts, many residents of the 
surrounding communities expressed strong opposition to LAX expansion.
  Furthermore, the proposed expansion of LAX would have interfered with 
the development of a regional solution to Southern California's air 
transportation needs. While the communities surrounding LAX have been 
forced to endure a disproportionate share of the region's air traffic, 
other communities are eager for the economic benefits of development at 
their local airports. The expansion of LAX would have made it extremely 
difficult for these communities to attract service to their local 
airports. Residents and businesses in these communities would have had 
no alternative other than to commute to an expanded LAX for their air 
transportation needs, resulting in an increase in traffic congestion on 
the streets surrounding LAX. Clearly, the proposed expansion of LAX 
would not have ended air transportation-related gridlock in the 
Southern California region.
  On April 18, 2002, I sent a letter to Chairman Mica and Congressman 
Lipinski, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Aviation Subcommittee 
of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, regarding the 
effect of airport streamlining legislation on the Southern California 
region. This letter, which was signed by three other Southern 
California Representatives, explained that we would oppose any 
legislation that would prevent the State of California and its regional 
and local governments from enacting a regional solution to our future 
aviation needs, including limiting or prohibiting the proposed 
expansion of LAX.
  Airport expansion should not be carried out over the objections of 
local communities. It would be both unfair and unwise for the Federal 
government to disregard local concerns or override the authority of 
state and local officials to plan local airport development.
  I strongly oppose H.R. 4481, the Airport Streamlining Approval 
Process Act. Airport expansion is a local issue. It should not be 
encouraged by the Federal government.

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