[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 162 (Thursday, December 9, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H8279]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION'S AIRSPACE REDESIGN PLAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong and continued 
opposition to the Federal Aviation Administration's airspace redesign 
plan, and, frankly, it just gets worse and worse and worse. First they 
say that there will be hundreds of new air flights from Newark Airport 
flying over my constituents in Rockland County, New York, and now we 
learn that they have changed the plan and made it even worse. They are 
now redirecting an additional 100 flights per day from John F. Kennedy 
International Airport over Rockland County.
  The FAA made this decision without consulting me or, to the best of 
my knowledge, any other elected official whose constituents are 
affected by the increased air traffic. More so, when we originally 
requested that the redesign be altered so that the flights would be 
directed over less populated areas, the FAA had the gall to say that 
the plan could not be changed because it could then be opened up to 
lawsuits. Now we find that they have gone and changed the plan anyway 
to suit their own ends. I find this insulting and hypocritical, typical 
government agency bureaucracy.
  This plan was concocted with zero input from the residents it harms 
the most, particularly my constituents in Rockland County who would be 
most adversely affected by the plan. And specifically, in addition to 
the 300 to 400 planes heading daily to Newark Liberty International 
Airport, this plan would now direct 100 flights a day from JFK airport. 
The FAA doesn't seem to mind inconveniencing residents on the ground.
  Additionally, there was no consultation or notification to myself or 
any other elected officials whose constituents are affected by the 
proposed plan. While several town halls were held throughout the FAA 
airspace redesign process, they were held throughout the FAA redesign 
process, a redesign that, again, I strongly oppose. I have not been 
made aware of any community involvement with this recent decision.
  In the past, I was able, after begging, pleading, cajoling and 
threatening, to get the FAA to hold a town hall meeting in Rockland 
County, where 1,200 residents attended and spoke in universal 
opposition to this plan. But, again, the public be damned. The 
government knows better. The FAA did not listen then, and look where we 
are now. In this instance, however, we have had no such opportunity.
  It's been clear for many years that the FAA has had no intention to 
listen to the people of Rockland County, and this recent decision only 
reinforces that. I have spoken to and written letters to the FAA and to 
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood asking for reconsideration of their 
redesign plan, and I am outraged at the decision to direct even more 
flights over the county. There are other ways to address the problems 
facing airports and delayed flights without requiring the people of 
Rockland County to bear this burden.
  As my constituents have noted to me, the noise and air pollution in 
the area will increase. It is unknown how this increase in air 
pollution will affect a disproportionate rate of childhood asthma in my 
district.
  Another issue not taken into account by the FAA is a lack of 
preparedness for severe airline emergency in this densely populated 
area. It is likely that first responders would have to be trained for 
the event of a catastrophic airplane crash, God forbid, causing added 
cost to local police, fire, and EMT departments that are already 
stretched thin.
  In addition, while the flight plans will not route commercial 
aircraft directly over the Indian Point nuclear power plant, the 
proximity could lead to an extremely dangerous scenario. Over 20 
million people live within 50 miles of Indian Point.
  I believe it is clear this redirection will cause a significant 
decrease in the quality of life for my constituents in Rockland County. 
And what for? The expected result of this scheme is the paltry 
reduction of delays--an average of 3 minutes per flight.
  The modernization of our aviation system is necessary to bring it 
into the 21st century, to keep pace with the increased number of 
flights, and to also maintain our technological advancements by 
implementing new equipment to keep our system the safest in the world. 
However, there are several alternatives to this new plan, including the 
redirection of these flights over the underutilized airspace over the 
Atlantic Ocean.
  I am outraged by this decision, and I call on the Department of 
Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration to not say one 
thing only to do another, all to the detriment of my constituents in 
Rockland County. I am against this new move by the FAA and will 
continue to fight against its implementation.

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