[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 53 (Thursday, April 7, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1827-S1828]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3541. Ms. WARREN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 3464 submitted by Mr. Thune (for himself and Mr. Nelson) 
to the bill H.R. 636, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to 
permanently extend increased expensing limitations, and for other 
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of title IV, add the following:

                Subtitle C--Accountability to Community

     SEC. 4301. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``FAA Community 
     Accountability Act of 2016''.

     SEC. 4302. FLIGHT PATHS AND PROCEDURES.

       Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in considering 
     new or revised flight paths or procedures as part of the 
     implementation of the Next Generation Air Transportation 
     System, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
     Administration--
       (1) shall take actions to limit negative impacts on the 
     human environment in the vicinity of an affected airport; and
       (2) may give preference to overlays of existing flight 
     paths or procedures to ensure compatibility with land use in 
     the vicinity of an affected airport.

     SEC. 4303. FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION COMMUNITY 
                   OMBUDSMAN.

       (a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
     of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal 
     Aviation Administration shall appoint a Federal Aviation 
     Administration Community Ombudsman for each region of the 
     Federal Aviation Administration.
       (b) Duties.--The Ombudsmen appointed in accordance with 
     subsection (a) shall--
       (1) act as a liaison between affected communities and the 
     Administrator with respect

[[Page S1828]]

     to problems related to the impact of commercial aviation on 
     the human environment, including concerns regarding aircraft 
     noise, pollution, and safety;
       (2) monitor the impact of the implementation of the Next 
     Generation Air Transportation System on communities in the 
     vicinity of affected airports;
       (3) make recommendations to the Administrator--
       (A) to address concerns raised by communities; and
       (B) to improve the use of community comments in 
     Administration decisionmaking processes; and
       (4) report to Congress periodically on issues related to 
     the impact of commercial aviation on the human environment 
     and on Administration responsiveness to concerns raised by 
     affected communities.

     SEC. 4304. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, in implementing the Next Generation Air Transportation 
     System, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
     Administration may not treat the establishment or revision of 
     a flight path or procedure as covered by a categorical 
     exclusion (as defined in section 1508.4 of title 40, Code of 
     Federal Regulations) if an Federal Aviation Administration 
     Community Ombudsman or the operator of an airport affected by 
     such establishment or revision submits written notification 
     to the Administrator that--
       (1) extraordinary circumstances exist; or
       (2) the establishment or revision will have a significant 
     adverse impact on the human environment in the vicinity of 
     such airport.
       (b) Notifications.--At least 30 days before treating the 
     establishment or revision of a flight path or procedure as 
     covered by a categorical exclusion, the Administrator shall 
     provide notice and an opportunity for comment to persons 
     affected by such establishment or revision, including the 
     operator of any affected airport.

     SEC. 4305. RECONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN FLIGHT PATHS AND 
                   PROCEDURES.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
     shall reconsider a flight path or procedure established or 
     revised after February 14, 2012, as part of the 
     implementation of the Next Generation Air Transportation 
     System if a Federal Aviation Administration Community 
     Ombudsman or the operator of an airport affected by such 
     establishment or revision submits written notification to the 
     Administrator that the establishment or revision is resulting 
     in a significant adverse impact on the human environment in 
     the vicinity of such airport.
       (b) Process.--In reconsidering a flight path or procedure 
     under subsection (a), the Administrator shall--
       (1) provide notice of the reconsideration and an 
     opportunity for public comment;
       (2) assess the impacts on the human environment of such 
     flight path or procedure; and
       (3) not later than 180 days after the date on which the 
     relevant notification was received, submit to Congress and 
     make available to the public a report that--
       (A) addresses comments received pursuant to paragraph (1);
       (B) describes the results of the assessment carried out 
     under paragraph (2); and
       (C) describes any changes to be made to such flight path or 
     procedure or the justification for not making any change.
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