[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24082]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



             NATIONAL PARKS AIR TOUR MANAGEMENT ACT OF 1999

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                               speech of

                           HON. PATSY T. MINK

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 27, 1999

  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for 
H.R. 717, the National Parks Air Tour Management Act of 1999.
  Although this bill does not go as far as I would like, particularly 
with respect to overflights in National Parks in Hawaii, H.R. 717 is a 
step in the right direction.
  For years I have received complaints fom people who visit National 
Parks in Hawaii seeking to appreciate its serenity and ambiance only to 
be agitated by the pesky and noisy buzzing of aircraft overhead. In 
response, I introduced legislation, H.R. 482, to limit the adverse 
impacts of commercial air tour operations on National Parks in the 
State of Hawaii. My bill establishes specific guidelines, setting 
minimum altitudes and standoff distances, for National Parks in Hawaii. 
I believe certain parks must be declared flight-free, spared from 
intrusive noise, and maintained as calm refuges for the enjoyment of 
all.
  I strongly encourage all of my colleagues to cosponsor my bill, H.R. 
482, and establish certain flight-free zones over National Parks in 
Hawaii so that we may all enjoy the whole experience of visiting a 
National Park.
  In the meantime, H.R. 717 will make several improvements upon the 
current situation of overflights in National Parks.
  H.R. 717 requires the National Park Service to work with the Federal 
Aviation Administration and with the input of both the public and air 
tour operators, to prepare air tour flight management plans at each 
national park. Air tours would be prohibited unless the operators 
comply with the park's air tour overflight management plan. To insure 
that the plans are fair and comprehensive, the bill also calls for a 
study of the effects overflights have on park visitors on the ground.
  Our National Parks should be enjoyed by all. For many, noise 
pollution ruins the National Park experience just as spare tires and 
empty soda cans littered beneath the trees would. I support cleaning up 
the noise at National Parks and urge immediate passage of H.R. 717, the 
National Parks Air Tour Management Act of 1999.

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