What This Bill Does
This bill creates two grant programs through the Environmental Protection Agency to study and reduce aircraft and airport noise and pollution near communities. The first program funds research to measure noise and emissions, including harmful substances like greenhouse gases and particulate matter. The second program funds projects to reduce the impacts of this noise and pollution on affected communities.
Who It Affects
The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation. Universities, non-profit research organizations, health institutions, and local governments that conduct aviation noise or emissions research. Local community-based non-profit organizations, public health departments, and Indian Tribal governments. Communities living near airports and flight paths.
Key Provisions
- The EPA must establish a 3-year pilot grant program within 180 days to measure noise and emissions in communities near airports using technology that identifies specific pollution sources from aircraft and airport activity. (Sec. 2(a))
- The EPA may award up to 6 grants ranging from $2,500,000 to $5,000,000 each over the 3-year grant period to eligible organizations conducting the noise and emissions research. (Sec. 2(c), (d))
- Grant recipients must produce neighborhood and zip code-level data showing how noise and emissions impact specific areas and must regularly share findings with the public. (Sec. 2(b)(3), (6))
- The EPA must establish a second grant program to fund mitigation projects in communities disproportionately impacted by aviation noise and emissions, prioritizing disadvantaged communities. (Sec. 3(a), (b)(1))
- Mitigation grant funds may support noise reduction improvements to homes and schools, public health programs, and health care services addressing impacts of airport noise and pollution. (Sec. 3(b)(4))
What Changes
The EPA will create two new pilot grant programs. Research grants will generate detailed data about aircraft and airport noise and emissions in communities near airports. Mitigation grants will fund specific projects to reduce these impacts, such as noise-reducing upgrades to low-income homes and schools. The EPA will submit annual reports to Congress describing the programs' progress and impact.
Important Definitions
The bill does not explicitly define key terms such as "frontline communities," "disadvantaged communities," or "disproportionately impacted communities."
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 1048
To develop pilot grant programs through the Environmental Protection Agen-
cy to research and collect data on aircraft and airport noise and emis-
sions and to use such information and data to develop a mitigation
strategy, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 14, 2023
Mr. SMITH of Washington introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To develop pilot grant programs through the Environmental
Protection Agency to research and collect data on air-
craft and airport noise and emissions and to use such
information and data to develop a mitigation strategy,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Aviation Noise and
4
Emissions Mitigation Act’’.
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•HR 1048 IH
SEC. 2. NOISE AND AIR QUALITY MONITORING AND RE-
1
SEARCH GRANT PROGRAM.
2
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the
3
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the
4
Environmental Protection Agency in consultation with
5
Secretary of Transportation and other relevant Federal
6
agencies determined by the Administrator, shall establish
7
a 3-year pilot grant program with eligible entities to meas-
8
ure noise and emissions, including greenhouse gases, par-
9
ticulate matter, ultrafine particles, and air toxics, in com-
10
munities near airports or air flight pathways using sophis-
11
ticated methods and technology that allow tracing of noise
12
and emissions to specific sources such as aircraft and air-
13
port related noise and emissions near such communities,
14
including identifying specific neighborhoods, structures, or
15
areas impacted by such noise and emissions.
16
(b) GRANT ACTIVITIES.—Recipients of grants under
17
subsection (a) shall—
18
(1) use technology capable of producing data
19
that can be used for wedge analysis to decipher the
20
sources of noise and emissions so communities may
21
better understand the primary contributors of noise
22
and emissions;
23
(2) make every reasonable effort to establish a
24
program that can be easily replicated across the
25
country with the goal of ongoing data collection and
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•HR 1048 IH
monitoring in areas near airports or air flight path-
1
ways;
2
(3) produce neighborhood and ZIP Code-level
3
data for a designated area to be used to determine
4
or predict the level and impact of noise and emis-
5
sions on certain neighborhoods and ZIP Codes of
6
such area, and to identify frontline and dispropor-
7
tionately impacted communities;
8
(4) coordinate and regularly communicate with
9
the local clean air agency (or agencies, if applicable),
10
local public health departments, local metropolitan
11
planning organizations, Indian Tribal governments,
12
community based organizations, and other local gov-
13
ernment, State government, or non-profit entities as
14
the grantee determines useful to the project;
15
(5) work with community-based organizations,
16
some of which may be selected for a grant under
17
section 2, to assist in developing a mitigation abate-
18
ment strategy for communities, neighborhoods, or
19
areas impacted by aircraft or airport noise and emis-
20
sions;
21
(6) establish a clear plan for disseminating the
22
data and results of the program on an regular basis;
23
and
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•HR 1048 IH
(7) consult initially and throughout the process
1
with the public and relevant community-based orga-
2
nizations or local governments on the design and
3
execution of the noise and emissions monitoring pro-
4
gram.
5
(c) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—An institution of higher
6
education or other non-profit research entity, health insti-
7
tution, or local government with demonstrated experience
8
in conducting either or both aviation noise or emissions
9
research is eligible to receive a grant under this section.
10
The Administrator may award not more than 6 awards
11
under this section.
12
(d) GRANT AWARD AMOUNT.—The Administrator
13
may award a grant under this section to an eligible entity
14
of not less than $2,500,000 and not more than $5,000,000
15
for the 3-year grant period.
16
(e) ANNUAL REPORT.—A grantee under the section
17
shall submit an annual report to the Administrator re-
18
garding the research conducted and any findings. The Ad-
19
ministrator shall make such reports publicly available.
20
SEC. 3. MITIGATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES GRANT PRO-
21
GRAM.
22
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after the
23
submission of the final annual report submitted under sec-
24
tion 1(e), the Administrator of the Environmental Protec-
25
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•HR 1048 IH
tion Agency, in consultation with the Department of
1
Health and Human Services, Department of Transpor-
2
tation, or other relevant Federal agencies as determined
3
by the Administrator, shall establish a pilot grant program
4
to mitigate aircraft or airport noise and emissions, and
5
their impacts, in communities near airports and air flight
6
pathways.
7
(b) GRANT REQUIREMENTS.—
8
(1)
PRIORITY.—The
Administrator
shall
9
prioritize and provide guidance and technical assist-
10
ance to applicants applications that—
11
(A) focus on communities found to be dis-
12
proportionately impacted by aviation noise or
13
emissions identified in the research produced
14
under the section 1 grant;
15
(B) primarily benefit disadvantaged com-
16
munities and communities with a higher preva-
17
lence of diseases associated with environmental
18
exposures; and
19
(C) demonstrate community support and
20
involvement from affected communities in their
21
proposed program.
22
(2) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a
23
grant under this section, an applicant shall be a
24
local community-based non-profit organization, a
25
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•HR 1048 IH
consortium of community-based non-profit organiza-
1
tions from a community that participated in the
2
noise and emissions monitoring program under sec-
3
tion 1, a local public health department, or a local
4
or Indian Tribal government. If the recipient is a
5
public health department or local or Indian Tribal
6
government, the recipient shall demonstrate commu-
7
nity support for the program and how it plans to
8
partner with at least 1 non-profit community-based
9
organization.
10
(3) MITIGATION STRATEGY.—An applicant shall
11
demonstrate in its application how the—
12
(A) research conducted under section 1 in-
13
forms its proposed project design;
14
(B) proposed project addresses environ-
15
mental or health disparities and the needs and
16
concerns of affected communities, disadvan-
17
taged communities, or other communities facing
18
environmental justice concerns, including how
19
the applicant used the Climate and Economic
20
Justice Screening Tool or other similar environ-
21
mental justice mapping tool to effectively target
22
mitigation strategies;
23
(C) applicant incorporated input from af-
24
fected communities in its proposed program,
25
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•HR 1048 IH
demonstrated community support for the pro-
1
posed program, and has established a written
2
plan detailing how the applicant will maintain
3
ongoing engagement with the affected commu-
4
nities; and
5
(D) applicant intends to partner or coordi-
6
nate with relevant local organizations, govern-
7
ment entities, and service providers such as
8
local public health departments, Indian Tribal
9
governments, community health centers, and
10
local education authorities, depending on the
11
mitigation plan.
12
(4) USE OF FUNDS.—Funds under the grant
13
program shall be used to mitigate the impacts of air-
14
craft or airport noise and emissions on communities
15
near airports or air flight pathways, including estab-
16
lishing 1 or more of the following:
17
(A) Noise mitigation packages that may
18
include weatherization, retrofitting, or energy
19
efficiency upgrades that have noise reduction,
20
environmental, or health benefits for house-
21
holds, schools, or other facilities, prioritizing
22
low-income households and low-resourced com-
23
munities and facilities, and structures that are
24
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•HR 1048 IH
less likely to be eligible for other similar Fed-
1
eral resources.
2
(B) Programs to promote environmental
3
and public health services in impacted commu-
4
nities, including programs that address the dis-
5
proportionate effects of climate change on envi-
6
ronmental justice communities.
7
(C) Health care services and environmental
8
and public health interventions that address un-
9
derlying impacts from airport noise and pollu-
10
tion on health and quality of life, especially in
11
children, vulnerable populations, disadvantaged
12
communities, and communities of color.
13
(5) DURATION.—A grant under this section
14
shall be not less than 3 years and not more than 5
15
years as determined appropriate by the Adminis-
16
trator.
17
(c) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—
18
(1) AFTER
1ST
YEAR.—One year after the
19
awarding of grants under this section, and annually
20
thereafter, the Administrator shall submit a report
21
to the Committees on Energy and Commerce and
22
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
23
Representatives and the Committees on Environ-
24
ment and Public Works and Commerce, Science, and
25
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•HR 1048 IH
Transportation of the Senate on the activities of the
1
grant programs to include—
2
(A) the services provided and their tar-
3
geted
beneficiaries
(including
households,
4
schools, other facilities, children, adults, sen-
5
iors);
6
(B) the steps taken by the grantee to en-
7
gage the public and impacted communities dur-
8
ing execution of the grant;
9
(C) a breakdown of the areas served under
10
the grant and if and how such areas align with
11
locations identified under section 1; and
12
(D) aggregate information about the com-
13
munities, households, and individuals benefit-
14
ting from the services provided under the grant,
15
including a breakdown of the demographic in-
16
formation and socioeconomic status of individ-
17
uals and households.
18
(2) AFTER 3D YEAR.—Three years after award-
19
ing of the first grant under this section, the agency
20
shall submit a report to the congressional commit-
21
tees referred to in paragraph (1) to include—
22
(A) an assessment of the grant program’s
23
ability to meet its goal of mitigating airport and
24
aviation noise and emissions;
25
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•HR 1048 IH
(B) potential lessons learned to inform fu-
1
ture efforts to address the impacts of noise and
2
emissions in communities near airports and air
3
flight pathways; and
4
(C) a review of how levels and impact of
5
noise and pollution from airports and air flight
6
pathways can be incorporated into the Climate
7
and Economic Justice Screening Tool or other
8
similar environmental justice mapping tool used
9
by the Government.
10
(3) INPUT IN REPORT.—The report under this
11
subsection shall be completed with input from grant-
12
ees and affected communities.
13
Æ
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