S.Amdt. 1688

1. Adds SEC. __. CONTROLLING HELICOPTER NOISE POLLUTION IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS wherever appropriate

   Adds a section

   Inserted: SEC. __. CONTROLLING HELICOPTER NOISE POLLUTION IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

   Inserted: (a) Rulemaking With Respect to Reducing Helicopter Noise Pollution.--

   Inserted: (1) New york north shore helicopter route.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall issue a final rule in Docket No. FAA-2010-0302 (The New York North Shore Helicopter Route), without additional notice and comment. The final rule shall include--

   Inserted: (A) a requirement for helicopter operators to utilize the North Shore route, as charted, when operating in that area of Long Island, New York;

   Inserted: (B) a requirement for helicopter operations to enter and exit the west terminus of North Shore Helicopter Route over water at VPROK;

   Inserted: (C) appropriate safeguards for safety and operational necessity, including safeguards to avoid adverse effects on the safe and efficient use and management of the national airspace system; and

   Inserted: (D) penalties for failing to comply with the requirements described in subparagraph (A).

   Inserted: (2) Long island south shore route.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall issue a notice of proposed rulemaking to address helicopter noise on the South Shore of Long Island, New York. The proposed rule shall include--

   Inserted: (A) a requirement for helicopter operators to utilize the South Shore route, as charted, when operating in that area of Long Island, New York;

   Inserted: (B) an expansion of the existing route to include linkage east of Orient and Montauk Points to the North Shore Helicopter Route remaining over water;

   Inserted: (C) appropriate safeguards for safety and operational necessity, including safeguards to avoid adverse effects on the safe and efficient use and management of the national airspace system; and

   Inserted: (D) penalties for failing to comply with the requirements described in subparagraph (A).

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   Inserted: (3) Los angeles county flight paths.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall prescribe regulations for helicopter operations in Los Angeles County, California, that include requirements relating to the flight paths and altitudes associated with such operations to reduce helicopter noise pollution in residential areas, increase safety, and minimize commercial aircraft delays.

   Inserted: (b) Exceptions for Emergency, Law Enforcement, Broadcasting and Military Helicopters.--The rules required under subsection (a) shall provide exceptions for helicopter activity related to emergency, law enforcement, broadcast news gathering, or military activities..

   Inserted: (c) Compliance Monitoring.--For the 24 month period following the completion of the rulemakings required in subsection (a), the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall monitor compliance with the rulemakings required under subsection (a). This monitoring shall include both the route and altitude of helicopter operations.

   Inserted: (d) Consultations.--In prescribing the regulations under subsection (a)(3), the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall make reasonable efforts to consult with local communities and local helicopter operators in order to develop regulations that meet the needs of local communities, helicopter operators, and the Federal Aviation Administration.

   Inserted: (e) Report to Congress.--Within 60 days of the conclusion of the compliance monitoring required in subsection (c), the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report that includes, at minimum--

   Inserted: (1) the compliance rate of helicopter operations;

   Inserted: (2) the average altitude of helicopter operations;

   Inserted: (3) a comparison of North Shore and South Shore route use;

   Inserted: (4) analysis of season, time and day use of the helicopter operations; and

   Inserted: (5) analysis of impact to commercial aircraft arrival and departure flows.

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   Original wording

   At the appropriate place, insert the following:

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As printed