Letter to Jennifer Solomon, Regional Administrator for the Eastern Region of the Federal Aviation Administration - Schedule Public Hearing as Required by Law Following this Week's FAA "Workshops"

Letter

Dear Regional Administrator Solomon,

As a follow up to our phone conversation yesterday, I write to express grave concern that following passage into law of a requirement for the FAA to hold a public hearing on the North Shore Helicopter Route (NSR) within 30 days of enactment that the FAA instead chose to hold "workshops" this week. The needs of my constituents on the East End of Long Island will not be ignored by the Federal Aviation Administration Eastern Region. This decision to not hold a public hearing within 30 days as required by federal law is entirely unacceptable.

This week, the series of "workshops" held on Long Island in an attempt to comply with the requirements laid out in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 were an insult to my constituents and did not meet the explicit requirements in my legislative proposal included in Section 182 of the law requiring the FAA to hold a public hearing in the communities impacted by the North Shore Helicopter Route. Not only were these "workshops" a failure to comply with the public hearing mandated in this new law, but many strongly believe they were seemingly formatted to stifle the true negative impact of this route, the degradation of day to day quality of life on so many residents on the East End. I urge you to immediately schedule this public hearing and listen to the people of my district in a transparent and open format. These are the people whose quality of life have been so negatively impacted by the aircraft noise imposed on their communities by the deeply flawed NSR and they deserve to be heard. It's the law.

Another critical requirement enshrined in law that the FAA must comply with is the transparent public comment process mandated in Section 182 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. With the current comment process underway, it is imperative that the FAA review and respond to all comments filed by individuals, elected officials and community groups in the impacted areas. It is paramount that the flawed regulation currently mandating the North Shore Route with zero accountability for aircraft that transition over the North Fork of Long Island, when true all water routes are readily available, must be changed.

In our discussion yesterday, you and your team assured me that well before the NSR expires in the summer of 2020, it will not be once again abruptly extended in the manner it was last time. It is imperative that the FAA hold to this commitment. The FAA rulemaking team must promptly provide me, my constituents and other local elected officials in impacted communities with a clear timeline and transparent process regarding the future of the NSR well ahead of the 2020 deadline, most importantly before the start of the next high season in 2019.

The most important requirement of the new law is that the FAA initiate a review of the flawed regulations that are perpetuating the aircraft noise crisis in my district and in communities throughout Long Island unlucky enough to be along the path of the NSR. The final and most important goal throughout this process must be a shift to true all water routes including along the Atlantic Ocean for aircraft bound for Long Island's east end. In the interim, much stricter enforcement of altitude requirements and much more thorough follow-up on noise complaints along the NSR must be your agency's priority.

For your review, Section 182 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Public Law No: 115-254) is outlined below. It is imperative that your office comply fully with these requirements and do so promptly. By law, these public hearings should have been held by now. Thank you for your attention to this important issue that continues to impact the quality of life of my constituents.

Sincerely,

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