Airport Improvement Program: FAA Complying with Requirements for Local Involvement in Noise Mitigation Projects

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Airport Improvement Program: FAA Complying with Requirements for Local Involvement in Noise Mitigation Projects

Airports are responsible for controlling the impacts of aircraft noise by mitigating its effects in the immediate vicinity. Through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provides grants for such mitigation efforts. As a condition of receiving AlP grants, airport owners sign a series of assurances that the funds will be spent according to pertinent laws, regulations, or administrative policies. Under FAA policy, one of these grant assurances calls for an airport owner to obtain from each city, county, municipality, or other agency that has control or authority over property affected by the grant a written declaration stating that the project is reasonably consistent with local plans and has local support. Complying with this policy has been an issue at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, where some local groups opposed to the airport's expansion have criticized the airport's noise mitigation program and have pointed out that FAA did not require the airport to obtain written declarations that the project was consistent with local plans and had local support. Concerned about the level of consultation that occurs between affected communities and the airport, you asked us to determine whether FAA must enforce this grant assurance as a condition of providing noise mitigation grants to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which is operated by the Port of Seattle.