Overview
Title
To require the Secretary of Transportation to establish a mechanism to make helicopter noise complaint data accessible to the Federal Aviation Administration.
ELI5 AI
The bill wants to make it easier for people to look up complaints about noisy helicopters flying near Washington, DC. It tells a government department to set up a website where people can see this information without reading anyone's personal details.
Summary AI
H. R. 7550 is a bill introduced to make helicopter noise complaint data more accessible. It requires the Secretary of Transportation to create a system within 180 days that allows the Federal Aviation Administration, helicopter operators in the Washington, DC, area, and the public to access this data online, based on recommendations from a Government Accountability Office report. The data should include information about noise complaints, such as the location and description of the event, without revealing personal information of those who filed the complaints. This applies specifically to the area within a 30-mile radius of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
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AnalysisAI
The proposed legislation, known as the "Washington, DC, Area Helicopter Noise Information Exchange Act," aims to address the issue of helicopter noise in the Washington, DC area. The bill requires the Secretary of Transportation to establish a way to make data on helicopter noise complaints easily accessible. This data would be available to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), helicopter operators, and the public, based on recommendations from a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report.
General Summary of the Bill
The bill mandates that within 180 days of its enactment, the Secretary of Transportation must create a system for sharing helicopter noise complaint data. This mechanism should be easily accessible online, and operators of helicopters in the Washington, DC area are required to submit their noise complaint data to this system. Importantly, while the data will include details such as the location and time of the noise event and a description of the aircraft involved, it will exclude personal information from complainants to protect their identities.
Summary of Significant Issues
Several significant issues emerge from this bill. One is the potential cost and resource allocation involved in setting up this data-sharing mechanism. Without explicit guidelines to manage or minimize expenses, there could be wasteful spending. Moreover, the language in the bill is somewhat complex, which might result in confusion regarding the responsibilities and processes for implementing this system. Another concern is the lack of specific penalties or compliance timelines for helicopter operators who do not submit the required data, which may result in non-compliance. Furthermore, the bill’s definition of "helicopter noise complaint data" might lead to ambiguities, particularly due to subjective data points like aircraft descriptions.
Impact on the Public
For the public, especially residents within the 30-mile radius of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, the bill appears to be a positive step towards more transparency and accountability regarding helicopter noise issues. It allows affected individuals to access information about the noise events impacting their community, which could empower them to participate more effectively in discussions about noise mitigation.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Helicopter operators in the Washington, DC area are primary stakeholders affected by this bill. They are required to contribute to this data-sharing system, which could impose additional operational duties and potential costs. However, clear transport and operational guidelines could aid these operators in maintaining compliance without undue burden.
For the Federal Aviation Administration, the bill enhances its role in monitoring and addressing noise complaints, thereby strengthening its oversight and responsiveness to community concerns.
Overall, the act appears to balance public interests in noise reduction with the operational realities of helicopter services, although clearer regulatory and cost frameworks could enhance its effectiveness.
Issues
The establishment of a mechanism to make helicopter noise complaint data accessible could require considerable resources without clear guidelines on cost minimization, which may lead to potential wasteful spending. This issue is found in Section 2(a).
The language in Section 2(a) is complex and may lack clarity regarding the process and responsibility of establishing the mechanism for information sharing, potentially leading to confusion and inefficiencies.
There is no specific timeline or consequence outlined for helicopter operators who fail to provide helicopter noise complaint data, potentially leading to non-compliance and lack of accountability. This issue is found in Section 2(b).
The definition of 'helicopter noise complaint data' includes subjective elements such as 'description of the aircraft', which could lead to ambiguities in data collection and reporting. This issue is found in Section 2(c)(1).
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the Act gives it a short name, calling it the “Washington, DC, Area Helicopter Noise Information Exchange Act.”
2. Information sharing requirement Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The text outlines that the Secretary of Transportation must set up a system to make helicopter noise complaints accessible online to the public, helicopter operators, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) within 180 days of the law's enactment. It specifies that helicopter operators in the Washington, DC, area must share noise complaint data with the FAA, ensuring it excludes personal information about the individuals who file complaints.