HR-4383 : Still Just a Bill
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The "Sound Insulation Treatment Repair and Replacement Program Act" authorizes the establishment of pilot programs for sound insulation repair and replacement in residential buildings near airports.
Key provisions of the bill include:
- Pilot Program Establishment: The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is directed to establish a pilot program within 120 days of enactment at up to four large hub public-use airports. This program targets local airport operators that have existing local programs to fund secondary noise mitigation.
- Waiver of Federal Share Requirements: The program provides a one-time waiver of certain federal share requirements for eligible repair and replacement projects, allowing the government to contribute to costs without considering prior federal assistance for the initial installation.
- Project Eligibility Criteria: For a residence to be eligible for assistance, it must:
- Fall within the Day Night Level (DNL) 65 to 75 decibel (dB) noise contours, or have fallen within these contours when initial insulation was installed.
- Show that the initial sound insulation treatment caused physical damage, or that the materials used were of low quality and have deteriorated or broken.
- Have current interior noise levels exceeding DNL 45 dB, with new insulation having the ability to achieve a 5 dB noise reduction.
- Applicant Eligibility and Verification: Applicants and property owners must demonstrate good faith efforts to exhaust warranties, insurance, and legal remedies. The initial sound insulation treatment must have been installed prior to 2002. A qualified noise auditor must determine that any structural deterioration was not caused by owner negligence or failure to maintain the property.
- Authority for Surveys: The bill authorizes the Secretary to consider costs for airports to conduct periodic surveys of properties that previously received sound insulation treatment to assess current effectiveness and identify additional eligible properties.