U.S. Reps. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Joe Crowley (D-NY) recently introduced the Silent Skies Act in an effort to curb noise pollution from airports.

The legislation would encourage development of technologies to reduce airplane noise, create quieter noise standards for commercial airplanes and urge airlines to use newer passenger jets, which are quieter than older models.

“The citizens of the Eighth District, including many of my neighbors, know firsthand the negative impact O’Hare noise pollution can have on their quality of life,” Duckworth, a member of the Quiet Skies Caucus, said. “It is crucial we work together at every level of government — local, state and federal — to address this problem and find real solutions. The Silent Skies Act will help make airplanes quieter and improve the lives of those living near airports, and I am glad to support it.”

Co-sponsoring the bill is one of several efforts Duckworth has made toward reducing noise pollution from O'Hare International Airport. Other efforts include supporting the Fly Quiet Program, encouraging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to re-check its environmental impact study on the O'Hare modernization project, working for an updated FAA Day-Night Average Sound Level and making the process of filing noise complaints easier.

Source: http://dupagepolicyjournal.com