COMPLYING WITH FEDERAL
AIRPORT NOISE ABATEMENT
LAW FIRM RELEASES INFORMATIVE GUIDE

February 12, 1992, Washington, D.C., — The law firm of Cutler & Stanfield, in conjunction with the noise consulting firm of Harris Miller Miller & Hansen Inc., announced today the release of their guide to complying with the new regulations implementing the Federal Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990. The 50 page publication, entitled Airport Noise: A Guide to the FAA Regulations Under the Airport Noise and Capacity Act, provides the first published comments and interpretations of the regulations.

"In the past few years, airport proprietors increasingly have recognized the importance of improving the noise environment of their facilities," said Eliot R. Cutler, a partner with Cutler & Stanfield and one of the authors of the publication. "They've realized that it is virtually impossible to expand the capacity of the national aviation system without reducing the adverse impact of noise in communities with airports."

Congress mandated noise reduction standards in the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990 ("Noise Act"), which directed the FAA to establish a national program to review noise and access restrictions on aircraft operations imposed by airport proprietors. The Act also directed the FAA to phase-out the operation of all Stage 2 aircraft by December 31, 1999.

In the Noise Act, Congress expressly sought to balance local needs for airport noise abatement against the needs of the national transportation industry.

"We have found that because the FAA has not yet issued any official guidance interpreting the Airport Noise and Capacity Act or its own regulations, many airport proprietors are unsure of how they might approach this issue. Airport Noise is designed to help them better prepare for these changes," continued Cutler.

The publication is free and is available from Cutler & Stanfield's Washington, D.C. office: 700 Fourteenth Street, N.W., Tenth Floor, Washington, D.C. 20005. (202) 624-8400.

Cutler & Stanfield is an environmental and land use law firm. The firm frequently represents public sector entities in major environmental projects and high-visibility public policy matters. The firm's clients include scores of airport proprietors, community organizations, and local governments involved in major cities throughout the country. The firm has been involved in drafting many noise rules. •

Page 28 / Illinois Municipal Review / March 1992