Reps. Neguse, Pettersen Renew Call on RMMA, FAA to Take Immediate Action on Significant Noise Pollution

Lafayette, CO — Congressman Joe Neguse (CO-02) and Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) again wrote to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (RMMA), imploring them to take immediate action to mitigate significant noise pollution that is inundating local communities. Today’s letter is the follow-up to an unanswered request the lawmakers made a little more than a week ago, outlining the need for the FAA and RMMA to pursue an Airport Noise Compatibility Planning agreement. 

Since first being elected to Congress, Rep. Neguse has led many efforts to reduce noise pollution in his district, a dire issue for local communities. After repeatedly calling on the FAA and RMMA to take action, this latest push urges leaders at both agencies to take requests seriously, ensuring suggested fixes are reviewed with impartiality and objectivity—particularly in light of FAA statements made at recent community roundtable and prior reports of opposition to legislation on the issue from special interest organizations.  

The lawmakers wrote, “In sum, we implore the FAA and RMMA to take our concerns seriously and to pursue the myriad processes available under existing law to address these issues. As you know, RMMA is the fourth-busiest airport in the state of Colorado, and in recent years, has experienced a takeoff or landing every three minutes. As a result, our constituents suffer relentless noise pollution at all hours of the day and night, often because pilots begin flying around 5 am and after 10 pm, flying well outside of the recommended hours of 7 am - 10 pm.” 

The letter continued: “Our communities are suffering due to continued inaction on the part of the FAA and RMMA. In just the last two years, flight operations at RMMA have increased by 40 percent. It is long past time for the FAA to take our communities’ concerns seriously and pursue substantive action.”

Also this week, Rep. Neguse wrote to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee requesting that they markup his bill, H.R.4495 - the Aircraft Noise Reduction Act. The bill would allow general aviation airports to self-impose restrictions relating to noise concern. Read the letter HERE. 

Coloradans living near RMMA continue to suffer from undue noise pollution. Over the years, the Congressman has put forth legislation, led letters, and held a town hall to tackle this challenge. Most recently, as part of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill, the U.S. House passed Congressman Neguse’s amendment to increase community input on aviation issues by requiring the Community Collaboration Program to directly interview impacted residents.

Read the full letter HERE and below: 

September 22, 2023

Acting Administrator Polly Trottenberg 

Federal Aviation Administration
800 Independence Avenue, SW 

Washington, D.C. 20591

Administrator Trottenberg,

We write regarding ongoing noise concerns surrounding the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (RMMA) and to continue to implore the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to pursue actions that will mitigate the noise pollution that is inundating our communities.

On September 5th, we wrote to your agency expressing our concerns with the noise issues at RMMA and urging the FAA to pursue an Airport Noise Compatibility Planning agreement or a Part 150 agreement. A few days later, at a September 7th meeting of the RMMA Community Noise Roundtable, FAA Northwest Mountain Region Manager John Bauer appeared critical of our request, telling the Jefferson County Commissioners he “...would recommend that [they] have that conversation with [his] office before using political capital to try and do something that you may not have needed to use political capital” (1:17:23). As a result, we are concerned that the FAA would prejudge the content of the September 5th letter and the request we made as Members of Congress representing these communities. We expect the FAA — and your office — to ensure that the request receives the impartial, objective, and serious consideration that it deserves.

During the September 7th CNR meeting, FAA Northwest Mountain Region Manager Bauer also suggested that a Part 161 Study may be a more prudent option in addressing noise pollution. In fact, he noted that “if there was a noise problem that was identified at the airport, then you could proceed to a 161” (1:11:20). As you know, a Part 161 Study is acomprehensive analysis that airports perform when proposing noise or operational restrictions at an airport, like a nighttime curfew. The Study process includes an opportunity for public input and a scientific study of the noise environment, among other things. Given there can be no dispute that such “noise problem[s]” exist in this instance, we encourage the FAA and RMMA to pursue this approach as well and presume both entities will be willing to do so given the comments referenced above.

In sum, we implore the FAA and RMMA to take our concerns seriously and to pursue the myriad processes available under existing law to address these issues. As you know, RMMA is the fourth-busiest airport in the state of Colorado, and in recent years, has experienced a takeoff or landing every three minutes. As a result, our constituents suffer relentless noise pollution at all hours of the day and night, often because pilots begin flying around 5 am and after 10 pm, flying well outside of the recommended hours of 7 am - 10 pm.

Our communities are suffering due to continued inaction on the part of the FAA and RMMA. In just the last two years, flight operations at RMMA have increased by 40 percent. It is long past time for the FAA to take our communities’ concerns seriously and pursue substantive action.

Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to continuing to work with you to address these challenges.

Sincerely,

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