HR4383-119

What This Bill Does

The Sound Insulation Treatment Repair and Replacement Program Act creates a narrow airport-noise pilot program. For sound-insulation projects granted the new waiver, allowable project cost is calculated without considering costs previously paid by the government. Within 120 days, FAA must establish a pilot at up to four large hub public-use airports for local airport operators that already have a local program funded with non-aeronautical revenue for secondary noise. The pilot provides a one-time waiver of the normal bar on repeat federal assistance for residential buildings that previously received federal or federally authorized sound-insulation help. To qualify, the residence must fall in the current DNL 65 to 75 dB noise contour, must also have been in that contour when initially insulated, must have a qualified noise auditor find that prior insulation caused physical damage or low-quality materials deteriorated or stopped working, must test above DNL 45 dB indoors, and new insulation must be able to reduce noise by 5 dB. Applicants must show good-faith efforts to exhaust warranties, insurance, and legal remedies, verify the original federally assisted insulation was installed before 2002, and show the damage was not caused by owner failure, negligence, or occupant actions. Periodic surveys of interested properties can be allowable costs.

Who Benefits and How

Homeowners near large hub airports benefit if failed or damaging pre-2002 sound insulation can be repaired or replaced with federal assistance. Airport neighbors in DNL 65 to 75 dB contours benefit from potential interior-noise reductions of at least 5 dB. Local airport operators benefit from a pilot pathway to fix older insulation problems without prior federal costs blocking eligibility. Qualified noise auditors benefit from inspection and testing work tied to eligibility determinations.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Federal Aviation Administration must establish and administer the pilot within 120 days. Local airport operators must document local secondary-noise programs, eligibility, property surveys, and good-faith exhaustion of remedies. Property owners must cooperate with inspections, testing, and warranty, insurance, or legal-remedy checks. Federal airport grant funds may bear repair or replacement costs that would otherwise be barred as repeat assistance.

Key Provisions

• Creates an FAA pilot program at up to four large hub public-use airports for sound-insulation repair and replacement.
• Provides a one-time waiver for previously assisted residences with pre-2002 insulation that damaged the home or no longer works.
• Requires DNL 65 to 75 dB location, current interior noise above DNL 45 dB, and a projected 5 dB reduction from new insulation.
• Allows periodic surveys and excludes prior government-paid costs from allowable project-cost calculations for waived projects.