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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0394.004 1996-1998 OJT<V Oi M~41 JOHN L. SANTANGELO, JR. ` Phone: (808) 96L8263 Counci(member ,t 7i'..... i i ~ C Ol N' C~Li~`l1' C~IZ' 'Cl~+ ( ~ l~ i 17. C.I l County of Hau+aii Hawaii County Building G~ 25 Aupuni Street CC.U; , i ~ . di Hilo, Hawaii 96720 July 16, 1997 MEMO TO: James Y. Arakaki, Chair & Members, Hawaii County Council FROM: John Santangelo, Councilmember Hawaii County Council RE: Resolution #129-97 Regarding National Park Overflights Please have the attached information regarding Resolution #129-97 numbered and circulated to the other Councilmembers for the July 23, 1997 Council meeting. Items: 1. Senate Bill No. 268 -John McCain 2. H.C.R. No. 119, H.D. 1, S.D.1 -Hawaii State Legislature 3. Commercial Air Tour Overflight Issues -CAN 4. Past Resolutions Nos. 77-93 & 17-93 5. Press Release about Senate Bill 268 from CAN 6. Press Release about July 29, 1997 hearing from the U.S. Senate's Committee On Commerce, Science & Transportation If you have any questions, please contact me. Thank you for your assistance with this matter. Attachments . ,n:... No. F~l . L~~ate_ dut 1~,~,997 • =FB ,~5 '99 15:00 FR TO ~:212o P.05/i:: 0,1TEC1T~C9'/.068 r~6 105TH CONQP~ESS 2 6 8 1sT SE98ION a IN THE SENATE f)F TT~G' INITF.D S'!'_~TEf~ bICC.uN (for hurieOlf aAd 1Hr. 1''RIST) i7ltroduee4 the t'ullowu:g bill; which was road twice and ro£erred to the Cumnuttee ctt A BII.,Y.. 'To regulate flights over national parks, and for other purposes. 1 Be it enacted by the Senate and Flo+.~se of Representa- 2 t4ves of the United ~5tates of ftmerica ~~n Cony,-ess assarnbled, 3 SECfiION 1. 9IiORT TITLE. 4 This Act mad be cited as the ":rational Parks C3ver- 5 flights Act of 1997", 6 ssc. a, n~~n7zoxs. 7 Irz this Aat: 8 (1) AllMI~719T1ie1'1'OR.-'Plie term "Admiuis- 9 trator" means the Administrator of the Federal 10 Aviation Adnunistration, ---i6% 02-US-97 03:2Itinc F]05 n: DEB 05 '97 15 00 FR 70 4212 P.06i12 0; \'I"l~C1TEC87.068 S.L,C. - 1 (2) ~'L.aN.-The term "plan" means the 6na1 2 plan prepared under section 3(e)(l 3 (3) S~C1Z~T8RY.-The term "Seeretar~' means 4 the Secretary of the Interior. 5 BSC. a. 1~rATIONAI.. E'AILR.9 OVRI3P'I.IQH"I'E~. 6 (a} FLINGS:-~~-Congress finds that- ? (1) noise associated with ai~•craft overflights at 8 a national park can cause a signi$cant adverse ef- 9 feet on the natural quiet and experience of the park; 10 and ll (2) aircraft operations v1 a national park oan 12 raise serious concerns regarding public safety, in- 13 oluding concerns regarding the safety of park users. 14 (b) )C~,~COMM~NDaTIONF.- 15 (1) ruIIBMIS$ION -Not later than 120 days 16 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec- t? retary shall submit to the Administrator rec• 1~ omrbendations regarding actions necessary--- i9 (A) to protect puUlic lxealtla and safety 20 from adverse effects associated with aircraft 21 overflights at any national park; 22 (I3) to protect the resources of any na- 23 tional park experiencing an adverse impact as• 24 sociated with noise from aircraft overflights; ~.=EB 05 '97 15=01 FR tC 42126 P.©7~1: 0: \TEC~TEC87,p68 S.L.C. ;3 - 1 (C) to preserve rzsturul quiet at any ua 2 tional park where natural quiet is a paI-t of the 3 park's natural resources and experience; and 4 (D) to prevent resource impairment from 5 noise associated with vverYlights at any national 6 park. ~ (2) REBTORdTION QI~ PRESERVATION OF 8 QUIET.-The recommendations ahaU provide Por- 9 (A) protection of public heizlt.h and safety 10 from adversa oYfeets asou~iwted with aircz•aft 11 overPlighta; and 12 (B) substantial restoration of the natural 13 quiet or substantial preservation of the natural 14 quiet and experience of the park. 15 (3) b'LICJHT•b'ItFE 20NES, FLIGFiT RESTRiC- 16 TIONS, AND FLIGIiT IlAN3.- l7 (A) XN QENERAI,.-'Phe recommendations 18 shall include proposals Por flight-£ree zones, for 19 appropriate flight restrintivns, or Yor banning 20 Sights rvith.in certain natiotinl parks aq uec• 21 essary to meet the noals of paragraph (2). 22 (B) .ADbIIt3I8TItA'1'(0,~ ~v1, s~IFiRQENCY 23 OPLItA.T10N8,-FIight•free zones and flight bans 24 shall provide £vr i'iigl:t &ee areas over a na- 25 tional park, except for purposes of administra• -rH ms ~s~ rs:er F~ ro 42r? P.08i12 - ~ . 0; \ TEC \1'EC97.Ob8 9,L.C. '1 1 tion, emergcuc,}• opcratiou5, and operations re- 2 quired £or transportation oQ persons and sup- 3 plies to and fi•om Indian reservations adjacent 4 to any af£eeted national park. S (C) MILITARY ~~v O'CILEIt PUBLIC OPER- 6 a~•rnrrs.--'.I`he recommendations may exempt 7 noncommercial general a~•iation, military, and 8 other public operations from proposed flight- 9 free zones, flight restrictions, or proposale ban- lU Wing flights witkun a parr.. 11 (D) FLIGII'I~ I~N;sTRICTIOxs.-Fli~krt re• 12 strietiona, including curfews and linutations on 13 the number oP flights in a park nnay be con- 14 tamed In proposed regulations if necessary to 15 preserve, protect, or restore the natural quiet 16 and experience of the parlt. 17 CO~RCT~.L ~>rlt morllts.-Flight bans 18 shall prevent commercial air tours in a park if' 19 necessary to preserve, protect, or restore the 20 natural quiet and esper•ience eP the park. 21 (4) ~'RIUItITIZr1.T1O~ OF PaRFCS FOR 1911'LEbIE~- 22 TAT10N OF RECO~~'DwTYONS.---The reeommenda- 23 tione shall include a proposal for prioritizing the 24 scheduled implementation of plans regulating over- ~cH 05 '97 15 01 FR TO 421cti P.09/L'~ 0: \TflC1TEC8T.068 S.L.C. 5 • 1 flights fn the national parks based on the resource 2 impairment--~ 3 (A.) caused by overflights in the national 4 parks; or 5 (B) threatened by tkze intlnduction or in- 6 oreaee of oY•orIlig~hts in Ll,~: national lurks. 7 (5) 1+'L,IUHT ~wTi'rr;v}~;;.- The adzuilnstrator, 8 after consultation with the Sec:retazy, may- 9 (9.) establish lnirlimum flight altitudes to 1Q include in the recoznlxlendations; and 11 (B) prohibit veer#li~;his beiuw such mini• 12 mum altitudes iu any national park as nee- 13 esaary to meet the requirements of paragraph l4 (2). lS (s) QUIET 911iCRAFT TL;Ck1NOL007.-`Plte rEG 16 ommendations shall include a joint proposal by the 17 Secretary and the administrator thac•- 18 (A) provides incentives for the use of quiet 19 aircraft teel,nology wittlin a national park; 20 (B) creates a schedule for any commercial 21 air toux operator operating w~ihin a national 22 parr to convert the apez•ator's fleet Lo quiet air- 23 craft; oz-o5-y~ u..~i:~:~: f~ia] . J FEB 05 '97 15:02 FR TO 42126 P.10i1e 0: \TEC\TEC97.058 S.L.C. 6 • 1 (C) promotes other appropriate steps to 2 encourage use of gloat aircraft within a na- 3 tional park; or 4 (D) explains why implementation of sub- s paragraphE; (11), (B), and (C) is not necessary 6 or appropriate to u~eet the requirements of 7 paragraph (2). $ (C) IbIPLFMF7NTATION.- 9 (1) PIiEI'AItATLOh OF 1'1,x\.-Not later than 9U 10 days after receipt of r?commendations under sub- 11 section (b) and after notice and opportuiuty i:w• 12 hearing, the Admuliatrator .hall prepare and issue a 13 $nal plan for the management of air traCdc in the 14 airspace above any national park- 15 (A) experiencing an adverse impact asaoci- 16 sled with noise from aircraft overflights; or 17 (B) for which the Secretary determines 18 that air tours need to be regulated in order to 19 prevent resourco impairment from o~c~crflights. 2Q (2) I~VI~'W OF RECO\~i1~VDdTIO\S,- 21 (A) IN 6~NER.aT, -The plan shall provide 22 for implementation oY the recommendations of 23 the Secretary without change, unless the Ad- 24 mlalietrator determines that implementing the -9 e'4 0:-06-9Z 03'. al t!,: PC-_ ~FEH 05 '9'7 15 02 FR iG 42126 P•11~-~ ~ 0; \TEC\TEC97.068 S.L.C. 7 1 reaommendations without change would ad• 2 versely af<.'eat aviatiuu safety. 3 (B) i1t1JvIEW OF IIECObfNIDNnATI0N8.-If 4 the Admilustrator deterlniues that implement- s ing the recommendations would adverse]y affect 6 aviation safety, the achrlillistrator shall, not 7 later than 60 days after making the determina- 8 tion, in consultatiuu wlih the secretary and 9 after notice and Opportuluty FOr llCill'lll~-- 10 (i) revise the recommendations con- 11 sistent with the requirements of subsection 12 (b) to eliminate the adverse effects on avia• 13 tion safety; and 14 (ii) issue regulations implementing the 15 revised recommendations in the plan. 16 (d) E~ORCENIENT.---- 17 (1) .A.DIIINISTR.ATOh.-The ~dsninistrator Shall I& enforce the plan in accordance with the subtitle 'P'TT 19 of title 49, United Mates Cn~]«~. 20 (2) aECR1•;T9RY,-The ~ecreiary may enforce 21 appropriate requirements oY the plan in accordance 22 with regulations applicable to the National Parks 23 System. 24 (e) REPORT - r-yF`.E .t FE13 05 '97 1502 FR TO 42126 P. 12/12 U: \TEC\TEC97.068 d,L.C. 0 1 (1) ZN C3ENEIL\T~.---Not later than 2 1•etu~s after the effective date of the plan, the Secretazy shall 3 submit to Congress a report on- o (A) the success of the plan in restoring the 5 natural quiet in the national parks; and 6 (J3) suclt outer uaattcry. iucludvig possible 7 revisions in the plan, as may be of interest to 8 Uongreae. 9 (2) Cot~Iil~1ENTS sx TI•Tk az>~aN-1sTxaTOx -xhe 10 report shall include comments by the Administrator 11 regarding any offeet on aireraYt safety resulting 12 from implementation of the plan. TOTRI. PRC£.12 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H , C , R . N O . H1D. 1 NINETEENTH LEGISLATURE, 1997 S.D. 1 STATE OF HAWAII HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE TO SUPPORT SENATOR JOHN McCAIN'S FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE AIRSPACE OVER UNITS OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM. 1 WHEREAS, a statewide coalition of a dozen community and 2 environmental groups have filed a formal petition with the 3 Federal Aviation Administration requesting the adoption of new 4 regulations to control low-flying tour aircraft in the State of 5 Hawaii; and 6 7 WHEREAS, the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund, which is 8 representing Citizens Against Noise, the Tour Aircraft Control 9 Coalition, the Sierra Club, Conservation Council for Hawaii, 10 Big Island Rainforest Action Group, Black Sands Beach Property 11 Owners Association, Puna Outdoor Circle, Maui Air Traffic 12 Association, Waialae 'Iki Ridge Parks Beautification 13 Association, Hawaii's Thousand Friends, 1000 Friends of Kauai, 14 Maui Tomorrow, Life of the Land, and Pukalani Hula Halau, has 15 formally presented the citizens' plea directly to Federal 16 Aviation Administration officials visiting Hawaii to hear 17 public testimony on the issue; and 18 19 WHEREAS, the Federal Aviation Administration public 20 hearings held in September, 1995, pave Hawaii's petitioners the 21 opportunity to express their concerns and resulted in the 22 issuance of a special Federal Aviation Administration 23 regulation for the State of Hawaii to mandate minimum altitude 24 for tour aircrafts; and 25 26 WHEREAS, Hawaii's unique National Park Service lands 27 consists of Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, 28 Kalaupapa National Historical Park, Pu'u honua o Honaunau 29 National Historical Park, Pu'u Kohola Heiau National Historic 30 Site, Haleakala National Park, and FIawaii Volcanoes National 31 Park, and are managed for the purposes of wilderness 32 preservation, protecting natural, cultural, historical, and 33 wildlife resources, and for the promotion of public enjoyment 34 and use of these resources; and 35 1997-2663 HCR119 SD1 SMA ~ n I Page 2 I" I~ C~ 1\. 1 V O. H~D. 1 S.D. 1 1 WHEREAS, input from industry groups, agencies, 2 organizations, and officials in Hawaii would serve to greatly 3 benefit Hawaii by addressing local concerns of air travel and 4 continuing to preserve and protect Hawaii's national parks and 5 historic sites; and 6 7 WHEREAS, on February 7, 1997, Senator John McCain 8 introduced the National Parks Overflights Act of 1997 in the 9 United States Senate that would regulate flights over National 10 Parks in Hawaii and elsewhere in the nation; and 11 12 WHEREAS, w-rder Senator bicCair,'s legislation, the Secretary 13 of the Interior would develop recommendations which may include 14 flight free zones, curfews, and other flight restrictions for 15 aircraft operating over certain National Parks; and 16 17 WHEREAS, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 18 Administration would then develop a plan, based upon these 19 recommendations, to promote quiet and safety in our nation's 20 National Parks; and 21 22 WHEREAS, Senator McCain's bill requires the Secretary of 23 the Interior to recommend a proposal for prioritizing the 24 implementation of appropriate flight restrictions at certain 25 National Parks; and 26 27 WHEREAS, the bill also requires the Secretary of 28 Transportation and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 29 Administration-to work together on recommendations that propose 30 methods to encourage the use of quiet aircraft in our parks, 31 unless such proposals are not needed to meet the goals of 32 protecting quiet and promoting safety; and 33 34 WHEREAS, the bill promotes safety in our National Parks by 35 allowing the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 36 Administration, in consultation with the Secretary of the 37 Interior, to set minimum altitudes for overflights in certain 38 parks, and prohibit flights below those minimum altitudes, 39 where necessary, to meet safety goals; and 40 41 WHEREAS, Senator McCain's bill also makes safety the 42 paramount concern for the Administrator in developing an 43 overflight plan for a National Park; and 44 45 WHEREAS, under the bill, the Administrator of the Federal 46 Aviation may revise the Secretary of the Interior's 1997-2663 HCR119 SD1 SMA 6 Page 3 H. C, . N O. H~D. 1 S.D. 1 1 recommendations to ensure public health and safety goals are 2 met; and 3 4 WHEREAS, the bill's objectives are consistent with similar 5 legislation authored or co-sponsored by Hawaii's congressional G delegation, including Senator Daniel K. Inouye, Senator Daniel 7 K. Akaka, and Representative Patsy T. Mink, to address related 8 aspects of the overflight problem; and 9 10 WHEREAS, the natural ambient sound conditions found in a 11 national park, or "natural quiet", as it is commonly called, is 12 precisely what many Americans seek to experience when they 13 visit some of our most treasured National Parks; now, 14 therefore, 15 16 BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 17 Nineteenth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session IS of 1997, the Senate concurring, that the Legislature supports 19 the passage of Senator McCain's National Parks Overflights Act 20 of 1997; and 21 22 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the impact of this proposed 23 legislation can be greatly enhanced if all affected parties are 24 willing to put their best efforts into working together in a 25 spirit of collaboration to seek ways for all visitors to enjoy 26 our national parks; and 27 28 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that as Congress reviews this 29 legislation, it.•is urged to consider the efforts that have gone 30 into the development of. voluntary agreements worked out between 31 the U.S. National Park Service and private industry to resolve 32 the overflight problem; and 33 34 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this 35 Concurrent Resolution will be transmitted to President William 36 J. Clinton, to members of Hawaii's congressional delegation, to 37 Governor Benjamin Cayetano, to the United States Secretary of 38 Transportation, to the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 39 Administration, to the Chairperson of the National 40 Transportation Safety Board, to the Secretary of the Interior, 41 to the Director of the U.S. National Park Service, to the state 42 Director of Transportation, and to the Airports Administrator 43 of the state Department of Transportation. 1997-2663 HCR119 SD1 SMA U"(/U l.~ ~ l ny' 411 'jj`uVlti 4dib tiil'd3 }'t~~~~ 1 AN L,V(i t l' Ig'J Ut)2 commercial air tour overflight issues: 15SUCf.51; 7Tte mpact of low-level cnnuuereial .,ir t. curs vn natural quiet and visitor experience in :~rt:,in park areas (i.c.. those w~i[h features which am be viewed from the air) is one of the !~ithrsr-pndile as well as Otte of the must ~ onrp'c~ hnd cuntrnversiah resource issues in the ^:.,t;nnsl Park Service and the Department of thr Interior. Cotrunercial air tours are probably ~~:J~. ~connmi~ully viable over park areas with feau~res which are attractive from the air, s'u the l.~ohiem is. tv r significant extent, a selGlimitiur; one, in that it is unlikely that profitable tours an be ;lov.•n o•, er such sites as Lutculrt's 13oylwud Home or the ?roman Library, N.~~2t>j~~li~st: The National Park Se;t•ice i;, required by statute to protect park resources mintpairod .uu to provide quality experience= Cur current and future visitors. Our Objective with reg,+rd ro ronrn ercial air tour overflitdrts is to hrecettt or mitigate the adverse effects of such flights on nanirnl quiet and visitor experience ;n certain units of the National Park System. tigr~pround: The issue oi'commercial air toter overflights of national park units first attracted ~u r-~;r r~arionwi ie attention in ] 987, when U.S. Senator Jo1m McCain of Arizona authored Public i... w P.L.I 10091, National Parks Overflights \rt of 1487, Under P.L. 100-91, the NP5 and the 1~.1A were requited to work together to substantially restore natural quiet to the Grand Canyon. "11te Act led !o the initial rule for the park, which was soot replaced by SEAR 50-2, and e~aab!ished minimum al[ihades--2000 feet above ~otrnd level (AGL}--above Haleakala and }'o:mite. The .0.ct also required NPS M issue a Report to Congress on the effects ofoverfligtus. 14p'i--In December, Transportativtr Secretary Pena and hrterior Secretary Babbittjointly est. bushed an i.ueragency working group (IW'Gj to work on park overflight issues of mutual ~:oncern. The first priority of the group was to deal with ttlajor, high-profile problem areas, such .+s Grand Canyon and both of Hawaii's natioral parks. Haleakala and Hawaii Volcanoes. 494• •'n .tiny, ra•o Hawaiian air tour helicopters crashed intq the ocean the same day, one off tttai (with three fatalities) attd one off 1`7olokai. T7te FAA, which had already been sued by the 5~en2 Club Legal Defense Fund of Hawaii for failutg to take action with regard to noise attd ;r,fen issues, ht~plcmented an emergency ru]e (SEAR 71) for air tour operations over the islands. On Capitol Hi11 several bills were inuvduced which would regulate air tour overflights. Some, like that of Rep. Patsy Nitric of Hawaii, were narrow in scope ("protecting parks, sacred sites, etc., in r1;e State of F.awaii}, while others, such as the National Park Airspace Management Act of 1994, atrthored by Senator Daniel Akaka, of Hawaii, were broad, attempting to deal with erflights throughout Ute National Park System. Another approach, licensing air tour operators r. park concessionaires, was introduced by step. Pat ~'i`illiams of Montana. None of these bills er: pQssed, Chaint;,m Oberstar of the Aviation `ubconuttittee, House Contmetce Committee, t : 6enrirr~s or the issue of air tour uvertiights of park areas. NPS, short of staff and money fur ;Ire project, finally subtrtitted its Report to Congress. 945--Senator A kaka's bill was revised and reunrodu~ed. Confy'essrnan David Skaggs of -I- Colorado introchrced a bill similar to Cong~res,nr.tn Williams' earlier concessions-based bill. The TWG continued to spend most of its time on Grand Carq~on and the Hawaii parks. FAA held a public meeting in Flagstaff in August. Senator McCain, the lead-off speaker at the meeting, "lectured" FAA, Clearly indicating that his J 987 hill 'attended for the Park Service to identify park resources to be protected and to detemtute how best to protect them, with FAA only responsible for making strre NPS recommendations could be implemented safely. 1996--Park management's proposed ban on eemmercial air tours at Rocky Mountaut National Park received n ~tional attention. Colorado Goy ernor Romer attd seven of the eight members of the Colorado Congressional delegation sent lerter> (nsiee) urging Transportation Secretary Pena to implement the proposed ban. The proposed ban also received strong political support from the town and count; level to the White House. On Earth pay (April 22) the President, Vice President and Secretary of htterior all made speeches addressutg natty al quiet and air tour overflights of parks. The same day, Fresident Clinton issued an Executive M.morandum directbtg all agency heads to participate in the effort to protect natural quiet ur VPS [mils. The Executive Ment~randum provided a timetable Cor isstuvtcc of rules for Grand canyon (issue proposed regulations withut 90 days acrd complete nilemaking by the end of'96) and Rocky Mountain (issue a notice of proposed rulemaking within 90 days) as well as for a national rule Covering air tour operations over park areas (end of'96). It also called For a public education initiative with regard to nauual quiet and park overflights. FAA held public. meetings in Phoenix and Las ~'ec~rs in September to take comments on the CJrand Canyon draft rule and draft environmental assessment (EA), and Senator McCain chaired field hearings in the same cities on the same subject in Ocmhcr. The final rule for the Grand Canyon was punished in the Federal Register on December 31, along with another Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), route structures, etc. Key features of the final rule included a dusk-to-dawn eLrfew at the east end of the park, expanded flight-free zones, and a temporary cap on the nttmber of aircraft (not the vohtme of flights] flyhtg over the park. The major feature of the new draft rule is a proposed phase-out of dre tn•o noisier categories of aircraft (of the three categories developed by FAA), leaving only the quietest aircraft flying over the park after ?008. 1997--The Rocky Mountain ntle, which eame out :,s a temporary ban on commercial air tour overflights over :he park, for two years or until a national air tour rule is implemented, was published in the Federal Register the first week of January. Lawsuits were filed against FA.A on the Csrand Canycn rule by a coalition of operators on one side and a coalition of environmental organizations on the other. In addition, the U.S. Air Tour Association filed a lawsuit against FA.A on the Rodry Mountain rule. National media coverage of the rules issued for Grand Canyon and Racy Mountain hay been intense, and a nett rortnd of editorials on the subject has appeared in major newspapers and magazines. Irt February, Senator McCain introduced the Na~icnal Parks Overflights Act of 1997, and Senator Akaka reintroduced his earlier bill as the National Parks Airspace Management Act of 1997. Both bills were assessed by the media as being friendly to NPSiDO1, with the Arizona Republic describing McCain's bill as putting "Interior Secretary [3ruce F3abbitt in charge of regulating aircraft aver all national parks." Congresswoman Patsy blink also reintroduced her Hawaii- based overflights bill, which ie also "NPS-friendly". -1- ur~lb%~/ 1v~26 '(j~iiU~~ =J~~b ~atSHd I~h,wlAly L~t~lt ~ti~iL • r C~[TIZENS AGAINST NOISE Oahu: P.O. sox 27703 liortoluiu, Hawaii 9(3827 Big Isle: P.O. Box 3G4 Volcar?o, Hawaii 98785 Maul- 2G95 Lia Place [[aiku, [(await 98708 Kauai: P.O. Box 698 Kilauea, I[awaii 9G764 Ph: (808) 98G-888[ - FrUZ: (808) 985-8893 FOR IMMEDIATE REI.~ASE JULY 14, 1997 CIT]:ZENS AGAINST NOISE SUPPORTS BILL TO CURB NOISY NATIONAL DARK OVERFLIGHTS .SEAATO/t McCA71Y'S MEASURE WOU}.D P720TECT NATURAL L1IET E1i~I~#1 nd Contgct fI;awail V.glc.~p~s1 -Parry SLoke.s 985-8861/961-6885 ~1aut Contact (Haleakala National P rk -David Leese (808) 572-5198 Citizens Against No15e, (CAN) president Sarry Stokes enthusiastically ~;r.rppurtcd the scheduling of a hearing for National Parks Overflight ]cgislati~~n by Senator .John McCafn (K-A7) for July 29. 1997, before the t'ommtt.ee vn Cornnrerce. Scienc<~. acrd Tr~rnsportation in the United States Srnatc . 1'Ire bill is cosponsored by Senator I3i11 FYist (R-TN) of'fennessee. "Senator McCain's National Parks Overflights Act of 1997 is meant to >~ddress the problem of e~xcesstve noise in the parks brought about by airplartc: and helicopter tours, a recurring problem in both Ialeakala National Park on Maui, and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Sig island of Hawaii", said Stokes, '.l'lre bill requires the Interior Secretary to devr.lop a comprehensive plan to address the air tour problem within 120 days. 'f7 ~e FAA is required to advise the Secretary of arty safety concerns. Stokes added that CAN had also endorsed legislation introduced recently by Congresswotnan Patsy T. Mink (D-2nd), and Senator Daniel K, Akaka (J-HI). Rep. Mink's bill includes prb~~sions for a prohibition of com- merci~rl alights over three West Hawaii National Parks, as well as sections of Haleakala and Hawaii Volcanoes National Parks, Senator Akaka's bill would specify she respective authorities of the National Park Service and the FAA in developing airspace rnanage~nent plans at individual parks. Senator fikak:_t's bill is cosponsored by Senator Daniel K. hiouye (D-HI) and Bill Frtst (lt 'TN), bcth members of the Senate Crnnnr)ttee which hears the bill, "'l~he entire Hawaii Congressional Delegation is aware and concerned about the overnights problem In Hawaii. Tbday's scheduling of a hearing for Senator John McCain's bill shows the issue can claim true bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress. The tithe ltfis come to move quickly to pass this tej;islation, and return natural quiet to all of our Parks nationwide," said Stckcs. Citizens Against Noise urges Hawaii residents and visitors to contstet t}relr federal representatives and eXpress support for the legislation. END LU. .iI l~f'L., 'y,, u~~V U~~~ ~1,~U..~ .'L:,11,1.r LU411" ~.~Vh)1 t~..a- ta: to ~ - moot - ¦ ~ ~ U,S. SENATE COMMYTTEE ON ` C'.ommerce, Science, and Transportation JUHN McCAIN, C:hairm J, FOIL iMMED1ATE RELEASE CONTACT: PIA PIAI.ORS7 TIiLiR5DA4', JULX l0, 1.997 202-224-2670 10>-114 NATION~IL I' AIZ1tS OVE~tFLIGHTS BEARING JC'I.Y 29 WASHINGTON, D.C. Senator .1ohn ~4cCeut (R-t1Zj, Chairman. of the Conm~irtee on C,pmmctce, Science, and Transpurtatic~n, today aru7vunced a Full Committee htarit>.e, on I~.itiorL~l Paths C)verflights- ~/ientbecs ~,f iite C'ommittce ~r;ll discuss S.2CR, a bill itttt'iiducc;i r~. ~1cCain vn 1'ebruar5~ 5, 1917. The bia wcutd autLurizc the Secretary of the lntcrior to Jc~elup rec~mm~ndaiions fc~r national pxk aviation pulic~. It would 815o direct the Federul ,wietion ,ltiminisirator to develop a plan. Uased omthe Secretaw•'s rxommendatipns, to prompts quiet and saftty itt our perks. The hearing wip be held nn Tuesday, July "9, at 2:30 pm, in rnern 2S3 of the Ituscell Senate pffice Buildiu~. Senator McCalu will pt'eside. Di F5G:13<1f2Y(. S. tZ,E; SbNM~ FL12WL FOIL 9~6 ~ pP TWO T~1~L: COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII RESOLUTION N0. 93 WHEREAS, the Council of the County of Hawaii recognizes that a problem exists with the intrusion of helicopters and low flying aircraft over the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park; and WHEREAS, these intruding aircraft disturb and disrupt both the visitors and wildlife within the park; and WHEREAS, the increased aircraft traffic also poses safety concerns which need to be addressed; and WHEREAS, the Council of the County of Hawaii has formally taken a position urging the Federal Aviation Agency and the National Park Service to enter into an inter-agency agreement to resolve this problem; and WHEREAS, the Council of the County of Hawaii finds that Representative Patsy T. Mink has introduced a bill in the House of Representatives of the 103rd Congress to provide for the regulation of airspace over National Parks Systems Land in the State of Hawaii by the Federal Aviation Agency and the National Park Service; and WHEREAS, the proposed Federal legislation is applicable to all public properties managed by the National Park Service and provides for minimum altitudes for sensitive portions of the National Parks as well as a 2.0 mile stand off distance to National Historical Parks. NOW, THEREFORE, PE IT RFSOLVF,D BY THF. COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that it urges the support and passage of HR 1696 by the 103rd Congress of the United States. FE IT FURTHER RESOLVF,D that the Clerk of the County of Hawaii send copies of this resolution to each member of Hawaii's Congressional Delegation and to the Directors of the Federal Aviation Agency and the National Parks Service. Dated at Hilo, Efawaii, this day of , 1993. INT~RODUyC~ED BY: ~~,C C- C% ~-et-C~d/ / 7tGf' X171 ~Q lC ~ ~~~C~- COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNTY OF HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE County of Hawaii Aye I,IO~ Af3S ~ Hilo, Hawaii AFUIECAKI I herby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION wee by I30NK-ABRAM.SON the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL CfiILDS of the County of Hawaii on DE LIMA DCYHIN~O ATTEST: E1AT R RATfi ROSEHILL SQ IUI'I'E Iaeferns~ce C-454 IIS&PWC COUNTY CLERK CHAIRMAN & PRESIDING OFFICER • 1~ , {V OF r, o~~ ......,it' KLIICO BONK-ABRAMSON Grunnluaman ~rf'OF NFL , ~ . J `r__... COU'~TT COUJ~(CIL ; ~ County of Nawaii Hawaii County Building ?5 Auyuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96120 June 14, 1993 MEMORANDUM TO: SPENCER R. SCHUTTE,[[C~~HAIRUu,~~[H~~A((WAII COUNTY COUNCIL FROM: KEIKO BONK-ASRAMSON, COUNCILFl•l~`~N~`~ RE: ATTACHED RESOLUTION REGARDING HELICOPTERS Please refer the attached resolution regarding helicopters and HR. 1696 to the appropriate committee for action. ' Thank you. Attachment KBA/ctd Rc5 T~ COMM. NO. ' ` HS&P`NC / COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII RESOLUTION N0. 17 ~3 (DRAFT 2) WHEREAS, our Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is subject to a problem of helicopter overflights by those companies or individuals operating in clear violation of FAA regulations; and WHEREAS, such flights are dangerous and have resulted in a recent incident of an accident in an active crater; and WHEREAS, our National Park eaists to preserve our native flora and fauna; and WHEREAS, helicopter noise is disturbing to the park personnel and to our visitors as well as the wildlife within the park; and WHEREAS, in the past five years helicopters over the National Park increased from 30% of the time to over 80%; and WHEREAS, Grand Canyon National Park has mandated no flight zones over the Canyon; and WHEREAS, the Federal Aviation Agency is now mandated to enter into Memoranda of Agreements with the National Parks Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service to restrict and monitor helicopter flights including setting minimum altitudes, flight free zones and minimum heights above people assembled on the ground. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the County of Hawaii that it request the FAA to enter into an Interagency Agreement with the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to set standards for helicopter flights over the Park, including other regulations that will insure the safety of people and wildlife in the Park; and ~ BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State Department of Land & Natural Resources explore with the FAA similar rules regarding flights over state area reserves and other sensitive areas; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the County of Hawaii transmit copies of this Resolution be sent to John Gordon, Regional Administrator, Federal Aviation Agency, to Governor John Waihee, William Paty, Chairman, Department of Land and Natural Resources, to Hugo Huntzinger, Superintendent, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Richard Wass, Refuge Manager, Hakalau Forest National Wild Life Refuge. Dated at Hilo, Hawaii this 24th day of March 1993. INTRODUCED BY: 1 D ~ ~ 4 COUNC~ILMEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII COUNCILMEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII COUNTY COUNCII. ROLL CALL VOTE County of Hawaii AYES NOES A<iS EX Hilo, Hawaii ~ X I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION wes by ~K'~ X ha you indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL CEIILDS d the County of Hawaii on "larch 24 , 1993 DE LIMA DOMINGO X ~TTFSI'. HALE X BATH X ROSEHILL X S(1-IVITE X - RefeL~atce - - men e 'JL'NT1' CLARK CHAIRhIAN & PRESIDING OFFICER RF50I~TTICN ~ 1? 33 (DRAFT 2 )