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Sound Insulation Treatment Repair and Replacement Program Act
12/15/2023, 3:56 PM
Summary of Bill HR 2533
The program outlined in the bill would be administered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and would provide grants to eligible property owners for the repair or replacement of sound insulation treatments. The bill also includes provisions for the FAA to conduct inspections and assessments of properties to determine the extent of damage to sound insulation treatments and the need for repair or replacement.
Additionally, the bill includes requirements for property owners to submit applications for funding, as well as guidelines for the selection of contractors to perform the repair or replacement work. The bill also outlines reporting requirements for the FAA to track the progress of the program and ensure that funds are being used effectively. Overall, Bill 118 HR 2533 aims to address the issue of deteriorating sound insulation treatments in residential properties near airports and provide a solution for property owners to maintain the effectiveness of these treatments in reducing noise pollution.
Congressional Summary of HR 2533
Sound Insulation Treatment Repair and Replacement Program Act
This bill provides airports with the option to use funds provided under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) to repair and replace sound insulation in residential buildings. Under current policy, airports may use AIP funds for one-time sound insulation projects for residential buildings.
This bill provides airports a one-time waiver to use AIP funds to carry out repair and replacement of sound insulation for residential buildings if the airport previously received federal assistance or federally authorized airport assistance for the insulation and (1) it is justified due to increased aircraft noise, or (2) the previously installed sound insulation has resulted in structural deterioration.
To qualify, the building or structure must currently fall within the Day Night Level (DNL) 65 noise standard. If not, it must have fallen within this standard at the time of the initial noise mitigation, and a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) compliant noise auditor must determine that
- such sound insulation treatment caused physical damage to the residence; or
- the materials used were of low quality and have deteriorated, broken, or otherwise no longer function as intended.
Additionally, an airport and the property owner must exhaust funding available through warranties, insurance coverage, and legal remedies for the previously installed insulation. An FAA compliant noise auditor must also inspect the residence and determine that the previously installed insulation resulted in structural deterioration that was not caused by the property owner's or airport's negligence, or due to the homeowner's actions.
