New York – Today, U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand urged Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to work together to streamline and create one uniform complaint hotline and website for residents to voice their concerns over aircraft noise at both JFK International and LaGuardia Airports. Many Long Island and Queens residents who experience excessive jet noise do not know how best to log their complaints since each agency uses a separate process. To cut through the confusion, the Senators proposed that both the Port Authority and FAA operate a single call-in line and website that allows for the collection and sharing of data.
Senators Schumer and Gillibrand wrote in a letter to FAA Acting Administrator Michael Huerta and Port Authority Executive Director Patrick Foye, “We are aware that the FAA and Port Authority already have separate ways for accepting community concerns, collecting and sharing data. This approach has led to confusion as to where noise complaints should be submitted. The system should be streamlined so that residents of Nassau County, Queens, and surrounding communities have a clear and consistent way to have their voices heard and know that both the Port Authority and the FAA are aware of their concerns. The operation of a single line and website can be administered by either one or both of your agencies, as long as the information gathered is shared by both.”
The Senators also requested online updates on construction and runway closures at both JFK International and LaGuardia Airports.
Full text of the Senators’ letter is below:
Dear Acting Administrator Huerta and Executive Director Foye,
We are writing to bring to your attention the issue of noise pollution caused by air traffic, which affects many Nassau County and Queens communities. Our offices have received numerous complaints from residents about aircraft departing and landing at both JFK International Airport and LaGuardia Airport. In many instances, residents who experience excessive noise pollution do not know how to best relay their concerns, and to which agency. To address this concern, we request that the Port Authority and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) work together to form a single hotline and website where residents can log their complaints. We also request that both agencies develop a system to share the information that is received.
We are aware that the FAA and Port Authority already have separate ways for accepting community concerns, collecting and sharing data. This approach has led to confusion as to where noise complaints should be submitted. The system should be streamlined so that residents of Nassau County, Queens, and surrounding communities have a clear and consistent way to have their voices heard and know that both the Port Authority and the FAA are aware of their concerns. The operation of a single line and website can be administered by either one or both of your agencies, as long as the information gathered is shared by both.
In addition to forming a complaint line and corresponding website, we also ask that information relating to construction and runway closures is also placed online and updated as quickly as changes are made to ensure the public has access to real-time data.
Thank you for your attention to this issue, and we hope that you will take quick action to address these concerns.