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QUESTION. Are federal funds available for noise mitigation? ANSWER. The Navy could have requested noise mitigation funding from Congress. Unfortunately, Navy officials declined to exercise this prerogative because recognition of necessary mitigations costs might have resulted in Oceana being less attractive than other scenarios considered in the Cecil Field Environmental Impact Statement (ELS). Navy officials further reasoned that since Congress had not provided any funding, albeit unsolicited, for noise mitigation, it was not obligated to consider mitigation costs. Mitigation costs have thus been left as a burden upon impacted residents and businesses Recently, a Council resolution
that sought noise mitigation funding from the FAA was withdrawn
(before being voted upon) when it was pointed out that the FAA
was not responsible. CCAJN requested that the resolution be changed
to seek noise mitigation funding directly from the Navy. This
modified resolution has yet to be re-introduced. Apparently,
asking the Navy for mitigation funds apparently is a less
attractive politic position than asking impacted constituents
to continue suffer under the noise umbrella. |