WHEREAS, the Philadelphia International Airport is one of the busiest hub airports in the United States and the country’s fifth largest airport; and

WHEREAS, during the last ten years the air traffic flying over Northern Delaware has increased in frequency exponentially with the expansion of the Philadelphia International Airport from its original, occasional and relatively minimal level to its present, recurrent and extreme level; and

WHEREAS, as a direct result of the increased flights into and out of Philadelphia International Airport, and in order to accommodate such increased traffic, the Federal Aviation Administration directed that the airspace over Northern Delaware, including the areas of Brandywine and Christiana Hundreds, could now be used for both incoming and outgoing air traffic, without any public input and with the knowledge that the residents of Northern Delaware were already upset over the increased air traffic flying into the Philadelphia International Airport over their community, and with the knowledge that there were substantial and unresolved complaints about airplane noise pollution and health hazards presented by the residents of Delaware; and

WHEREAS, Philadelphia International Airport will become far busier as a result of the introduction of a new air carrier, Southwest Airlines, as a competitor in the Philadelphia market;

WHEREAS, Southwest Airlines will begin its Philadelphia service on May 9, 2004, with a total of 14 daily nonstop flights; and

WHEREAS, Southwest Airlines will add 14 additional daily nonstop flights in July 2004; and

WHEREAS, typically, when Southwest Airlines starts service in a new market, the low-fare carrier's entry causes fares to drop and the total number of people traveling through that airport to increase; and

WHEREAS, currently the noise of airplanes taking off from the airport over Delaware is louder and lasts longer than ever before due to the necessary increasing and full throttle acceleration of the planes attempting to reach cruising altitude; and

WHEREAS, the increased air traffic from Southwest Airlines will worsen a situation that is already jeopardizing the health, as well as the quality of life of the residents of Northern Delaware; and

WHEREAS, representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Philadelphia International Airport have refused to address in any satisfactory manner the legitimate noise pollution and health hazard concerns articulated by the residents of Northern Delaware as expressed at the numerous public meetings, letters, emails, telephone calls and Resolutions of this House of Representatives and State Senate; and

WHEREAS, Philadelphia International Airport residing entirely in the political jurisdiction of another state and subject to the regulation of a federal agency, the Federal Aviation Administration; and

WHEREAS, our most advantageous point of pressure to effect changes sought by Delawareans residing in the northern part of the State is through our federal legislators due to the need for the Philadelphia International Airport and the Federal Aviation Administration to receive approvals, appropriations and authorizations through the Congress of the United States; and

WHEREAS, our leverage on behalf of our citizens can best be exercised through a combined governmental approach joining the interests of our local, State and federal representatives and elected officials; and

WHEREAS, alternatives exist that can be employed by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Philadelphia International Airport in order to minimize the regular, repeated, and severe disturbance caused by the air traffic flying over Northern Delaware and those alternatives include route modifications, new technology and management strategies.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the 142^nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, with the approval of the Governor, that there is hereby established a “Philadelphia Airport Air Traffic and Quality of Life Issues Action Group”, hereinafter referred to as the Action Group, comprised of local, State and federal officials to support integrated local, State and federal response to the increased air traffic with the objective of mitigating the impact of air operations on the quality of life of Delawareans by working for changes in air routing, technology deployment, air traffic management and the improvement of other quality of life indices including but not limited to pollution control and noise abatement.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Action Group be comprised of the following members:

(1) two (2) members to be appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(2) two (2) members appointed by the President Pro Tempore;

(3) one (1) person appointed by the Governor, to serve as Chairperson;

(4) the Secretary of Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control or his designee;

(5) the Secretary of Delaware Department of Transportation or his designee;

(6) the New Castle County Executive or his designee;

(7) It is requested that U. S. Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr., or his designee join the Action Group;

(8) It is requested that U. S. Senator Thomas R. Carper or his designee join the Action Group;

(9) It is requested that U. S. Congressman Michael N. Castle or his designee join the Action Group.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the appropriate offices of the State of Delaware, through the direction of the Governor, will provide administrative support for the Action Group.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Action Group shall organize and hold its first meeting no more than thirty (30) days following the date this Resolution is enacted and shall submit such reports to the public and the General Assembly as deemed necessary from time to time.

SPONSOR:	Rep. Smith & Rep. Valihura &
	Sen. McDowell; Reps. DiPinto, Hudson, Keeley, Lavelle; Sens. Cloutier, Copeland