,,ii #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bjh ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,february #d1 #bjac ,mrs4 ,feinstein 7for herself and ,mrs4 ,boxer7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,federal ,aviation ,administration to prescribe regulations to reduce helicopter noise pollution in residential areas in ,los ,angeles ,county1 ,california4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,los ,angeles ,residential ,helicopter ,noise ,relief ,act of #bjac4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,residents throughout ,los ,angeles ,county suffer intrusive and disruptive low-flying helicopter traffic above their neighborhoods4 ,the unique terrain of canyons and valleys that surround residential neighborhoods in ,los ,angeles ,county often concentrate high decibel level noise from the low-flying helicopters in and around ,los ,angeles ,county residences4 ,the concentrated noise interrupts daily life for many ,los ,angeles ,county residents by drowning out conversations and disrupting sleep cycles4 7#b7 ,los ,angeles ,county is home to a uniquely large concentration of scenic1 historic1 entertainment1 and transportation venues1 including sight-seeing1 movie studios1 movie star homes1 outdoor entertainment facilities1 ,griffith ,park1 the ,hollywood ,sign1 freeways1 and many others1 that generate extensive helicopter activity4 7#c7 ,los ,angeles ,county is home to the world's leading civil helicopter manufacturer that conducts extensive helicopter operational testing across the region4 7#d7 ,despite multiple efforts from several community and homeowner organizations in ,los ,angeles ,county to address these disturbances1 helicopter traffic in ,los ,angeles ,county is not currently regulated by the ,federal ,aviation ,administration or any other agency4 7#e7 ,at the request of ,members of ,congress1 the ,federal ,aviation ,administration formed an internal working group in ,july #bjab to solicit input from local communities and stakeholders on helicopter noise and safety issues in ,los ,angeles ,county4 7#f7 ,as part of that process1 several public meetings were held in the fall and summer of #bjab that have allowed the ,federal ,aviation ,administration and stakeholders to hear and better understand the concerns and complaints of affected residents4 7#g7 ,the ,federal ,aviation ,administration is scheduled to release a report in ,may #bjac evaluating a full set of voluntary and regulatory options to reduce helicopter noise and address safety issues in ,los ,angeles ,county4 7#h7 ,the report is expected to explore how helicopters can be regulated in ,los ,angeles ,county in a manner that provides relief to residents from helicopter noise while also meeting the needs of relevant stakeholders1 including first responders4 #c4 ,regulations to reduce helicopter noise pollution in certain residential areas 7a7 ,rulemaking ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator of the ,federal ,aviation ,administration shall prescribe regulations for helicopter operations in ,los ,angeles ,county1 ,california1 that include requirements relating to the flight paths and altitudes associated with such operations to reduce helicopter noise pollution in residential areas1 increase safety1 and minimize scheduled commercial aircraft delays4 7b7 ,exemptions ,in prescribing regulations under subsection 7a71 the ,administrator shall exempt helicopter operations related to emergency1 law enforcement1 or military activities from the requirements described in that subsection4 7c7 ,consultations ,in prescribing regulations under subsection 7a71 the ,administrator shall make reasonable efforts to consult with local communities and local helicopter operators in order to develop regulations that meet the needs of local communities1 helicopter operators1 and the ,federal ,aviation ,administration4