Sponsored by:
Senator M. TERESA RUIZ
District 29 (Essex)
Senator KEVIN J. O'TOOLE
District 40 (Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Rice
SYNOPSIS
Commends PANYNJ for recent commitment to conduct noise and land use studies at PANYNJ airports in New Jersey.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution commending the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for its recent commitment to conduct noise and land use studies at Port Authority airports in New Jersey.
Whereas, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (Port Authority) is a bi-state agency established by compact between the State of New York and the State of New Jersey; and
Whereas, In order to amend the compact creating the Port Authority, New York and New Jersey are each required to adopt legislation of identical effect; and
Whereas, Assembly Bill No. 4355 of the 2012-2013 New Jersey Legislative session, required the Port Authority to conduct noise and land use compatibility surveys at its airports, to report these findings to the governors and legislatures of New York and New Jersey, and to hold public hearings in both states to allow for public comment on aircraft noise issues; and
Whereas, Assembly Bill No. 4355 of the 2012-2013 Legislative session was released by the Assembly Transportation, Public Works, and Independent Authorities Committee on November 25, 2013, was passed by the General Assembly on December 19, 2013, and was referred to the Senate for further consideration; and
Whereas, On November 13, 2013, however, the Governor of New York vetoed identical legislation which had passed through the New York State Legislature, effectively ending consideration of the bill in New Jersey since it would no longer be possible to have legislation of identical effect enacted in both states; and
Whereas, In the veto message, Governor Cuomo indicated that he would direct the Port Authority to conduct the noise and land use compatibility surveys at LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy airports in New York; and
Whereas, It is equally important to the citizens of the region that these noise and land use compatibility surveys also be conducted at the Port Authority airports in New Jersey; and
Whereas, The Port Authority awarded a contract in September 2014 to have the noise and land use compatibility studies conducted at the Port Authority airports in New York, and the Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority has recently indicated the Port Authority’s commitment to conducting these studies at Newark Liberty International and Teterboro Airports under a separate procurement on an expedited basis; and
Whereas, The Port Authority is to be commended for its commitment to the citizens of New Jersey on this important issue; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House commends the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for its commitment to conducting noise and land use compatibility studies at Newark Liberty International and Teterboro Airports in New Jersey as it has already contracted to conduct similar studies at Port Authority airports in New York.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to every member of the Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and to the Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority.
STATEMENT
This resolution commends the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (Port Authority) for its commitment to conduct noise and land use compatibility studies at Newark Liberty International and Teterboro Airports in New Jersey as it has already contracted to conduct similar studies at Port Authority airports in New York.
New Jersey considered legislation to amend the Port Authority’s enabling compact in the 2012-2013 Legislative session to require the Port Authority to conduct noise and land use studies at all of its airports. In order to amend the compact, identical legislation is required to be enacted by both New York and New Jersey. However, New York’s Governor vetoed similar legislation which had passed both houses of the New York legislature and instead directed the Port Authority to conduct these studies at LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy airports in New York.
The Port Authority has recently awarded a contract to have these noise and land use compatibility studies conducted at the airports in New York, and the Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority has recently indicated the Port Authority’s commitment to conducting these studies at Newark Liberty International and Teterboro Airports under a separate procurement on an expedited basis. The Port Authority is to be commended for its commitment to the citizens of New Jersey on this important issue.