State Representatives Wayne A. Smith (R-Brandywine Hundred-North), Robert J. Valihura, Jr. (R-Delaware North), Gregory F. Lavelle (R-Sharpley) and State Senators Catherine Cloutier (R-Heatherbrooke) and Charles Copeland (R-West Farms) today announced that they have sent correspondence to the Delaware Congressional Delegation, requesting its assistance in seeking to implement the recommendations of the Philadelphia Airport Air Traffic and Quality of Life Issues Action Group.

The Action Group, which was tasked with addressing concerns related to quality of life issues associated with air traffic over Delaware, has completed its work and issued its report to the Delaware General Assembly. The legislators' letter thanked U.S. Senators Joseph Biden and Thomas Carper and Congressman Michael Castle their offices' participation in identifying mitigation strategies relating to the increased air traffic and the resulting noise, pollution and congestion problems over northern Delaware.

In the letter to the Congressional Delegation, the lawmakers stated, "As this issue falls squarely under federal jurisdiction, we are asking for your personal involvement and leadership in seeing that the recommendations put forth by the group are implemented. In speaking with the constituents we jointly represent in the Delaware communities impacted by the Philadelphia Airport air traffic, we can attest to the strong community support for these recommendations."

The correspondence further stated, "Particularly in the consideration of major actions, like a proposed Delaware River route for inbound traffic, only our Congressional Delegation can influence federal dollars and statutes to the extent needed to focus decision makers on changes which will benefit citizens of northern Delaware.

"Your personal involvement is critically needed since your counterparts in Pennsylvania are now being actively engaged by their Pennsylvania constituents, who believe Delaware should take the brunt of the air traffic congestion, and the result may be, if Delaware is not proactive, a further exacerbation of the air traffic problems here in Delaware."

The recommendations of the Philadelphia Airport Air Traffic and Quality of Life Issues Action Group issued on June 30, 2006 are as follows:

• Request that the federal, state and local officials continue to cooperate and collaborate on representing the interests of Delawareans.
• Encourage future collaboration and coordination among those currently serving on the Action Group. It would be appropriate to coordinate quarterly meetings with each other to share information; for example, when the FEIS (Final Environmental Impact Statement) for the Airspace Redesign Plan is promulgated.
• Request that elected officials continue to work with the Philadelphia Airport and the Federal Aviation Association to obtain data and information from the permanent noise monitoring system that will be installed in northern Delaware.
• Request that the viability of a River Approach and/or other similar options be adequately considered when discussing alternatives.

For a copy of the report, the public may visit the Delaware General Assembly's website at www.legis.state.de.us/LIS/TaskForces.nsf and click on the link to the Philadelphia Airport Air Traffic and Quality of Life Issues Action Group.

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