Res. No. 1697 Title Resolution opposing the Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century and calling upon Congress to declare an emergency and to enact new legislation placing a moratorium on all expansion at John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia Airports so that the total number of daily take-offs and landings does not exceed 1998 levels until comprehensive environmental and health studies are conducted and completed. Body By Council Members Harrison, Freed, Marshall and Stabile; also Council Members Eisland, Leffler Whereas, The Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR-21) was signed into law by President Clinton on April 5, 2000; and Whereas, AIR-21 for the first time allowed regional jets with 70 seats or less virtually unrestricted access to both Kennedy and LaGuardia airports; and Whereas, Such action has resulted in an unreasonably large number of flights into both New York City airports and has tested the limits of physical airport capacity; and Whereas, The addition of these newly authorized flights has also generated increased noise and pollution into the surrounding environment, thereby exposing local residents to increased health risks and resulting in conditions constituting an emergency; and Whereas, It has been well documented that residents of communities located in close proximity to airports experience disproportionately high adverse health effects from the excessive noise and pollution generated by such airports; and Whereas, The authorization of more flights into New York City's airports by AIR-21 exacerbates the health risks that residents of communities in close proximity to these airports are exposed to; and Whereas, The Environmental Protection Agency has predicted that within the next decade the aforementioned problems could create more serious and deadly air, water, noise and ground pollution; and Whereas, The prior restrictions on the number of flights at New York City's airports was a rational and necessary piece of legislation that was vital to safeguarding the health and safety of hundreds of thousands of residents dwelling in the neighborhoods surrounding both Kennedy and LaGuardia Airports; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York opposes the Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century and calls upon Congress to declare an emergency and to enact new legislation placing a moratorium on all expansion at John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia Airports so that the total number of daily take-offs and landings does not exceed 1998 levels until comprehensive environmental and health studies are conducted and completed. LS No.3750 MBS-12/27/00