Say Forums Held By The Agency Were 'A Complete Waste Of Time'

Elected officials and residents on Long Island, NY are insisting that the FAA hold formal public hearings on the North Shore Helicopter Route, but the agency will only say that it is "reviewing the request" for the hearings.

The Patch reports that Congressman Lee Zeldin (R-NY) said in a letter to FAA Eastern Region Regional Administrator Jennifer Solomon "From the North Shore Helicopter Route's planning to its continued use, the FAA has flat out ignored the residents directly affected, and, although the FAA is now forced to listen as enshrined in federal law, these 'workshops' have given Long Islanders a bad case of deja vu."

Zeldin said that the "workshops fail to comply with the public hearing mandated in my legislative proposal which is now law, and many strongly believe they were seemingly formatted to stifle the true negative impact of this route," Zeldin said. "The FAA was required by law to hold a public hearing within 30 days of enactment of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, which was signed into law on Oct. 5, 2018. It is imperative that the FAA schedule this public hearing immediately, and address the concerns and improve the quality of life of impacted Long Islanders."

Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell told The Patch that the forums were "nothing more than a dog and pony show" and that the forum was "a waste of everyone's time and just created more animus."

Zeldin said that language he inserted into the FAA Reauthorization act concerning the North Shore Helicopter Route is "the law of the land" and that the FAA must abide by a requirement to hold formal public hearings. "I will continue to hold their feet to the fire to ensure that every last voice is heard."

An FAA spokesperson told The Patch earlier this month that the agency would hold "three forums to afford members of the public the opportunity to provide comments about the North Shore Helicopter Route. That's consistent with the purpose of the directive, which is to get feedback from the impacted communities. Additionally, subject matter experts will staff the events, so people, if they like, can engage directly with the FAA. They can ask questions, make a statement to FAA personnel, or submit a formal comment."

The proposal is open for public comment through January 2, 2019.

(Image from file)

FMI: Source report, Comment