I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3965 
To direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to improve 
the process for establishing and revising flight paths and procedures, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 5, 2015 
Mr. GALLEGO (for himself, Mrs. KIRKPATRICK, Mr. SCHWEIKERT, Ms. 
ESHOO, Ms. NORTON, Mr. GRAYSON, Mr. QUIGLEY, Ms. CLARK of Mas-
sachusetts, Mr. LYNCH, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. ISRAEL, Mr. MEEKS, Ms. 
MENG, Miss RICE of New York, and Mr. BEYER) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration to improve the process for establishing and revis-
ing flight paths and procedures, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘FAA Community Ac-
countability Act of 2015’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:46 Nov 09, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3965.IH
H3965
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. FLIGHT PATHS AND PROCEDURES. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in con-
sidering new or revised flight paths or procedures as part 
of the implementation of the Next Generation Air Trans-
portation System, the Administrator of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration— 
(1) shall take actions to limit negative impacts 
on the human environment in the vicinity of an af-
fected airport; and 
(2) may give preference to overlays of existing 
flight paths or procedures to ensure compatibility 
with land use in the vicinity of an affected airport. 
SEC. 3. FAA COMMUNITY OMBUDSMAN. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of 
the Federal Aviation Administration shall appoint an FAA 
Community Ombudsman for each region of the Federal 
Aviation Administration. 
(b) DUTIES.—The Ombudsmen appointed in accord-
ance with subsection (a) shall— 
(1) act as a liaison between affected commu-
nities and the Administrator with respect to prob-
lems related to the impact of commercial aviation on 
the human environment, including concerns regard-
ing aircraft noise, pollution, and safety; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:46 Nov 09, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3965.IH
H3965
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(2) monitor the impact of the implementation of 
the Next Generation Air Transportation System on 
communities in the vicinity of affected airports; 
(3) make recommendations to the Adminis-
trator— 
(A) to address concerns raised by commu-
nities; and 
(B) to improve the use of community com-
ments in Administration decisionmaking proc-
esses; and 
(4) report to Congress periodically on issues re-
lated to the impact of commercial aviation on the 
human environment and on Administration respon-
siveness to concerns raised by affected communities. 
SEC. 4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, in implementing the Next Generation Air 
Transportation System, the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration may not treat the establishment 
or revision of a flight path or procedure as covered by a 
categorical exclusion (as defined in section 1508.4 of title 
40, Code of Federal Regulations) if an FAA Community 
Ombudsman or the operator of an airport affected by such 
establishment or revision submits written notification to 
the Administrator that— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:46 Nov 09, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3965.IH
H3965
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(1) extraordinary circumstances exist; or 
(2) the establishment or revision will have a sig-
nificant adverse impact on the human environment 
in the vicinity of such airport. 
(b) NOTIFICATIONS.—At least 30 days before treat-
ing the establishment or revision of a flight path or proce-
dure as covered by a categorical exclusion, the Adminis-
trator shall provide notice and an opportunity for com-
ment to persons affected by such establishment or revi-
sion, including the operator of any affected airport. 
SEC. 5. RECONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN FLIGHT PATHS 
AND PROCEDURES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration shall reconsider a flight path or procedure es-
tablished or revised after February 14, 2012, as part of 
the implementation of the Next Generation Air Transpor-
tation System if an FAA Community Ombudsman or the 
operator of an airport affected by such establishment or 
revision submits written notification to the Administrator 
that the establishment or revision is resulting in a signifi-
cant adverse impact on the human environment in the vi-
cinity of such airport. 
(b) PROCESS.—In reconsidering a flight path or pro-
cedure under subsection (a), the Administrator shall— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:46 Nov 09, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3965.IH
H3965
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(1) provide notice of the reconsideration and an 
opportunity for public comment; 
(2) assess the impacts on the human environ-
ment of such flight path or procedure; and 
(3) not later than 180 days after the date on 
which the relevant notification was received, submit 
to Congress and make available to the public a re-
port that— 
(A) addresses comments received pursuant 
to paragraph (1); 
(B) describes the results of the assessment 
carried out under paragraph (2); and 
(C) describes any changes to be made to 
such flight path or procedure or the justifica-
tion for not making any change. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:46 Nov 09, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H3965.IH
H3965
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS