HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2375

                       As Passed House

                      February 13, 1992

Title:  An act relating to aircraft noise abatement.

Brief Description:  Allowing less restrictive easements concerning aircraft noise.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Hine, G. Fisher, Heavey and Mitchell.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Local Government, February 4, 1992, DP;

Passed House, February 13, 1992, 96-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 14 members:  Representatives Haugen, Chair; Cooper, Vice Chair; Ferguson, Ranking Minority Member; Mitchell, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bray; Edmondson; Franklin; Nealey; Nelson; Rayburn; Roland; Wood; Wynne; and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Steve Lundin (786-7127).

Background:  A port district that operates an airport serving more than 20 scheduled jet aircraft flights per day may establish a program of aircraft noise abatement.  Among other items, the aircraft noise abatement program may include purchasing property and soundproofing structures.  A property owner must waive all damages and convey a full and unrestricted easement to the port district for the operation of aircraft and associated aircraft noise when a port district soundproofs a structure under this program.

Summary of Bill:  A property owner whose structure is soundproofed under a port district airport noise abatement program would only have to waive damages, instead of all damages, and convey an easement, instead of a full and unrestricted easement, to the port district.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This is an agreed upon bill.  Some homeowners are hesitant to give a full easement and waive all damages for aircraft noise when only one side of their house is soundproofed.  What happens if the landing pattern changes in the future?

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Pat Jones, Port of Seattle.