PROHIBITION ON OPERATION OF CERTAIN AIRCRAFT NOT COMPLYING WITH STAGE 3 NOISE LEVELS.

SEC. 9308, PROHIBITION ON OPERATION OF CERTAIN AIRCRAFT NOT COMPLYING WITH STAGE 3 NOISE LEVELS. (a) General Rule.—After December 31, 1999, no person may operate to or from an airport in the United States any civil subsonic 104 STAT. 1388–383turbojet aircraft with a maximum weight of more than 75,000 pounds unless such aircraft complies with the Stage 3 noise levels, as determined by the Secretary. (b) Waiver.— (1) Application.—If, by July 1, 1999, at least 85 percent of the aircraft used by an air carrier to provide air transportation comply with the Stage 3 noise levels, such carrier may apply for a waiver of the prohibition set forth in subsection (a) for the remaining 15 or less percent of the aircraft used by the carrier to provide air transportation. Such application must be filed with the Secretary no later than January 1, 1999, and must include a plan with firm orders for making all aircraft used by the air carrier to provide air transportation to comply with such noise levels not later than December 31, 2003. (2) Granting of waiver.—The Secretary may grant a waiver under this subsection if the Secretary finds that granting such waiver is in the public interest. In making such a finding, the Secretary shall consider the effect of granting such waiver on competition in air carrier industry and on small community air service. (3) Limitation.—A waiver granted under this subsection may not permit the operation of Stage 2 aircraft in the United States after December 31, 2003. (c) Compliance Schedule.—The Secretary shall, by regulation, establish a schedule for phased-in compliance with the prohibition set forth in subsection (a). The period of such phase-in shall begin on the date of the enactment of this Act and end before December 31, 1999. Such regulations shall establish interim compliance dates. Such schedule for phased-in compliance shall be based upon a detailed economic analysis of the impact of the phaseout date for Stage 2 aircraft on competition in the airline industry, including the ability of air carriers to achieve capacity growth consistent with the projected rates of growth for the airline industry, the impact of competition within the airline and air cargo industries, the impact on nonhub and small community air service, and the impact on new entry into the airline industry, and on an analysis of the impact of aircraft noise on persons residing near airports. (d) Exemption for Noncontiguous Air Service.—This section and section 9309 shall not apply to aircraft which are used solely to provide air transportation outside the 48 contiguous States. Any civil subsonic turbojet aircraft with a maximum weight of more than 75,000 pounds which is imported into a noncontiguous State or a territory or possession of the United States on or after the date of the enactment of this Act may not be used to provide air transportation in the 48 contiguous States unless such aircraft complies with the Stage 3 noise levels. (e) Violations.—Violations of this section and section 9309 and regulations issued to carry out such sections shall be subject to the same civil penalties and procedures as are provided by title IX of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 for violations of title VI. (f) Judicial Review.—Actions taken by the Secretary under this section and section 9309 shall be subject to Judicial review in accordance with section 1006 of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958. (g) Reports.—Beginning with calendar year 1992, each air carrier shall submit to the Secretary an annual report on the progress such carrier is making toward complying with the requirements of this section (including the regulations issued to carry out this section), 104 STAT. 1388–384and the Secretary shall transmit to Congress an annual report on the progress being made toward such compliance. (h) Definitions.—As used in this section, the following definitions apply: (1) Air carrier; air transportation; united states.—The terms “air carrier”, “air transportation”, and “United States” have the meanings such terms have under section 101 of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958. (2) Stage 3 noise levels.—The term “Stage 3 noise levels” means the Stage 3 noise levels set forth in part 36 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.