SENATE DOCKET, NO. 784        FILED ON: 2/5/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1534

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Walter F. Timilty

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to require the Department of Public Health to conduct a study of the health impacts of airplane flights on the resident communities that are represented on the Massachusetts Port Authority Community Advisory Committee.

_______________

PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 784        FILED ON: 2/5/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1534

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1351 OF 2019-2020.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

_______________

An Act to require the Department of Public Health to conduct a study of the health impacts of airplane flights on the resident communities that are represented on the Massachusetts Port Authority Community Advisory Committee.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

The Commissioner of the Department of Public Health of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall commission a study of the health and noise impacts of airplane flights on affected resident communities that are represented on the Massachusetts Port Authority Community Advisory Committee.

(a). Said study would establish a deadline of 180 days which would require the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health to conduct the study to determine the health and noise impacts of airplane flights on residents of the communities represented on the Massachusetts Port Authority Community Advisory Committee exposed to conditions related to noise and air pollution levels emanating from airplane flights directed to and from Logan International Airport.

(b). The study shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) Examining the health impacts of airplane flights on residents comprising the Massachusetts Port Authority Community Advisory Committee, including asthma exacerbation, sleep disturbance, stress, and elevated blood pressure;

(2) Considering in particular the health impacts on residents comprising the Massachusetts Port Authority Community Advisory Committee living partly or wholly within the vicinity underneath the flight paths most frequently used by aircraft flying, including landing or  during takeoff, at an altitude of 10,000 feet; and

(c) Not later than 60 days after the Department of Public Health receives the study previously described, the Department of Public Health shall submit to the senate committee ways and means committee and the joint committee on public health.