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Unhappy with the decision by the Federal Aviation Administration
restricting noise from airplane and helicopter overflights in Grand
Canyon National Park (see Updates, December 1996), the Sierra Club and
six other environmental groups are challenging the FAA ruling as
inadequate. While air tour operators, who have also filed a suit, claim
that the FAA ruling goes too far, environmentalists argue that it falls
woefully short of enforcing the 1987 Overflights Act mandate to restore
natural quiet by allowing the heavily used "Dragon" tour corridor to
remain open and fails to place limits on the actual number of
overflights.
"You simply cannot protect the character of the Grand Canyon by
continuing to allow unlimited flights over some of the most popular
backcountry areas," said Rob Smith, Sierra Club Southwest
representative.
Last April, on Earth Day, President Clinton directed the FAA to develop
rules to protect the Grand Canyon and other national parks from the
growing invasion of air tour racket. The FAA has failed to follow
through on this mandate and environmentalists need to let the president
know that they support natural quiet in the beleaguered park.
To take action: Write President Clinton and urge him to insist that the
FAA place limits on flights in the Grand Canyon. Tell him that air
tours should be moved away from the formerly quiet backcountry trails,
beaches and overlooks that are incessantly bombarded with aircraft
noise.
http://www.sierraclub.org/planet/199703/update.asp
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