Demands from Senator Leahy’s Constituents
SENATOR PATRICK LEAHY SHALL DIRECT THE U.S. AIR FORCE TO DELAY SENDING ANY F-35 FIGHTER-BOMBERS TO VERMONT UNTIL ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE SATISFIED.
1. F-35A has at least 1,000,000 flight hours, similar to the number of flight hours that the F-16 had when it arrived at the VT Air National Guard Station.
2. U.S. Air Force, Federal Aviation Administration, and City of Burlington officials conduct a public hearing in the Burlington, Vermont area to answer questions and elaborate on their statements:
A. “Why would you think that the noise at Burlington can be addressed with mitigation? Outside purchase and relocation of those affected, I don’t know what could be done. The results of the EIS indicate Burlington is the wrong answer for all of the alternatives.” (Air Force official, Larry Dryden, 9-11-13, Administrative Record — AR #62486)
B. “The best way to mitigate noise, at high noise levels, is to buy homes and remove them.” (Richard Doucette, FAA’s New England Environmental Program Manager, February 2017)
C. “Also soundproofing does not address the problem of noise levels outside the residence, meaning that yard and outside leisure activities, including those of children playing, would be impacted by unacceptably high level of noise. Therefore, soundproofing is considered the least desirable alternative for addressing sound in residential dwellings.” (Burlington International Airport Noise Compatibility Program Update, 14 CFR Part 150, page 46, April 2008)
D. “Land acquisition and relocation is the only alternative that would eliminate the residential incompatibility.” and “…noise barriers provide little, if any, reduction of noise from aircraft that are airborne and can be seen over the barrier.” (Burlington International Airport Noise Compatibility Program Update, 14 CFR Part 150, pages 29 and 35, April 2008)
3. Funding is secured to purchase all 2,963 homes in the F-35A 65dB DNL noise zone that multiple federal agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration, Housing and Urban Development, Department of Defense, and the Veterans Administration classify as being unsuitable for residential use; and move all households who wish to relocate to comparable homes in areas suitable for residential use.
4. A public hearing is held with qualified independent health and safety experts to provide information on the health impacts of noise on children and adults, and the risks to civilians from a crash of an F-35A composed of 42% military-grade composite material and toxic stealth coating. Local, state and federal elected officials will be required to attend and answer citizen questions.
5. Department of Defense provides detailed information on the nuclear role of the F-35, and the implications of this for Vermonters.
6. Investigations into the falsification of data and other improprieties associated with the F-35A basing selection process for Burlington, Vermont have been completed and the full report(s) have been released to the public.
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I, Senator Patrick Leahy, shall direct the United States Air Force to delay sending any F-35A fighter-bombers to Vermont until all of the above listed demands have been fully satisfied.
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PATRICK LEAHY
United States Senator
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