118 S1033 IS: Natural Hazard Resilience for Airports Act of 2023 U.S. Senate 2023-03-29 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II118th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 1033IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMarch 29, 2023Mr. Schatz (for himself and Mr. Budd) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and TransportationA BILLTo amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure certain projects related to natural hazards and emergency management are eligible for funding under the Federal Aviation Administration's airport improvement program, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Natural Hazard Resilience for Airports Act of 2023.

2.

Ensuring that certain projects related to natural hazards and emergency management are eligible for funding under the Federal Aviation Administration's airport improvement program

(a)

Intermodal planning

Section 47101(g) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—(1)in paragraph (1), in the second sentence, by inserting (including long-term resilience from the impact of natural hazards and severe weather events) after environmental; and(2)in paragraph (2)—(A)in subparagraph (C), by striking and at the end;(B)in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and(C)by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:(E)consider the impact of hazardous weather events on long-term operational resilience..(b)

Definition of airport development

Section 47102(3) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:(S)improvements, supported by planning or resiliency studies, or planning for improvements, of primary runways, taxiways, and aprons necessary at an airport to increase operational resilience to prepare the airport for resuming or maintaining flight operations in the event of an earthquake, flooding, high water, sea level rise, a hurricane, a tropical storm, a cyclone, storm surge, a tidal wave, a tornado, a tsunami, wind driven water, wildfire, land instability, or a winter storm.(T)(i)in the case of an airport that meets each of the requirements described in clause (ii)—(I)planning for disaster preparedness associated with maintaining airport operations during a natural disaster;(II)acquiring airport communication equipment and fixed emergency generators that are not eligible for funding under programs funded under the Department of Homeland Security; and(III)constructing, expanding, or improving airfield infrastructure to include aprons and terminal buildings the Secretary of Transportation determines will facilitate disaster response at the airport.(ii)The requirements described in this clause are the following:(I)The airport and the facilities and fixed-based operators on, or connected with, the airport are operated and maintained in a manner the Secretary of Transportation considers suitable for disaster relief. An airport shall not be considered as failing to meet the requirement under the preceding sentence if a runway is unusable because the runway is under scheduled maintenance or is in need of necessary repairs.(II)The airport has developed an emergency natural disaster management plan in coordination with State and local officials..