Sound Insulation Treatment Repair and Replacement Program Act

Summary

Creates a short pilot program allowing up to four large-hub public-use airports to get a one-time FAA waiver so they can repair or replace older federally assisted residential sound insulation without having prior federal payments reduce the allowable project cost. The FAA must set up the pilot within 120 days; eligible projects must meet noise, age, and damage criteria and follow warranty/insurance/legal-exhaustion and auditor-verification rules. The change also permits airports to count owner-requested follow-up surveys of treated homes as allowable project costs for pilot projects.

• Creates a pilot allowing up to four large-hub airports a one-time FAA waiver to repair/replace older federally assisted home sound insulation without counting prior federal payments in cost calculations.
• FAA must establish the pilot within 120 days of enactment.
• Eligible homes must now be inside DNL 65–75 dB contour, have insulation installed before 2002, show damage/deterioration, and have interior noise > DNL 45 dB with ≥5 dB potential reduction.
• Property owners must exhaust warranties, insurance, and legal remedies before using the pilot program funds.
• A qualified noise auditor must confirm insulation deterioration is due to the insulation itself and not owner negligence.
• Previously paid Government costs are excluded when calculating allowable costs for projects approved under the waiver.
• Airports may count periodic, owner-requested post-repair surveys as allowable project costs for pilot projects.
• The pilot is limited in size (up to four airports) and scope — it does not appropriate funding or permanently change nationwide policy.