ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY QUARTERLY
Winter 2016
2 | K&L Gates: Publication Name
IN THIS ISSUE
2016: A BIG YEAR FOR AVIATION
By Sarah M. Beason, Roderick D. Hall,
Stephen A. Martinko
U.S. aviation interests should anticipate
a busy 2016, as Congress and federal
regulators are focused on major reform
efforts and new environmental regulations. In
September 2015, Congress provided a six-
month extension of federal aviation funding
as part of the Airport and Airway Extension
Act of 2015. As a result, Congress must
consider Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) reauthorization and reform measures
ahead of the expiration of both FAA’s
authority and its stop-gap funding on
March 31, 2016.
In addition to legislative action, the New
Year is also expected to include a significant
federal agency focus on the U.S. aviation
industry. The FAA is continuing work on
NextGen implementation, reducing aviation’s
adverse environmental impact through the
use of satellite-based navigation, and will
begin considering applications for Voluntary
Airport Low Emission (VALE) funding to
reduce airport ground emissions early next
year. The Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) has indicated that it will regulate
certain aircraft engines for greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions under the Clean Air Act
(CAA) in collaboration with international GHG
emission standards.
READ THIS ARTICLE
INVESTING IN AMERICA’S
WATERWAY INFRASTRUCTURE
By Sarah M. Beason, James A. Sartucci
America is a maritime nation, abounding
in internal waterways and coastal harbors
that help drive the United States’ economy.
For example, 99 percent of international
trade passes through America’s ports, which
contributes to almost one-third of the nation’s
Gross Domestic Product. The nation’s
maritime and waterway infrastructure of
harbors, channels, locks, and dams, requires
significant federal investment to fully exploit
America’s national resources.
READ THIS ARTICLE
