Governor Rell, Attorney General File Request For Rehearing To Block New FAA Airspace Routes Directing More Large Planes Over Connecticut

July 23, 2008

Governor M. Jodi Rell and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today filed a formal request with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia seeking a rehearing to block a new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airspace redesign project that routes more large planes over southwestern Connecticut.

Blumenthal filed the request in coordination with Governor Rell and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

"The FAA has had its head in the clouds on this entire issue," Governor Rell said. "It has failed to follow its own rules for setting flight paths. These are not minor concerns. These are serious quality-of-life issues that deserve full and fair hearing - something the FAA has been unwilling to provide.

"Connecticut will insist on its rights in this battle - on behalf of residents and on behalf of the environment," the Governor said.

Blumenthal said, "Only the courts can bring the FAA back to earth, and hold it accountable. The FAA must be grounded. We're asking the full court -- all 12 judges -- to reconsider and reject the three-judge panel's ruling wrongly denying our challenge. If the court rehears this erroneous ruling, it can protect against the environmental damage done by this misguided flight path redesign, and force the FAA to do its job.

"If a rehearing is declined, I will seek review by the U.S. Supreme Court. The FAA has a profound legal and moral obligation to adequately weigh public impact and concerns, including significantly increased noise pollution, and consider better alternatives.

"We deserve a rehearing, and the FAA deserves a court order to rethink its plan -- forcing the FAA to follow the law and consider all alternatives before implementing its airspace redesign. I am determined to continue the fight -- on behalf of our strong Northeast coalition -- to preserve environmental quality of life in the region."

The suit challenges the FAA's proposed new flight paths because the FAA failed to acknowledge, let alone consider, the impact of increased noise and other environmental impacts on Connecticut residents and state parkland, negatively affecting 30 million people in the Northeast.

The court rejected Blumenthal's legal action in spite of provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act and Supreme Court rulings that obligate the FAA to adequately consider these public concerns.