Hearings Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, Ninety-Second Congress, First Session: Civil Supersonic Aircraft Development (SST)

This document is a transcript of hearings held by the Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives during the Ninety-Second Congress, First Session, on March 1, 1971. The subject of the hearings is the continuing fiscal year 1971 appropriations for the Department of Transportation, with a primary focus on the Civil Supersonic Aircraft Development (SST) programme. The hearings feature testimony from various government officials, including Secretary of Transportation John A. Volpe and Director of Supersonic Transport Development W. M. Magruder, who advocate for the continued funding of the SST programme. They emphasize the importance of the SST for maintaining U.S. technological leadership, economic viability, and the balance of trade, arguing that the programme is a necessary investment for the future. They also address environmental concerns, asserting that the SST will be designed to meet noise standards and that the prototype phase is essential for gathering data to assess environmental impacts. Conversely, the hearings include testimony from critics of the SST, such as former Secretary of the Interior Stewart L. Udall, Dr. James E. McDonald, and representatives from environmental groups like the Sierra Club and Friends of the Earth. These witnesses argue that the SST is an uneconomical project that will not serve the general public and that it poses significant environmental risks, including potential ozone depletion and noise pollution. They contend that the prototype programme is a gamble and that the funds should be reallocated to other national priorities, such as mass transit. The transcript also includes detailed discussions on the technical aspects of the SST, including noise reduction efforts, engine design, and the potential impact on the atmosphere. The hearings reflect a deep division of opinion on the SST, with proponents highlighting its economic and technological benefits and opponents emphasizing its environmental and economic risks.