02-1867. Noise Exposure Map Notice; San Antonio International Airport, San Antonio, TX

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its determination that the noise exposure maps submitted by the city of San Antonio for San Antonio International Airport, San Antonio, Texas, under the provisions of Title 49, U.S.C., Chapter 475 (hereinafter referred to as “Title 49”) and 14 CFR part 150 are in compliance with applicable requirements.

EFFECTIVE DATES:

The effective date of the FAA's determination on the noise exposure maps is January 16, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Nan L. Terry, Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas, 76137, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This notice announces that the FAA finds that the noise exposure maps submitted for San Antonio International Airport, San Antonio, Texas are in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, effective January 16, 2002.

Under Title 49, an airport operator may submit to the FAA noise exposure maps, which meet applicable regulations and which depict non-compatible land uses as of the date of submission of such maps, a description of projected aircraft operations, and the ways in which such operations will affect such maps. Title 49 requires such maps to be developed in consultation with interested and affected parties in the local community, government agencies, and persons using the airport.

An airport operator who has submitted noise exposure maps that are found by the FAA to be in compliance with the requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) part 150, promulgated pursuant to Title 49, may submit a noise compatibility program for FAA approval which sets forth the measures the operator has taken or proposes for the reduction of existing non-compatible uses and for the prevention of the introduction of additional non-compatible uses.

The city of San Antonio submitted to the FAA on January 7, 2002, noise exposure maps, descriptions and other documentation, which were produced during the update to the part 150 Study. It was requested that the FAA review this material as the noise exposure maps, as described in Title 49.

The FAA has completed its review of the noise exposure maps and related descriptions submitted by the city of San Antonio. The specific maps under consideration are Noise Exposure Map: 1998 and Noise Exposure Map: 2004 in the submission. The FAA has determined that these maps for San Antonio International Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements. This determination is effective on January 16, 2002. The FAA's determination on an airport operator's noise exposure maps is limited to a finding that the maps were developed in accordance with the procedures contained in Appendix A of FAR part 150. Such determination does not constitute approval of the applicant's data, information, or plans, or a commitment to approve a noise compatibility program or to fund the implementation of that program.

If questions arise concerning the precise relationship of specific properties to noise exposure contours depicted on a noise exposure map submitted under Title 49, it should be noted that the FAA is not involved in any way in determining the relative locations of specific properties with regard to the depicted noise contours, or in interpreting the noise exposure maps to resolve questions concerning, for example, which properties should be covered by the provisions of Title 49. These functions are inseparable from the ultimate land use control and planning responsibilities of local government. These local responsibilities are not changed in any way under part 150 or through FAA's review of noise exposure maps. Therefore, the responsibility for the detailed overlaying of noise exposures contours onto the map depicting properties on the surface rests exclusively with the airport operator, which submitted those maps, or with those public agencies and planning agencies with which consultation is required under Title 49. The FAA has relied on the certification by the airport operator, under section 150.21 of FAR part 150, that the statutorily required consultation has been accomplished.

Copies of the noise exposure maps and the FAA's evaluation of the maps are available for examination at the following locations:

Federal Aviation Administration, Airports Division, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76137

City of San Antonio, Aviation Department, 9800 Airport Boulevard, San Antonio, Texas 78216

Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the heading, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

Issued in Forth Worth, Texas, January 16, 2002.

Naomi L. Saunders,

Manager, Airports Division.