03-27027. Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program and Request for Review for the Reno/Tahoe International Airport, Reno, NV

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces that it is reviewing a proposed Noise Compatibility Program submitted by the County of Washoe for the Reno/Tahoe International Airport, Reno, Nevada under the provisions of Title 1 of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (Pub. L. 96-193) (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”) and title 14, Code of Federal Regulation (CFR), part 150. This program was submitted subsequent to a determination by the FAA that associated Noise Exposure Maps submitted under title 14 CFR part 150 were in compliance with applicable requirements effective November 15, 2001. The proposed Noise Compatibility Program will be approved or disapproved on or before April 5, 2004.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

The effective date of the start of the FAA's review of the Noise Compatibility Program is October 10, 2003. The public comment period ends on December 9, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Elisha Novak, Airport Planner, San Francisco Airports District Office, Federal Aviation Administration, 831 Mitten Road, Room 210, Burlingame, California 94010, Telephone: [phone]. Comments on the proposed Noise Compatibility Program should also be submitted to the above office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This notice announces that the FAA is reviewing a proposed Noise Compatibility Program for the Reno/Tahoe International Airport, which will be approved or disapproved on or before April 5, 2004. This notice also announces the availability of this program for public review and comment.

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 Regulation part 150, promulgated pursuant to title I of the Act, 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 FAA has formally received the Noise Compatibility Program for the Reno/Tahoe International Airport, effective on October 10, 2003. It is requested that the FAA review this material and that the noise mitigation measures, to be implemented jointly by the airport and surrounding communities, be approved as a Noise Compatibility Program under section 104(b) of the Act. Preliminary review of the submitted material indicates that it conforms to the requirements for the submittal of Noise Compatibility Programs, but that further review will be necessary prior to approval or disapproval of the program. The formal review period, limited by law to a maximum of 180 days, will be completed on or before April 5, 2004.

The FAA's detailed evaluation will be conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR part 150, § 150.33. The primary considerations in the evaluation process are whether the proposed measures reduce the level of aviation safety, create an undue burden on intestate or foreign commerce, or are reasonably consistent with obtaining the goal of reducing existing non-compatible land uses and preventing the introduction of additional non-compatible land uses.

Interested persons are invited to comment on the proposed program with specific reference to these factors. All comments, other than those properly addressed to local land use authorities, will be considered by the FAA to the extent practicable. Copies of the Noise Exposure Maps, the FAA's evaluation of the maps, and the proposed Noise Compatibility Program are available for examination at the following locations:

Federal Aviation Administration, National Headquarters, Community Environmental Needs Division, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 621, Washington, DC 20591.

Federal Aviation Administration, Western-Pacific Region, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Room 3012, Hawthorne, California 90261.

Federal Aviation Administration, San Francisco Airports District Office, 831 Mitten Road, Room 210, Burlingame, California 94010.

County of Washoe, Airport Authority, 2001 East Plumb lane, Reno, Nevada 89502.

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

Issued in Hawthorne, California, on October 10, 2003.

Ellsworth L. Chan,

Acting Manager, Airports Division, Western-Pacific Region, AWP-600.