[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 217 (Thursday, November 7, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57723-57724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-28664]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Approval of Noise Compatibility Program, Snohomish County
Airport/Paine Field, Snohomish County, Washington
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its
findings on the noise compatibility program submitted by the Airport
Manager of the Snohomish County Airport under the provisions of Title I
of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (Public Law 96-
193) and 14 CFR Part 150. These findings are made in recognition of the
description of Federal and non-Federal responsibilities in Senate
Report No. 96-52 (1980). On April 5, 1996, the FAA determined that the
noise exposure maps submitted by the airport manager under Part 150
were in compliance with applicable requirements. On October 2, 1996,
the Associate Administrator for Airports approved the Snohomish County
Airport noise compatibility program. All of the program elements were
approved.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the
Snohomish County Airport noise compatibility program is October 2,
1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis G. Ossenkop; Federal Aviation
Administration; Northwest Mountain Region; Airports Division, ANM-611;
1601 Lind Avenue, S.W., Renton, Washington, 98055-4056. Documents
reflecting this FAA action may be reviewed at this same location.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA has given
its overall approval to the noise compatibility program for Snohomish
County Airport, effective October 2, 1996. Under Section 104(a) of the
Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (hereinafter referred
to as ``the Act''), an airport operator who has previously submitted a
noise exposure map may submit to the FAA a noise compatibility program
which sets forth the measures taken or proposed by the airport operator
for the reduction of existing noncompatible land uses and prevention of
additional noncompatible land uses within the area covered by the noise
exposure maps. The Act requires such a program to be developed in
consultation with interested and affected parties including the state,
local communities, government agencies, airport users, and FAA
personnel.
Each airport noise compatibility program developed in accordance
with Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 150 is a local program, not
a Federal program. The FAA does not substitute its judgment for that of
the airport proprietor with respect to which measures should be
recommended for action. The FAA's approval or disapproval of FAR Part
150 program recommendations is measured according to the standards
expressed in Part 150 and the Act and is limited to the following
determinations:
a. The noise compatibility program was developed in accordance with
the provisions and procedures of FAR Part 150;
b. Program measures are reasonably consistent with achieving the
goals of reducing existing noncompatible land uses around the airport
and preventing the introduction of additional noncompatible land uses;
c. Program measures would not create an undue burden on interstate
or foreign commerce, unjustly discriminate against types of classes of
aeronautical uses, violate the terms of airport grant agreements, or
intrude into areas preempted by the Federal Government; and
d. Program measures relating to the use of flight procedures can be
implemented within the period covered by the program without derogating
safety, adversely affecting the efficient use and management of the
navigable airspace and air traffic control systems, or adversely
affecting other powers and responsibilities of the Administrator
prescribed by law.
Specific limitations with respect to FAA's approval of an airport
noise compatibility program are delineated in FAR Part 150, Section
150.5. Approval
[[Page 57724]]
is not a determination concerning the acceptability of land uses under
Federal, state, or local law. Approval does not by itself constitute an
FAA implementing action. A request for Federal action or approval to
implement specific noise compatibility measures may be required, and an
FAA decision on the request may require an environmental assessment of
the proposed action. Approval does not constitute a commitment by the
FAA to financially assist in the implementation of the program nor a
determination that all measures covered by the program are eligible for
grant-in-aid funding from the FAA. Where Federal funding is sought,
requests for project grants must be submitted to the FAA Airports
District Office in Seattle, Washington.
Snohomish County Airport submitted to the FAA the noise exposure
maps, descriptions, and other documentation produced during the noise
compatibility planning study conducted at Snohomish County Airport. The
Snohomish County Airport noise exposure maps were determined by FAA to
be in compliance with applicable requirements on April 5, 1996. Notice
of this determination was published in the Federal Register on April
15, 1996.
The Snohomish County Airport noise compatibility program contains a
proposed noise compatibility program comprised of actions designed for
phased implementation by airport management and adjacent jurisdictions
from the date of study completion to the year 2000. It was requested
that the FAA evaluate and approve this material as a noise
compatibility program as described in Section 104(b) of the Act. The
FAA began its review of the program on April 5, 1996, and was required
by a provision of the Act of approve or disapprove the program within
180 days (other than the use of new flight procedures for noise
control). Failure to approve or disapprove such program within the 180-
day period shall be deemed to be an approval of such program.
The submitted program contained 7 proposed actions for noise
mitigation on and off the airport. The FAA completed its review and
determined that the procedural and substantive requirements of the Act
and FAR 150 have been satisfied. The overall program, therefore, was
approved by the Associate Administrator for Airports effective October
2, 1996. Outright approval was granted for all program elements.
These determinations are set forth in detail in a Record of
Approval endorsed by the Associate Administrator for Airports on
October 2, 1996. The Record of Approval, as well as other evaluation
materials and the documents comprising the submittal, are available for
review at the FAA office listed above and at the administrative offices
of the Snohomish County Airport.
Issued in Renton, Washington on October 17, 1996.
Lowell H. Johnson,
Manager, Airports Division, Northwest Mountain Region.
[FR Doc. 96-28664 Filed 11-6-96; 8:45 am]
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