[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 57 (Friday, March 22, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11937-11939]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-6994]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Approval of Revision No. 1 to the Approved Noise Compatibility
Program for Reno/Tahoe International Airport, Reno, NV
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation (FAA) announces its findings on Revision
No. 1 to the Approved Noise Compatibility Program for the Reno/Tahoe
International Airport, submitted by the Airport Authority of Washoe
County, Nevada, under the provisions of Title I of the Aviation Safety
and Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (Pub. L. 96-193) (hereinafter referred
to as ``the Act'') 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 February 22,
1991, the FAA determined that the Noise Exposure Maps, submitted by the
Airport Authority of Washoe County under 14 CFR Part 150, were in
compliance with applicable requirements. On September 1, 1993, the
Associate Administrator for Airports approved the Noise Compatibility
[[Page 11938]]
Program for Reno/Tahoe International Airport. On December 8, 1995, the
Associate Administrator for Airports approved Revision Number 1 to the
Approved Noise Compatibility Program for Reno/Tahoe International
Airport. The two (2) modifications to existing approved measures and
one additional measure to the approved program were approved.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the Noise
Compatibility Program for Reno/Tahoe International Airport is December
8, 1995.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph R. Rodriguez, Planning/
Programming Section Supervisor, Federal Aviation Administration,
Airports District Office, 831 Mitten Road, Burlingame, California
94010-1303, Telephone (415) 876-2805. 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 Revision No. 1 to the Approved Noise
Compatibility Program for Reno/Tahoe International Airport, effective
December 8, 1995. 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 programs to be developed in consultation
with interested and affected parties including local communities,
government agencies, airport users, and FAA personnel.
Each airport Noise Compatibility Program developed in accordance
with Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 150 is a local program,
not a Federal program. The FAA does not substitute its judgment for
that of the airport sponsor 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 or 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
navigable airspace and air traffic control 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 is not a determination concerning the acceptability of
land uses under Federal, State or local law. Approval does not, by
itself, constitute an FAA implementation 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 under the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982, as amended.
Where Federal funding is sought, requests for project grants must be
submitted to the FAA Airports District Office in Burlingame,
California.
The Airport Authority of Washoe County, Nevada submitted to the FAA
on July 31, 1990, the Noise Exposure Maps, descriptions, and other
documentation produced during the Noise Compatibility Planning study
conducted from July 1983 through July 1990. The Reno/Tahoe
International Airport Noise Exposure Maps were determined by FAA to be
in compliance with applicable requirements on February 22, 1991. Notice
of this determination was published in the Federal Register on March
11, 1991.
The Reno/Tahoe International Airport study contained 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 or beyond, the year 1996. It was
requested that the FAA evaluated 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 March 5, 1993 and was required
by a provision of the Act to approve or disapprove the program within
180 days (other than the use of new flight procedures for noise
control). The Noise Compatibility Program was approved by the FAA on
September 1, 1993. On June 13, 1995, the FAA began its review of
Revision No. 1 to the approved program and was required by a provision
of the Act to 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 an approval of such program.
The submitted revision to the approved program contained three (3)
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 Part 150 have been satisfied. Revision
Number 1 to the Approved Noise Compatibility Program, was therefore
approved by the Associate Administrator for Airports effective December
8, 1995.
Outright approval was granted for the following three (3) specific
revision measures: A. The approved measures included modification of
approved NCP Measure No. 4 to encourage the Nevada Air National Guard
to convert their existing fleet of F-4 aircraft to F-16 or any other
quieter aircraft. B. Modification of approved NCP measure No. 14 to add
to the designated areas the remainder of two neighborhoods and include
the voluntary acquisition of property interests such as navigation
easements, development rights and deed restrictions and purchase
assurance for homeowners within the 65 DNL noise contour, and C.
Addition of a new NCP Measure No. 17 to make eligible for voluntary
acquisition three residential parcels north of the airport within the
65 DNL contour.
This determination is set forth in detail in a Record of Approval
endorsed by the Associate Administrator for Airports on December 8,
1995. 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
Airport Authority of Washoe County, Reno, Nevada.
[[Page 11939]]
Issued in Hawthorne, California on March 13, 1996.
Robert C. Bloom,
Acting Manager, Airports Division, AWP-600, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 96-6994 Filed 3-21-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M
