[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 92 (Wednesday, May 13, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26673-26674]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-12741]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program
and Request for Review; Amarillo International Airport, Amarillo, TX
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its
determination that the noise exposure maps submitted by the City of
Amarillo for Amarillo International Airport 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. The
FAA also announces that it is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility
program that was submitted for the City of Amarillo under Part 150 in
conjunction with the noise exposure maps and that this program will be
approved or disapproved on or before October 27, 1998.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's determination on the
noise exposure maps and the start of its review of the associated noise
compatibility program is April 30, 1998. The public comment period ends
June 29, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Linda F. Stoltz, Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation
Administration, Fort Worth Texas, 76193-0650, (817) 222-5608. Comments
on the proposed noise compatibility program should also be submitted to
the above office.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds
that the noise exposure maps submitted for the City of Amarillo are in
compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, effective April
30, 1998. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility
program for that airport which will be approved or disapproved on or
before October 27, 1998. This notice also announces the availability of
this program for public review and comment.
Under Title 49, an airport operator may submit to the FAA noise
exposure maps which meet applicable regulations and which depict
noncompatible 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 noncompatible uses and for the prevention of the
introduction of additional noncompatible uses.
The City of Amarillo submitted to the FAA on December 16, 1997,
noise exposure maps, descriptions and other documentation which were
produced during the Amarillo International Airport FAR Part 150 Update.
It was requested that the FAA review this material as the noise
exposure maps, as described in Title 49, and that the noise mitigation
measures, to be implemented jointly by the airport and surrounding
communities, be approved as a noise compatibility program under Title
49.
The FAA has completed its review of the noise exposure maps and
related descriptions submitted by the City of Amarillo. The specific
maps under consideration are the Existing Noise Exposure Map, 1995,
page C.36, and Future Noise Exposure Map, 2002, page G.4 in the
submission.
The FAA has determined that these maps for Amarillo International
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements. This
determination is effective on April 30, 1998. 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 section 103 of the Act, 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 exposure 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
[[Page 26674]]
agencies with which consultation is required under Title 49. The FAA
has relied on the certification by the airport operator, under
Sec. 150.21 of FAR Part 150, that the statutorily required consultation
has been accomplished.
The FAA has formally received the noise compatibility program for
Amarillo International Airport, also effective on April 30, 1998.
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 October 27, 1998.
The FAA's detailed evaluation will be conducted under the
provisions of 14 CFR Part 150, Sec. 150.33. The primary considerations
in the evaluation process are whether the proposed measures may reduce
the level of aviation safety, create an undue burden on interstate or
foreign commerce, or be reasonably consistent with obtaining the goal
of reducing existing noncompatible land uses and preventing the
introduction of additional noncompatible 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, Airports Division, 2601 Meacham
Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76137
Amarillo International Airport, 10801 Airport Boulevard, Amarillo,
Texas 79111-1211
Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the
heading, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, April 30, 1998.
Edward N. Agnew,
Acting Manager, Airports Division.
[FR Doc. 98-12741 Filed 5-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M
