E8-13542. Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program and Request for Review; McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, NV

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces that it is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program that was submitted for McCarran International Airport (LAS) under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47504 et seq. (the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, hereinafter referred to as “the Act”) and 14 CFR Part 150 by Clark County, Nevada. This program was submitted subsequent to a determination by FAA that associated noise exposure maps submitted under 14 CFR Part 150 for LAS were in compliance with applicable requirements, effective July 10, 2007 (72 FR 40357). The proposed noise compatibility program will be approved or disapproved on or before December 6, 2008.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

The effective date of the start of FAA's review of the noise compatibility program is June 9, 2008. The public comment period ends August 8, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

David B. Kessler, AICP, Regional Environmental Protection Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, Western Pacific Region, P.O. Box 92007, Los Angeles, CA 90009-2007, 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 LAS, which will be approved or disapproved on or before December 6, 2008. 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 FAA to be in compliance with the requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 150, promulgated pursuant to the Act, may submit a noise compatibility program for FAA approval which sets forth the measures the operator has taken or proposes to reduce existing non-compatible uses and prevent the introduction of additional non-compatible uses.

The FAA has formally received the noise compatibility program for LAS, effective on June 9, 2008. The airport operator has 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 47504 of the Act. Preliminary review of the submitted material indicates that it conforms to FAR Part 150 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 December 6, 2008.

The FAA's detailed evaluation will be conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 150, section 150.33. The primary considerations in the evaluation process are whether the proposed measures may reduce the level of aviation safety or create an undue burden on interstate or foreign commerce, and whether they 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 relating to these factors, 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 and the proposed noise compatibility program are available for examination at the following locations:

Federal Aviation Administration, National Headquarters, Planning and Environmental Division, APP-400, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 615E, Washington, DC 20591;

Federal Aviation Administration, Western-Pacific Region Office, Airports Division, Room 3012, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Hawthorne, California 90261;

Federal Aviation Administration, Western Pacific Region, San Francisco Airports District Office, 831 Mitten Road, Suite 210, Burlingame, California 94010;

Randall H. Walker, Director of Aviation, Clark County Department of Aviation, P.O. Box 11005, Las Vegas, Nevada 89111-1005.

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

Issued in Hawthorne, California on June 9, 2008.

Winsome A. Lenfert,

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