[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 5, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35097-35098]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-16441]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Approval of Noise Compatibility Program, Laredo International
Airport, Laredo, TX
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 city of
Laredo, TX, under the provisions of Title I of the Aviation Safety and
Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (Public Law 96-193) and 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
18, 1994, the FAA determined that the noise exposure maps submitted by
the city of Laredo under Part 150 were in compliance with applicable
requirements. On October 14, 1994, the Administrator approved the
[[Page 35098]]
noise compatibility program. Most of the recommendations of the program
were approved.
EFFECTIVE DATES: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the Laredo
International Airport noise compatibility program is October 14, 1994.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Guillermo Y. Villalobos, Department of
Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, 2601 Meacham
Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76193-0650, (817) 222-5657. 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 the Laredo
International Airport, effective October 19, 1994.
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 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 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 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 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 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 Division Office in Forth Worth, TX.
The city of Laredo submitted to the FAA on April 18, 1994, the
noise exposure maps, descriptions, and other documentation produced
during the noise compatibility planning study conducted from April 16,
1992, through April 18, 1994. The Laredo International Airport noise
exposure maps were determined by FAA to be in compliance with
applicable requirements on April 18, 1994. Notice of this determination
was published in the Federal Register on April 29, 1994.
The Laredo International Airport noise compatibility study 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 1997.
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 18, 1994, 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 to be an approval of such program.
The submitted program contained 9 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. The overall program, therefore,
was approved by the Administrator effective October 14, 1994.
Outright approval was granted for 8 of the 9 specific program
elements.
Operational element No. 1 was approved in part. Extension of Runway
17L 2,000 feet to the north and reconstruction of Runway 17L/35R are
disapproved for purposes of Part 150. These improvements are more
related to capacity than to noise.
Operational element No. 3 is approved in part for the same reason
stated in the above paragraph as it relates to the extension and
reconstruction of Runway 14/32.
Operational element No. 5 is disapproved pending submission of
additional information.
Land use management element No. 1, (d) is approved in part pending
a showing that at the time of implementation the property is within the
DNL 75 contour, and, to a determination that the property is in danger
of being developed incompatibly unless it is acquired by the airport
operator. Portions of this undeveloped land to be acquired in
connection with proposed runway improvements are disapproved for
purposes of Part 150 and would be expected to be acquired as part of an
airport development project rather than for noise mitigation.
These determinations are set forth in detail in a Record of
Approval endorsed by the Administrator on October 14, 1994. The Record
of Approval, as well as other evaluation materials and the documents
comprising the submittal, are available at the FAA office listed above
and at the administrative offices of the Federal Aviation
Administration, Community and Environmental Needs Development, APP-600,
800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 27, 1995.
Otis T. Welch,
Manager, Texas Airport Development Branch.
[FR Doc. 95-16441 Filed 7-3-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M
