[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 159 (Thursday, August 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-20301]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: August 18, 1994]
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SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program
and Request for Review; Little Rock Regional Airport, Little Rock, AR
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 Little Rock
Airport Commission for Little Rock Regional 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 are in compliance with
applicable requirements. The FAA also announces that it is reviewing a
proposed noise compatibility program that was submitted for Little Rock
Regional Airport under Part 150 in conjunction with the noise exposure
maps and that this program will be approved or disapproved on or before
February 7, 1995.
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 August 11, 1994. The public comment period
ends October 9, 1994.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Hess, Department of
Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Fort Worth, Texas,
76193-0630, (817) 222-5634. 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 Little Rock Regional Airport
are in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, effective
August 11, 1994. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise
compatibility program for that airport which will be approved or
disapproved on or before February 7, 1995. This notice also announces
the availability of this program for public review and comment.
Under section 103 of Title I of the Aviation Safety and Noise
Abatement Act of 1979 (hereinafter referred to as ``the Act''), 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. The Act 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 I of
the Act, may submit a noise compatibility program for FAA approval
which sets forth the measures the operator has taken or proposed for
the reduction of existing noncompatible uses and for the prevention of
the introduction of additional noncompatible uses.
The Little Rock Airport Commission submitted to the FAA on November
10, 1993, noise exposure maps, descriptions and other documentation
which were produced during development of the Little Rock Regional
Airport F.A.R. Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study. It was requested
that the FAA review this material as the noise exposure maps, as
described in section 103(a)(1) of the Act, 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 104(b) of the Act.
The FAA has completed its review of the noise exposure maps and
related descriptions submitted by the Little Rock Airport Commission.
The specific maps under consideration are Exhibit 1, 1993 Noise
Exposure Map, and Exhibit 2, 1998 Noise Exposure Map in the submission.
The FAA has determined that these maps for Little Rock Regional
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements. This
determination is effective on August 10, 1994. 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
section 107 of the Act. 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 agencies with which
consultation is required under section 103 of the Act. The FAA has
relied on the certification by the airport operator, under section
150.21 of FAR Part 150, that the statutorily required consultation has
been accomplished.
The FAA has formally received the noise compatibility program for
Little Rock Regional Airport, also effective on August 11, 1994.
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 February 7, 1995.
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, 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, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Airports
Division, ASW-630, Fort Worth, Texas 76137-4298
Little Rock Regional Airport, #1 Airport Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas
72202-4489
Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the
heading, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, August 11, 1994.
Faye S. Nedderman,
Manager, Arkansas/Louisiana, Airport Development Office.
[FR Doc. 94-20301 Filed 8-17-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M
