[Federal Register: January 31, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 20)]
[Notices]
[Page 5101-5102]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31ja06-86]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program
and Request for Review for Harrisburg International Airport,
Middletown, PA
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 Susquehanna
Area Regional Airport Authority for the Harrisburg International
Airport under the provisions of Title I of the Aviation Safety and
Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (Pub. L. 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 the Harrisburg International Airport under part 150 in conjunction
with the noise exposure map, and that this program will be approved or
disapproved on or before July 12, 2006.
DATES: The effective date of the FAA's determination on the noise
exposure maps and of the start of its review of the associated noise
compatibility program is January 13, 2006. The public comment period
ends March 14, 2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward S. Gabsewics, CEP,
Environmental Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, Harrisburg
Airports District Office, 3905 Hartzdale Drive, Suite 508, Camp Hill,
PA 17011, Telephone 717-730-2832. 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 Harrisburg International
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of part 150,
effective January 13, 2006. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise
compatibility program for that airport which will be approved or
disapproved on or before July 12, 2006. This notice also announces the
availability of this proposed noise compatibility 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 non-compatible 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,
governmental agencies, and persons using the Airport.
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 Title I of
the Act, 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 non-compatible uses and for the prevention of
the introduction of additional non-compatible uses.
The Susquehanna Area Regional Authority submitted to the FAA on
December 16, 2005 noise exposure maps, descriptions and other
documentation which were produced during the development of the Final
Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study dated May 2005 and the Addendum 1 to
that study dated December 2005. 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 Susquehanna Area Regional Airport
Authority. The specific maps under consideration are the Existing
(2004) Noise Exposure Map (NEM) for the existing conditions and the
Future (2010) NEM with Noise Compatibility Program (NCP)
Implementation. The FAA has determined that these maps for the
Harrisburg International Airport are in compliance with applicable
requirements. This determination is effective on January 13, 2006.
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
the Harrisburg International Airport, also effective January 13, 2006.
Preliminary review of the submitted material indicates that it conforms
to the requirements for the submittal or 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 July 12, 2006.
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 non-compatible land uses
and
[[Page 5102]]
preventing the introduction of additional non-compatible land use.
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 for the Harrisburg International Airport are
available for examination at the following locations:
Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority, Harrisburg
International Airport, One Terminal Drive, Suite 300, Middletown, PA
17057.
Federal Aviation Administration, Harrisburg Airports District
Office, 3905 Hartzdale Drive, Suite 508, Camp Hill, PA 17011.
Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the
heading, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Issued in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, January 13, 2006.
Wayne T. Heibeck,
Manager, Harrisburg Airports District Office.
[FR Doc. 06-858 Filed 1-30-06; 8:45 am]
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