[Federal Register: March 12, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 47)]
[Notices]
[Page 11077-11078]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12mr07-153]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Danbury Municipal Airport, Danbury, CT; FAA Approval of Noise
Compatibility Program
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
Danbury, CT 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. These
findings are made in recognition of the description of federal and non-
Federal responsibilities in Senate Report No. 96-52 (1980). On
September 9, 2006, the FAA determined that the noise exposure maps
submitted by the City of Danbury under part 150 were in compliance with
applicable requirements. On February 15, 2007, the Airports Division
Manager approved the Danbury Municipal Airport noise compatibility
program. All 3 of the proposed program elements were approved.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the Danbury
Municipal Airport noise compatibility program is February 15, 2007.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Doucette, Federal Aviation
Administration, New England Region, Airports Division, 12 New England
Executive Park, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803, Telephone (781) 238-
7613.
Documents reflecting this FAA action may be obtained from the same
individual.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA has given
its overall approval to the Danbury Municipal Airport, Danbury, CT
noise compatibility program, effective February 15, 2007.
Under Section 104(a) of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act
of 1979 (hereinafter 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 non-compatible
land uses and prevention of additional non-compatible 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 Regulation (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 non-compatible land uses around the airport
and preventing the introduction of additional non-compatible 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
[[Page 11078]]
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 as 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 a 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 under the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of
1982. Where Federal funding is sought, requests for project grants must
be submitted to the FAA Regional Office in Burlington, Massachusetts.
The Danbury Municipal Airport, Danbury, CT submitted to the FAA, on
June 30, 2006 (revised September 6, 2006), noise exposure maps,
descriptions, and other documentation produced during the noise
compatibility planning study conducted from 2002 through 2006. The
Danbury Municipal Airport, Danbury, CT noise exposure maps were
determined by FAA to be in compliance with applicable requirements on
September 9, 2006. Notice of this determination was published in the
Federal Register on September 19, 2006.
The Danbury Municipal Airport, Danbury, CT study contains a
proposed noise compatibility program comprised of actions designed for
implementation by airport management and adjacent jurisdictions from
the date of study completion to beyond the year 2007. The Danbury
Municipal Airport, Danbury, CT 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
September 6, 2006, 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 a program within the 180-day period shall be deemed to
be an approval of such a program.
The submitted program contained 3 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 Airports Division Manager
therefore approved the overall program effective February 15, 2007.
Of the 3 proposed program elements, all were approved. All 3
program elements were administrative in nature. They included a Pilot
Education Program, Community Outreach Efforts, and Future Updates of
Noise Exposure Maps. Various noise abatement and land use measures from
the 1987 NCP were restated in the Record of Approval, so that all
measures now in effect would be documented in the most recent Record of
Approval.
FAA's determination are set forth in detail in a Record of Approval
endorsed by the Airport's Division Manager on February 15, 2007. The
Record of Approval, as well as other evaluation materials and the
documents comprising the submittal, are available for review at the FAA
office listed above and at the administrative offices of Danbury
Municipal Airport, Danbury, CT.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on February 15, 2007.
LaVerne F. Reid,
Manager, Airports Division, FAA New England Region.
[FR Doc. 07-1128 Filed 3-9-07; 8:45 am]
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