[Federal Register: August 30, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 168)]
[Notices]
[Page 50155-50157]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30au07-71]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Noise Exposure Map Notice; Alexandria International Airport,
Alexandria, LA
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 England
Economic and Industrial Developmental District under the provisions of
49 U.S.C. (the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, hereinafter
referred to as ``the Act'') and 14 CFR part 150. These findings are
made in recognition of the description of Federal and nonfederal
responsibilities in Senate Report No. 96-52 (1980). On January 26,
2006, the FAA determined that the noise exposure maps submitted by
England Economic and Industrial Development District under part 150
[[Page 50156]]
were in compliance with applicable requirements. On August 14, 2007,
the FAA approved the Alexandria International Airport noise
compatibility program. All eight of the recommendations of the program
were approved in full. The England Economic and Industrial Development
District has also requested under FAR Part 150, section 150.35(f), that
FAA determine that the revised noise exposure map for the year 2010
submitted with the noise compatibility program and showing future noise
contours as a result of the implementation of the noise compatibility
program is in compliance with applicable requirements of Federal
Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 150. The FAA announces its
determination that the revised future noise exposure map for Alexandria
International Airport, submitted with the noise compatibility program,
is in compliance with applicable requirements of FAR Part 150 effective
August 22, 2007. The documentation that constitutes the ``noise
exposure map'' as defined in section 150.7 of Part 150 includes: Figure
2.1, Existing Land Use Map; Figure 3.2, Existing Airport Layout; Figure
4.1, Aviation Activity Forecast; Figure 4.2, Future Airport Layout;
Figure 4.3, 2010 Future Condition North Flow Flight Tracks; Figure 4.4,
2010 Future Condition South Flow Flight Tacks; Table 3.2, Flight Track
Utilization Rates; Table 4.1, 2010 Runway and Helipad Utilization
Rates; Table 4.2, 2010 Flight Track Utilization Rates; Appendix A,
Aviation Activity Forecast; Appendix B, Integrated Noise Model Inputs;
Table 7.1, Alternative 1 Noise Exposure Estimates; Figure 7.1, RAD14
and RAD14X Departure Tracks; Figure 7.2, Alternative 1 Noise Contours;
Table 7.2, Alternative 2 Noise Exposure Estimates; Figure 7.5, Runway
32 Arrival Tracks; Figure 7.6, Alternative 2 Noise Contours; Table 7.4,
Summary of Noise Exposure Estimates; and Figure 7.9, 2010 Future
Condition Noise Exposure Map with Program Implementation. The FAA has
determined that this noise exposure map and accompanying documentation
are in compliance with applicable requirements.
DATES: Effective Date: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the
Alexandria International Airport noise compatibility program is August
14, 2007. The effective date of the FAA's determination on the revised
noise exposure maps is August 22, 2007.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Tim Tandy, Federal Aviation
Administration, ASW-640, Fort Worth, TX 76193-0640 at (817) 222-5644.
Documents reflecting this FAA action may be reviewed at this same
location.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This noise announces that the FAA has given
its overall approval to the noise compatibility program for Alexandria
International Airport, effective August 14, 2007, and that the revised
noise exposure map for the year 2010 for this same airport is
determined to be in compliance with applicable requirements of FAR Part
150.
A. Under section 47504 of 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 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 FAR Part 150 and
the Act and is limited to the following determinations:
1. The noise compatibility program was developed in accordance with
the provisions and procedures of FAR Part 150;
2. 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;
3. 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
4. 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 regional office in Fort Worth, Texas.
England Economic and Industrial Development District submitted to
the FAA on January 31, 2007, the noise exposure maps, descriptions, and
other documentation produced during the noise compatibility planning
study conducted from 2001 through 2007. The Alexandria International
Airport noise exposure maps were determined by FAA to be in compliance
with applicable requirements on January 26, 2006. Notice of this
determination was published in the Federal Register on April 13, 2007.
The Alexandria International Airport study contains a proposed
noise compatibility program comprised of actions designed for phased
implementation by airport management and adjacent jurisdictions from
2008 to the year 2015. It was requested that the FAA evaluate and
approve this material as a noise compatibility program as described in
section 47504 of the Act. The FAA began its review of the program on
April 9, 2007, and was required by a provision of the Act to approve or
disapprove the program within 180 days (other than the use of new or
modified 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 eight 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 FAA effective August 14, 2007.
[[Page 50157]]
Outright approval was granted for all eight of the specific program
elements, which are summarized as follows: Program Recommendation (1),
whereby military aircraft departing from Runway 14 would voluntarily
use departure track RAD14X, instead of RAD14; Program Recommendation
(2), whereby military aircraft arriving to Runway 32 would voluntarily
use arrival track A32B, instead of VOR32; Program Recommendation (3),
involving the opportunity within the Primary Area for fee simple
acquisition and relocation assistance regarding eligible properties
(eligible vacant residential properties are limited to those considered
infill among established residential areas); Program Recommendation
(4), involving the opportunity within the Primary Area for avigation
easement acquisition regarding eligible properties whose owners decline
to participate in the fee simple acquisition program; Program
Recommendation (5), involving the opportunity within the Primary Area
for acoustical treatment of eligible properties whose owners decline to
participate in the fee simple acquisition and relocation program or the
avigation easement acquisition program (acquisition of an avigation
easement or similar interest is recommended by FAA as a condition of
participation in this measure); Program Recommendation (6), involving
the airport sponsor's management of acquired property and preparation
of a redevelopment plan; Program Recommendation (7), involving the
opportunity within the Secondary Area for acquisition of avigation
easements for all eligible residential, infill vacant residential
properties, and one church; and Program Recommendation (8), involving
the opportunity within the Secondary Area for acoustical treatment of
all single-family residential properties and one church.
These determinations are set forth in detail in a Record of
Approval signed by the FAA Southwest Region, Airports Division Manager
on August 14, 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 the England Economic and Industrial Development District. The Record
of Approval also will be available on-line at http://www.faa.gov/arp/environmental/14cfr150/index14.cfm
.
The FAA also has completed its review of the revised noise exposure
maps and related descriptions submitted by England Economic and
Industrial Development District. The specific map under consideration
is Figure 7.9 in the submission. The FAA has determined that this map
for Alexandria International Airport is in compliance with applicable
requirements. This determination is effective on August 22, 2007. 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.
If questions arise concerning the precise relationship of specific
properties to noise exposure contours depicted on a noise exposure map
submitted under section 47503 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 47506 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 FAR 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 that submitted those maps,
or with those public agencies and planning agencies with which
consultation is required under section 47503 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.
Copies of the noise exposure maps and of the FAA's evaluation of
the maps, and copies of the record of approval and other evaluation
materials and documents which comprised the submittal to the FAA are
available for examination at the following locations:
Federal Aviation Administration, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort
Worth, Texas; England Economic and Industrial Development District,
1611 Arnold Drive, Alexandria, Louisiana. Questions on either of these
FAA determinations may be directed to the individual named above under
the heading FOR FURTHER INFORAMTION CONTACT.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, August 22, 2007.
D. Cameron Bryan,
Acting Manager, Airports Division.
[FR Doc. 07-4245 Filed 8-29-07; 8:45 am]
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