[Federal Register: February 26, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 37)]
[Notices]
[Page 8412-8413]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26fe07-130]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Noise-Exposure Map Notice: Receipt of Noise-Compatibility Program
and Request for Review for Great Falls International Airport, Great
Falls, MT
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its
determination that the noise-exposure maps (NEM) submitted by the
Director of Aviation for Great Falls International Airport under the
provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et seq. (Aviation Safety and Noise
Abatement Act) and 14 CFR Part 150, are in compliance with applicable
requirements. The FAA also announces that it is reviewing a proposed
noise-compatibility program, submitted for Great Falls International
Airport under Part 150, in conjunction with the noise-exposure map.
This program will be approved or disapproved on or before August 9,
2007.
DATES: Effective Dates: The effective data of the FAA's determination
on the noise-exposure maps and of the start of its review of the
associated noise-compatibility program is February 13, 2007. The public
comment period ends April 13, 2007.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Gates, Federal Aviation
Administration, Helena Airports District Office, 2725 Skyway Drive,
Suite 2, Helena MT 59602, telephone 406-449-5271. Comments on the
proposed noise-compatibility program also should be submitted to the
above office.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces the FAA's finding that
the noise-exposure maps submitted for Great Falls International Airport
are in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, effective
February 13, 2007. Further, the FAA is reviewing that airport's
proposed noise-compatibility program, which will be approved or
disapproved on or before August 13, 2007. This notice also announces
the availability of this program for public review and comment.
Under 49 U.S.C., 47503 (the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement
Act, hereinafter referred to as ``the Act''), an airport operator may
submit to the FAA noise-exposure maps that meet applicable regulations
and 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, 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 the Act,
may submit to the FAA for approval a noise-compatibility program that
sets forth measures the operator has taken or proposes to take to
reduce existing non-compatible uses and prevent the introduction of
additional non-compatible uses.
The Director of Aviation for the Great Falls International Airport
submitted to the FAA on February 2, 2007, noise-exposure maps,
descriptions and other documentation, produced during the Great Falls
International Airport FAR Part 150 Study, dated September 2006. It was
requested that the FAA review this material as the noise-exposure maps,
as described in section 47503 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
47504 of the Act.
The FAA has completed its review of the noise-exposure maps and
related descriptions submitted by the Director of Aviation for the
Great Falls International Airport. The specific documentation
determined to constitute the noise-exposure maps includes the following
from the Great Falls International Airport Part 150 Noise-compatibility
Study Update:
Supplemental Chapter (pages xxi-xxv) describes updates to
Forecasts of Aviation Activity.
B Section describes prior forecasts of Aviation Activity.
Section C describes the input data used to develop the
existing and future contours.
Section D describes Land Use Analysis.
Section F describes the noise abatement alternative
evaluation.
Page F.16 includes revisions to Land Use and Noise Contour
Map Analysis.
Figure F.7, page F.19--Existing (2005) Existing Noise-
exposure Map.
Figure G-1, page G.3--Future (2016) Noise-exposure Map.
Section G summarizes Actions and Recommendations.
Section H--Public and Airport User Consultation Summary.
Appendix 2--Public Hearing Comments and Responses.
Appendix 5--Comments Outside the Public Hearing Comment
Period.
The FAA has determined that these maps for Great Falls
International Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements.
This determination is effective on February 13, 2007. The 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
[[Page 8413]]
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 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 Part 150 or through the 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.
The FAA has formally received the noise-compatibility program for
Great Falls International Airport, also effective on February 13, 2007.
Preliminary review of the submitted material indicates that it conforms
to the requirements for the submittal of noise-compatibility programs,
but requires further review 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 August 13, 2007.
The FAA's detailed evaluation will be conducted under the
provisions of 14 CFR Part 150, Sec. 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 preventing the
introduction of additional non-compatible land uses.
Interested persons are invited to comment on the proposed program
with specific reference to these factors. The FAA will consider, to the
extent practicable, all comments, other than those properly addressed
to local land-use authorities. 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, Airports Division, 1601 Lind Avenue,
SW.; Suite 315, Renton, Washington 98057-3356.
Federal Aviation Administration, Helena Airports District Office, 2725
Skyway Drive, Suite 2, Helena, MT 59602.
Great Falls International Airport, 2800 Terminal Drive, Great Falls, MT
59404.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 13, 2007.
Donna P. Taylor,
Manager, Airports Division, Northwest Mountain Region.
[FR Doc. 07-861 Filed 2-23-07; 8:45 am]
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