[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 189 (Thursday, September 30, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58589-58590]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-21868]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice: Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review

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 Jackson 
Municipal Airport Authority for Jackson 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 that was submitted for Jackson 
International Airport under Part 150 in conjunction with the noise 
exposure map, and that this program will be approved or

[[Page 58590]]

disapproved on or before March 19, 2005.

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 September 21, 2004. The public comment period 
ends November 19, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristi Ashley, Jackson Airports 
District Office, 100 West Cross Street, Suite B, Jackson, MS 39208-
2307, Telephone (601) 664-9891. 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 Jackson International 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, 
effective September 21, 2004. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed 
noise compatibility program for that airport which will be approved or 
disapproved on or before March 19, 2005. This notice also announces the 
availability of this program for public review and comment.
    Under 49 U.S.C., section 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 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, government 
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 the Act, 
may submit a noise compatibility program for FAA approval which sets 
forth the measures the operator has taken or proposes to take to reduce 
existing non-compatible uses and prevent the introduction of additional 
non-compatible uses.
    Jackson Municipal Airport Authority submitted to the FAA on January 
12, 2004 noise exposure maps, descriptions, and other documentation 
that were produced during the Part 150 Noise Study in October 2003. 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 Jackson Municipal Airport Authority. 
The specific documentation determined to constitute the noise exposure 
maps includes: current and forecast NEM graphics, plus all other 
narrative, graphic, or tabular representations of the data required by 
section A150.101 of Part 150, and sections 47503 and 47506 of the Act, 
more specifically considered by FAA to be Chapters 1 through 5 of the 
Airport Noise Compatibility Study Update submitted to FAA on January 
12, 2004. The FAA has determined that these maps for Jackson 
International Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements. 
This determination is effective on September 21, 2004. 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 constitute 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 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 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 Jackson International Airport, also effective 
on September 21, 2004. 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 March 19, 2005.
    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 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. 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: Jackson Airports District Office, 
100 West Cross Street, Suite B, Jackson, MS 39208-2307.
    Jackson Municipal Airport Authority: 100 International Drive, Suite 
300, Jackson, MS 39208-2394; Post Office Box 98109, Jackson, MS 39292-
8109.
    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Jackson, MS, September 21, 2004.
Rans D. Black,
Manager, Jackson Airports District Office.

    (Note 1) March 19, 2005--This date will be 180 days from the 
date of signature of this Federal Register Notice.
    (Note 2) September 21, 2004--Date of signature of this Federal 
Register Notice.

[FR Doc. 04-21868 Filed 9-29-04; 8:45 am]
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