[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 5, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 547-548]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-155]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review; Providence-T.F. Green Airport, Warwick, RI

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
determination that the noise exposure map for Providence-T.F. Green 
Airport, as submitted by the Rhode Island Airport Corporation 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, is in compliance with 
applicable requirements. The FAA also announces that it is reviewing a 
proposed noise compatibility program that was submitted for Providence-
T.F. Green Airport under part 150 in conjunction with the noise 
exposure map, and that this program will be approved or disapproved on 
or before June 19, 2000.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's determination on the 
noise exposure map and of the start of its review of the associated 
noise compatibility program is December 22, 1999. The public comment 
period ends on March 7, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John C. Silva, Federal Aviation 
Administration, New England Region, Airports Division, ANE-600, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, Massachusetts 10803.
    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 map submitted for Providence-T.F. Green Airport 
is in compliance with applicable requirements of part 150, effective 
December 22, 1999. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise 
compatibility program for that airport which will be approved or 
disapproved on or before June 19, 2000. This notice also announces the 
availability of this 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 a noise exposure map which meets 
applicable regulations and which depicts non compatible land uses as of 
the date of submission of such map, a description of projected aircraft 
operations, and the ways in which such operations will affect such map. 
The Act requires such map 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 a noise exposure map that is found by FAA to be in compliance 
with the requirements of Federal Aviation Regulation (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 introduction of additional 
non-compatible uses.
    The Rhode Island Airport Corporation submitted to the FAA, on 
November 4, 1999, a noise exposure map, descriptions, and other 
documentation which were produced during the Airport Noise 
Compatibility Planning (Part 150) study at Providence-T.F. Green 
Airport from March 1998 to November 1999. It was requested that the FAA 
review this material as the noise exposure map, 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 map and 
related descriptions submitted by Rhode Island Airport Corporation. The 
specific maps under consideration were Exhibits 1-1, ``1998 Existing 
NEM,'' and Exhibit 1-3, ``2003 NCP/NEM'', along with the supporting 
documentation in ``FAR Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study Update.'' The 
FAA has determined that the maps for Providence-T.F. Green Airport are 
in compliance with applicable requirements. This determination is 
effective on December 22, 1999.
    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 map 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 a noise exposure map. 
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 the map, 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 
Providence-T.F. Green Airport, also effective on December 22, 1999. 
Preliminary review of the submitted material indicates that it conforms 
to the requirements for the submittal of noise

[[Page 548]]

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 
June 19, 2000. 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 map, the FAA's evaluation of the map, and the proposed noise 
compatibility program are available for examination at the following 
locations:

Rhode Island Airport Corporation, T.F. Green Airport, 2000 Post Road, 
Warwick, Rhode Island 02886-1533
Federal Aviation Administration, New England Region, Airports Division, 
ANE-600, 16 New England Executive Park, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803

    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts on December 22, 1999.
Bradley A. Davis,
Acting Manager, Airports Division.
[FR Doc. 00-155 Filed 1-4-00; 8:45 am]
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