[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 125 (Wednesday, June 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39978-39979]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-16340]


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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.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
determination that the noise exposure maps submitted by the City and 
Borough of Juneau, Alaska for the Juneau International Airport under 
the provisions of Title I of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement 
Act of 1979 (Public Law 96-193) 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 
the Juneau International Airport under Part 150 in conjunction with the 
noise exposure map, and that this program will be approved or 
disapproved on or before December 13, 2000.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  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 June 16, 2000. The public comment period 
ends August 15, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  James W. Lomen, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Airports Division, 222 West 7th Ave., Box 14, 
Anchorage, Alaska 99513, (907) 271-5816.
    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 the Juneau International 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, 
effective June 16, 2000. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise 
compatibility program for that airport which will be approved or 
disapproved on or before December 13, 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 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 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 reduction of existing non-compatible uses and for the prevention of 
the introduction of additional non-compatible uses.
    The City and Borough of Juneau submitted to the FAA on July 8, 1999 
noise exposure maps, descriptions and other documentation which were 
produced during the 1999 Noise Compatibility Program for the Juneau 
International Airport FAR Part 150 Update. It was requested that the 
FAA review this material as the noise exposure maps, 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 maps and 
related descriptions submitted by the City and Borough of Juneau. The 
specific maps under consideration are Existing (1999) Noise Exposure 
Maps, figure 8.2 and the Five-Year Future (2004) Noise Exposure Map, 
Figure 8.3 in the submission. The FAA has determined that these maps 
for the Juneau International Airport are in compliance with applicable 
requirements. This determination is effective on June 16, 2000. 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 105. Such determination 
does not constitute approval of the applicant's data, information or 
plans, or a commitment to approve a noise

[[Page 39979]]

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 maps 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 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 which submitted those maps, 
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 
the Juneau International Airport, also effective on June 16, 2000. 
Preliminary review of the submitted material indicates that it conforms 
to the requirements for the submittal of noise compatibility programs, 
but the 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 December 13, 
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 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, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 
617, Washington, DC 20591
Federal Aviation Administration, Alaskan Region, Airports Division, 
AAL-600, 222 West 7th Ave., Box 14, Anchorage, Alaska 99513
Juneau International Airport, Attn.: Allen Heese, Manager, 1873 Shell 
Simmons Drive, Juneau, Alaska 99801.

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

    Issued in Anchorage, Alaska on June 16, 2000.
Ronnie V. Simpson,
Airports Division, AAL-600, Alaskan Region.
[FR Doc. 00-16340 Filed 6-27-00; 8:45 am]
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