[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 242 (Monday, December 18, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75802-75803]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-9752]


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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 Saint Louis 
County for Spirit of St. Louis 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 Spirit of St. Louis Airport under Part 
150 in conjunction with the noise exposure map, and that this program 
will be approved or disapproved on or before June 10, 2007

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 December 12, 2006. The public comment period 
ends February 10, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark H. Schenkelberg, 901 Locust, 
Kansas City, MO 64106, 816-329-2645. 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 Spirit of St. Louis Airport 
are in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, effective 
December 12, 2006. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise 
compatibility program for that airport which will be approved or 
disapproved on or before June 10, 2007. 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.
    St. Louis County submitted to the FAA on November 6, 2006, noise 
exposure maps, descriptions and other documentation that were produced 
during the FAR Part 150 Airport Noise Compatibility Study. 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 St. Louis County. The specific 
documentation determined to constitute the noise exposure maps 
includes:
    1. Existing Noise Exposure Map (2001).
    2. Future Noise Exposure Map (2009).
    The FAA has determined that these maps for Spirit of St. Louis 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements. This 
determination is effective on December 12, 2006. FAA's

[[Page 75803]]

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 responsibilies 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 
Spirit of St. Louis Airport, also effective on December 12, 2006. 
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 June 10, 2007.
    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, Central Region Airports Division, 901 
Locust, Kansas City, MO 64106
Richard E. Hrabko, Director of Aviation, Spirit of St. Louis, 18270 
Edison Avenue, Chesterfield, MO 63005

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

    Dated: Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, December 12, 2006.
George A. Hendon,
Manager, Central Region Airports Division.
[FR Doc. 06-9752 Filed 12-15-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M