[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 74 (Wednesday, April 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19577-19578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-1906]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


FAA Approval of Noise Compatibility Program 14 CFR Part 150; 
Spirit of St. Louis Airport, Chesterfield, MO

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
findings on the noise compatibility program submitted by St. Louis 
County under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. (the Aviation Safety and Noise 
Abatement Act, hereinafter referred to as ``the Act'') and 14 CFR part 
150. These findings are made in recognition of the description of 
Federal and nonfederal responsibilities in Senate Report No. 96-52 
(1980). On December 12, 2006, the FAA determined that the noise 
exposure maps submitted by St. Louis County under Part 150 were in 
compliance with applicable requirements. On April 6, 2007, the FAA 
approved the Spirit of St. Louis Airport noise compatibility program. 
All but one of the recommendations of the program was approved.

DATES: Effective date: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the 
Spirit of St. Louis Airport noise compatibility program is April 6, 
2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Schenkelberg, 901 Locust, Kansas 
City, Missouri, 816-329-2645. Documents reflecting this FAA action may 
be reviewed at this same location.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA has given 
its overall approval to the noise compatibility program for Spirit of 
St. Louis Airport, effective April 6, 2007.
    Under section 47504 of the Act, an airport operator who has 
previously submitted a noise exposure map may submit to the FAA a noise 
compatibility program which sets forth the measures taken or proposed 
by the airport operator for the reduction of existing non-compatible 
land uses and prevention of additional non-compatible land uses within 
the area covered by the noise exposure maps. The Act requires such 
programs to be developed in consultation with interested and affected 
parties including local communities, government agencies, airport 
users, and FAA personnel.
    Each airport noise compatibility program developed in accordance 
with Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 150 is a local program, 
not a Federal program. The FAA does not substitute its judgment for 
that of the airport

[[Page 19578]]

proprietor with respect to which measures should be recommended for 
action. The FAA's approval or disapproval of FAR Part 150 program 
recommendations is measured according to the standards expressed in 
Part 150 and the Act and is limited to the following determinations:
    a. The noise compatibility program was developed in accordance with 
the provisions and procedures of FAR Part 150;
    b. Program measures are reasonably consistent with achieving the 
goals of reducing existing non-compatible land uses around the airport 
and preventing the introduction of additional non-compatible land uses;
    c. Program measures would not create an undue burden on interstate 
or foreign commerce, unjustly discriminate against types of classes of 
aeronautical uses, violate the terms of airport grant agreements, or 
intrude into areas preempted by the Federal Government; and
    d. Program measures relating to the use of flight procedures can be 
implemented within the period covered by the program without derogating 
safety, adversely affecting the efficient use and management of the 
navigable airspace and air traffic control systems, or adversely 
affecting other power and responsibilities of the Administrator 
prescribed by law.
    Specific limitations with respect to FAA's approval of an airport 
noise compatibility program are delineated in FAR Part 150, section 
150.5. Approval is not a determination concerning the acceptability of 
land uses under Federal, state, or local law. Approval does not by 
itself constitute an FAA implementing action. A request for Federal 
action or approval to implement specific noise compatibility measures 
may be required, and an FAA decision on the request may require an 
environmental assessment of the proposed action. Approval does not 
constitute a commitment by the FAA to financially assist in the 
implementation of the program nor a determination that all measures 
covered by the program are eligible for grant-in-aid funding from the 
FAA. Where federal funding is sought, requests for project grants must 
be submitted to the FAA Regional Office in Kansas City, Missouri.
    St. Louis County submitted to the FAA on November 2, 2006, the 
noise exposure maps, descriptions, and other documentation produced 
during the noise compatibility planning study conducted from 2002 
through 2006. The Spirit of St. Louis Airport noise exposure maps were 
determined by FAA to be in compliance with applicable requirements on 
December 12, 2006. Notice of this determination was published in the 
Federal Register, Vol. 71, No. 242, on December 18, 2006.
    The Spirit of St. Louis Airport study contains a proposed noise 
compatibility program comprised of actions designed for phased 
implementation by airport management and adjacent jurisdictions from 
2006 to the year 2011. It was requested that the FAA evaluate and 
approve this material as a noise compatibility program as described in 
section 47504 of the Act. The FAA began its review of the program on 
December 12, 2006, and was required by a provision of the Act to 
approve or disapprove the program within 180 days (other than the use 
of new or modified flight procedures for noise control). Failure to 
approve or disapprove such program within the 180-day period shall be 
deemed to be an approval of such program.
    The submitted program contained thirteen proposed actions for noise 
mitigation on and off the airport. The FAA completed its review and 
determined that the procedural and substantive requirements of the Act 
and FAR Part 150 have been satisfied. The overall program, therefore, 
was approved by the FAA effective April 6, 2007.
    Outright approval was granted for twelve of the specific program 
elements. The extension of the north runway was disapproved for lack of 
noise benefit to noncompatible land uses exposed to noise levels of DNL 
65 dBA.
    These determinations are set forth in detail in a Record of 
Approval signed by the Central Region Airports Division Manager on 
April 6, 2007. The Record of Approval, as well as other evaluation 
materials and the documents comprising the submittal, are available for 
review at the FAA office listed above and at the administrative offices 
of St. Louis County. The Record of Approval also will be available on-
line at http://www.faa.gov/arp/environmental/14cfr150/index14.cfm.

    Issued in Central Region April 10, 2007.
George A. Hendon,
Central Region Airports Division Manager.
[FR Doc. 07-1906 Filed 4-17-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M