[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 134 (Friday, July 13, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38651-38653]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-3406]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Compatibility Program Notice; Shreveport Regional Airport, 
Shreveport, LA

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 the Shreveport 
Regional Airport Authority 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 January 12, 2007 
the

[[Page 38652]]

FAA determined that the noise exposure maps submitted by the Shreveport 
Regional Airport under Part 150 were in compliance with applicable 
requirements. On May 24, 2007, the FAA approved the Shreveport Regional 
Airport noise compatibility program. Four of the six recommendations of 
the program were approved in full, one was approved in part, and one 
was disapproved.

DATES: Effective dates: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the 
Shreveport Regional Airport noise compatibility program is May 24, 
2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Tandy, Federal Aviation 
Administration, ASW-640, Fort Worth, TX 76193-0640 at (817) 222-5644. 
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 Shreveport 
Regional Airport, effective May 24, 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 proprietor with respect to which measures should be 
recommended for action. The FAA's approval or disapproved 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 or 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 powers 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 Fort Worth, Texas.
    The Shreveport Regional Airport Authority submitted to the FAA on 
December 7, 2006 the noise exposure maps, descriptions, and other 
documentation produced during the noise compatibility planning study 
conducted from 2004 through 2006. The Shreveport Regional Airport noise 
exposure maps were determined by FAA to be in compliance with 
applicable requirements on January 12, 2007. Notice of this 
determination was published in the Federal Register on January 22, 
2007.
    The Shreveport Regional Airport study contains a proposed noise 
compatibility program comprised of actions designed for phased 
implementation by airport management and adjacent jurisdictions from 
2007 to beyond the year 2012. 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 
January 12, 2007 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 six 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 May 24, 2007.
    Outright approval was granted for four of the specific program 
elements. Program Recommendation 1, designating a nose heading for all 
aircraft undergoing engine run-up exercises at the Continental Airlines 
Maintenance facility was disapproved, since the analysis neither 
identifies significant noise impacts associated with engine run-ups nor 
indicates that the proposed action would appreciably affect the Yearly 
Day/Night Average Sound (DNL) 65 and greater noise contours. Program 
Recommendation 3, involving acquisition of non-compatible properties 
and vacant lots located east of the airport was approved in part. 
Acquisition of vacant lots north of Hollywood Avenue not directly 
associated with residential properties to be purchased under this NCP 
was disapproved pending further documentation justifying their 
acquisition for improved marketability purposes or prevention of 
imminent noncompatible development. The following program 
recommendations were approved in full: Program Recommendation 2, 
involving soundproofing and/or sales assistance for noncompatible 
properties located north of the airport; Program Recommendation 4, 
involving soundproofing and/or sales assistance for noncompatible 
properties located south of the airport; Program Recommendation 5, 
involving fee simple acquisition of 22 noncompatible properties, and 
soundproofing and sales assistance for other noncompatible properties 
located south of the airport; and Program Recommendation 6, involving 
hiring a consultant to conduct and oversee the continued implementation 
of the non-expenditure land use management measures of the 1992 NCP, 
which form the basis for the current NCP update.
    These determinations are set forth in detail in a Record of 
Approval signed by the FAA Southwest Region Airports Division Manager 
on May 24, 2007. The Record of Approval, as well as other

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evaluation materials and the documents comprising the submittal, are 
available for review at the FAA office listed above and at the 
administrative offices of the Shreveport Regional Airport Authority. 
The Record of Approval also will be available on-line at http://www.faa.gov/arp/environmental/14cfr150/index14.cfm.

    Issued in fort Worth, Texas, July 3, 2007.
Kelvin L. Solco,
Manager, Airports Division.
[FR Doc. 07-3406 Filed 7-12-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M