[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 168 (Thursday, August 30, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50155-50157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-4245]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; Alexandria International Airport, 
Alexandria, 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 England 
Economic and Industrial Developmental District 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 26, 
2006, the FAA determined that the noise exposure maps submitted by 
England Economic and Industrial Development District under part 150

[[Page 50156]]

were in compliance with applicable requirements. On August 14, 2007, 
the FAA approved the Alexandria International Airport noise 
compatibility program. All eight of the recommendations of the program 
were approved in full. The England Economic and Industrial Development 
District has also requested under FAR Part 150, section 150.35(f), that 
FAA determine that the revised noise exposure map for the year 2010 
submitted with the noise compatibility program and showing future noise 
contours as a result of the implementation of the noise compatibility 
program is in compliance with applicable requirements of Federal 
Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 150. The FAA announces its 
determination that the revised future noise exposure map for Alexandria 
International Airport, submitted with the noise compatibility program, 
is in compliance with applicable requirements of FAR Part 150 effective 
August 22, 2007. The documentation that constitutes the ``noise 
exposure map'' as defined in section 150.7 of Part 150 includes: Figure 
2.1, Existing Land Use Map; Figure 3.2, Existing Airport Layout; Figure 
4.1, Aviation Activity Forecast; Figure 4.2, Future Airport Layout; 
Figure 4.3, 2010 Future Condition North Flow Flight Tracks; Figure 4.4, 
2010 Future Condition South Flow Flight Tacks; Table 3.2, Flight Track 
Utilization Rates; Table 4.1, 2010 Runway and Helipad Utilization 
Rates; Table 4.2, 2010 Flight Track Utilization Rates; Appendix A, 
Aviation Activity Forecast; Appendix B, Integrated Noise Model Inputs; 
Table 7.1, Alternative 1 Noise Exposure Estimates; Figure 7.1, RAD14 
and RAD14X Departure Tracks; Figure 7.2, Alternative 1 Noise Contours; 
Table 7.2, Alternative 2 Noise Exposure Estimates; Figure 7.5, Runway 
32 Arrival Tracks; Figure 7.6, Alternative 2 Noise Contours; Table 7.4, 
Summary of Noise Exposure Estimates; and Figure 7.9, 2010 Future 
Condition Noise Exposure Map with Program Implementation. The FAA has 
determined that this noise exposure map and accompanying documentation 
are in compliance with applicable requirements.

DATES: Effective Date: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the 
Alexandria International Airport noise compatibility program is August 
14, 2007. The effective date of the FAA's determination on the revised 
noise exposure maps is August 22, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 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 noise announces that the FAA has given 
its overall approval to the noise compatibility program for Alexandria 
International Airport, effective August 14, 2007, and that the revised 
noise exposure map for the year 2010 for this same airport is 
determined to be in compliance with applicable requirements of FAR Part 
150.
    A. 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 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 disapproval of FAR Part 150 program recommendations 
is measured according to the standards expressed in FAR Part 150 and 
the Act and is limited to the following determinations:
    1. The noise compatibility program was developed in accordance with 
the provisions and procedures of FAR Part 150;
    2. 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;
    3. 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
    4. 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.
    England Economic and Industrial Development District submitted to 
the FAA on January 31, 2007, the noise exposure maps, descriptions, and 
other documentation produced during the noise compatibility planning 
study conducted from 2001 through 2007. The Alexandria International 
Airport noise exposure maps were determined by FAA to be in compliance 
with applicable requirements on January 26, 2006. Notice of this 
determination was published in the Federal Register on April 13, 2007.
    The Alexandria International Airport study contains a proposed 
noise compatibility program comprised of actions designed for phased 
implementation by airport management and adjacent jurisdictions from 
2008 to the year 2015. 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 
April 9, 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 eight 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 August 14, 2007.

[[Page 50157]]

    Outright approval was granted for all eight of the specific program 
elements, which are summarized as follows: Program Recommendation (1), 
whereby military aircraft departing from Runway 14 would voluntarily 
use departure track RAD14X, instead of RAD14; Program Recommendation 
(2), whereby military aircraft arriving to Runway 32 would voluntarily 
use arrival track A32B, instead of VOR32; Program Recommendation (3), 
involving the opportunity within the Primary Area for fee simple 
acquisition and relocation assistance regarding eligible properties 
(eligible vacant residential properties are limited to those considered 
infill among established residential areas); Program Recommendation 
(4), involving the opportunity within the Primary Area for avigation 
easement acquisition regarding eligible properties whose owners decline 
to participate in the fee simple acquisition program; Program 
Recommendation (5), involving the opportunity within the Primary Area 
for acoustical treatment of eligible properties whose owners decline to 
participate in the fee simple acquisition and relocation program or the 
avigation easement acquisition program (acquisition of an avigation 
easement or similar interest is recommended by FAA as a condition of 
participation in this measure); Program Recommendation (6), involving 
the airport sponsor's management of acquired property and preparation 
of a redevelopment plan; Program Recommendation (7), involving the 
opportunity within the Secondary Area for acquisition of avigation 
easements for all eligible residential, infill vacant residential 
properties, and one church; and Program Recommendation (8), involving 
the opportunity within the Secondary Area for acoustical treatment of 
all single-family residential properties and one church.
    These determinations are set forth in detail in a Record of 
Approval signed by the FAA Southwest Region, Airports Division Manager 
on August 14, 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 the England Economic and Industrial Development District. The Record 
of Approval also will be available on-line at http://www.faa.gov/arp/environmental/14cfr150/index14.cfm.
    The FAA also has completed its review of the revised noise exposure 
maps and related descriptions submitted by England Economic and 
Industrial Development District. The specific map under consideration 
is Figure 7.9 in the submission. The FAA has determined that this map 
for Alexandria International Airport is in compliance with applicable 
requirements. This determination is effective on August 22, 2007. 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.
    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 responsibilities are not changed in any way 
under FAR 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.
    Copies of the noise exposure maps and of the FAA's evaluation of 
the maps, and copies of the record of approval and other evaluation 
materials and documents which comprised the submittal to the FAA are 
available for examination at the following locations:
    Federal Aviation Administration, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort 
Worth, Texas; England Economic and Industrial Development District, 
1611 Arnold Drive, Alexandria, Louisiana. Questions on either of these 
FAA determinations may be directed to the individual named above under 
the heading FOR FURTHER INFORAMTION CONTACT.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, August 22, 2007.
D. Cameron Bryan,
Acting Manager, Airports Division.
[FR Doc. 07-4245 Filed 8-29-07; 8:45 am]
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