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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 61 (Friday, March 29, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19355-19356]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-07381]

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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 Tucson Airport 
Authority for Tucson International Airport under the provisions of 49 
U.S.C. 47501 et. seq (the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, 
hereinafter referred to as ``the 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 Tucson International Airport under Part 150 in conjunction with the 
noise exposure map, and that this program will be approved or 
disapproved on or before September 16, 2013.

DATES: Effective Date: The effective date of the start of FAA's 
determination on the noise exposure maps and of the start of its review 
of the associated noise compatibility program is March 20, 2013. The 
public comment period ends May 20, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristi Regotti, Los Angeles Airports 
District Office, Room 3000, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, CA 
90261 and (310) 725-3614. 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 Tucson International Airport 
are in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, effective 
March 20, 2013. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise 
compatibility program for that airport which will be approved or 
disapproved on or before September 16, 2013. This notice also announces 
the availability of this program for public review and comment.
    Under 49 U.S.C. 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.
    Tucson Airport Authority submitted to the FAA noise exposure maps, 
descriptions, and other documentation that were produced during the 
Part 150 Noise Exposure Map and Noise Compatibility Program Update from 
2008 through 2012. 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 Tucson Airport Authority. The 
specific documentation determined to constitute the noise exposure maps 
includes:
    Exhibit 3-1: Existing (2012) Baseline Noise Exposure Contour, page 
3-3.
    Exhibit 3-2: Future (2017) Baseline Noise Exposure Contour, page 3-
7.
    The FAA has determined that these maps for Tucson International 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements. This 
determination is effective on March 20, 2013. 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

[[Page 19356]]

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 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 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 
Tucson International Airport, also effective on March 20, 2013. 
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 September 16, 
2013.
    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, Western-Pacific Region Office, 
Airports Division, Room 3012, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, 
California 90261.
Federal Aviation Administration, Los Angeles Airports District Office, 
Room 3000, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, CA 90261.
Tucson International Airport, 7005 South Plumer Avenue, Tucson, AZ 
85756.

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

    Issued in Lawndale, California, on March 20, 2013.
Mia Paredes Ratcliff,
Acting Manager, Airports Division, AWP-600, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2013-07381 Filed 3-28-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4901-13-P
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