[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 201 (Friday, October 17, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54150-54151]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27386]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review; Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, 
Charlotte, NC

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 the City of 
Charlotte for the Charlotte/Douglas International Airport under the 
provisions of Title I of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 
1979 (Pub. L. 96-193) and 14 CFR part 150 are in compliance with the 
applicable requirements. The FAA also announces that it is reviewing a 
proposed noise compatibility program that was submitted for the 
Charlotte/Douglas International Airport under part 150 in conjunction 
with the noise exposure map, and that this program will be approved or 
disapproved on or before March 30, 1998.

EFFECTIVE DATES: The effective date of the FAA's determination on the 
noise exposure maps and the start of its review of the associated noise 
compatibility program is September 30, 1997. The public comment period 
ends December 1, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Thomas M. Roberts, Atlanta Airports District Office, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Campus Building, 1701 Columbia Avenue, Suite 2-260, 
College Park, Georgia 30337-2747, Telephone 404/305-7153. 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 Charlotte/Douglas 
International Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of 
part 150, effective September 30, 1997. Further, FAA is reviewing a 
proposed noise compatibility program for that airport which will be 
approved or disapproved on or before March 30, 1998. This notice also 
announces the availability of this program for public review and 
comment. Under section 103 of Title I of the Aviation Safety and Noise 
Abatement Act of 1979 (hereinafter referred to as ``the Act''), an 
airport operator may submit to the FAA noise exposure maps which meet 
applicable regulations and which depict noncompatible 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 Title I of 
the Act, may submit a noise compatibility program for FAA approval 
which sets forth the measures the operator has taken or proposes for 
the reduction of existing noncompatible uses and for the prevention of 
the introduction of additional noncompatible uses.
    The City of Charlotte submitted to the FAA on August 26, 1997, 
noise exposure maps, descriptions and other documentation which were 
produced during Charlotte/Douglas International Airport's FAR. Part 150 
Study Update, August 1997. It was requested that the FAA review this 
material as the noise exposure maps, as described in section 103(a)(1) 
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 104(b) of the Act.
    The FAA has completed its review of the noise exposure maps and 
related descriptions submitted by the City of Charlotte. The specific 
maps under consideration are Noise Exposure Map 1996 and Noise Exposure 
Map 2001 in the submission. The FAA has determined that these maps for 
the Charlotte/Douglas International Airport are in compliance with the 
applicable requirements. This determination is effective September 30, 
1997. 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, or a commitment to approve a noise compatibility 
program or to fund the implementation of that program.
    If questions arise concerning the precise relationship of the 
specific properties to noise exposure contours depicted on a noise 
exposure map submitted under section 103 of the Act, it should be noted 
that the FAA is not involved in any way in determining the relative 
locations of the 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 107 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 responsibilities for the detailed 
overlaying of noise exposure contours onto the map depicting properties 
on the surface rests exclusively with the airport operator which 
submitted those maps, or with those public agencies and planning 
agencies with which consultation is required under section 103 of the 
Act. The FAA has relied on the certification by the airport operator, 
under Sec. 150.21 of part 150, that the

[[Page 54151]]

statutorily required consultation has been accomplished.
    The FAA has formally received the noise compatibility program for 
Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, also effective on September 
30, 1997. 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 
March 30, 1998.
    The FAA's detail evaluation will be conducted under the provisions 
of 14 CFR part 150, Sec. 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 noncompatible land uses and preventing the 
introduction of additional noncompatible 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, 800 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 617, 
Washington, DC 20591;
Federal Aviation Administration, Atlanta Airports District Office, 
Campus Building, 1701 Columbia Avenue, Suite 2-260, College Park, 
Georgia 30337-2747;
Ms. Carolyn Morehead, Reception Area, Charlotte/Douglas International 
Airport, Charlotte, North Carolina 28219.

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

    Issued in Atlanta, Georgia, September 30, 1997.
Dell T. Jernigan,
Manager, Atlanta Airports District Office.
[FR Doc. 97-27386 Filed 10-16-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M