[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 72 (Friday, April 13, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22378-22379]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-8963]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; Lafayette Regional Airport, Lafayette, 
LA

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 Lafayette 
Airport Commission for Lafayette Regional Airport under the provisions 
of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et seq. (Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act) 
and 14 CFR Part 150 are in compliance with applicable requirements.

DATES: Effective Date: The effective date of the FAA's determination on 
the noise exposure maps is April 3, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: DOT/FAA Southwest Region, Tim Tandy, 
Environmental Resources Specialist, ASW-640D, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76137. Telephone (817) 222-5644.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds 
that the noise exposure maps submitted for Lafayette Regional Airport 
are in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, effective 
April 3, 2012. Under 49 U.S.C. section 47503 of 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

[[Page 22379]]

proposes to take to reduce existing non-compatible uses and prevent the 
introduction of additional non-compatible uses.
    The FAA has completed its review of the noise exposure maps and 
accompanying documentation submitted by Lafayette Airport Commission. 
The documentation that constitutes the ``noise exposure maps'' as 
defined in section 150.7 of Part 150 includes: Exhibit 2.1, Existing 
Land Use and Jurisdictional Boundaries; Table 2.4, Noise-Sensitive 
Sites and Historic Properties; Exhibit 2.2, Noise-Sensitive Sites and 
Historic Properties; Table 3.3, Historical Annual Aircraft Operations; 
Table 3.4, Historical Annual Operations by Aircraft Category; Table 
3.5, Forecast of Commercial Operations; Table 3.6, Forecast of General 
Aviation Operations; Table 3.7, Forecast of Military Operations; Table 
3.8, Forecast of Aviation Operations; Table 3.9, Existing and Forecast 
Average Daily Operations; Table 4.1, INM Aircraft Substitutions; 
Exhibit 4.1, Year 2010--Annual and Average Daily Operations; Table 4.2, 
2010 Fleet Mix at LFT; Table 4.4, 2010 Day-Night Split by Aircraft 
Category; Table 4.5, 2010 Runway Utilization; Exhibit 4.2, Existing and 
Future Condition Flight Tracks, Arrival and Departure--Runway 04L/R; 
Exhibit 4.3, Existing and Future Condition Flight Tracks, Arrival and 
Departure--Runway 11; Exhibit 4.4, Existing and Future Condition Flight 
Tracks, Arrival and Departure--Runway 22L/R; Exhibit 4.5, Existing and 
Future Condition Flight Tracks, Arrival and Departure--Runway 29; 
Exhibit 4.6, Existing and Future Condition Touch-and-Go Flight Tracks; 
Exhibit 4.7, Existing (2010) Condition Noise Contour Map; Table 4.6, 
2010 Noise Exposure Estimates; Table 5.1, 2016 Aircraft Fleet Mix; 
Table 5.2, 2016 Day-Night Split by Aircraft Category; Exhibit 5.1, Year 
2016--Annual and Average Daily Operations; Table 5.3, 2016 Runway 
Utilization; Exhibit 5.2, Future (2016) Noise Contour Map; Table 5.4, 
2016 Noise Exposure Estimates; Exhibit 5.3, Incompatible Land Use; and 
Exhibit 5.4, Incompatible Land Use.
    The FAA has determined that these noise exposure maps and 
accompanying documentation are in compliance with applicable 
requirements. This determination is effective on April 3, 2012.
    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 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.
    Copies of the full noise exposure map documentation and of the 
FAA's evaluation of the maps are available for examination at the 
following locations: Louisiana/New Mexico Airports Development Office, 
Federal Aviation Administration, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, 
Texas; Gregory M. Roberts, Director of Aviation, Lafayette Regional 
Airport, 222 Tower Drive, Lafayette, LA 70508. Questions may be 
directed to the individual named above under the heading FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, April 4, 2012.
Kelvin L. Solco,
Manager, Airports Division.
[FR Doc. 2012-8963 Filed 4-12-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P