[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 244 (Thursday, December 21, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 88483-88485]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28148]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Approval of Noise Compatibility Program Update; Westfield-Barnes 
Regional Airport (BAF), Westfield, Massachusetts

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 (NCP) Update submitted by 
the City of Westfield, Massachusetts, through its Aviation Department, 
for Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport. The Final Noise Compatibility 
Program (NCP) was submitted to FAA for review and approval on May 26, 
2023. The NCP was found to be sufficient for consideration by the FAA, 
and a Federal Register noticed appeared on July 11, 2023. The required 
60-day public comment period expired on September 9, 2023. The NEM was 
previously determined to be in compliance on June 13, 2019, and is 
still valid. The NCP contained 10 noise abatement measures, nine land 
use measures, and four program management measures. Of the 23 measures 
proposed, 12 were approved, 9 were approved as voluntary, one requires 
no action at this time, and one was disapproved for purposes of part 
150.

DATES: The applicable start date of the FAA's approval is December 14, 
2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Quaine, Federal Aviation 
Administration, New England Regional Office Environmental Protection 
Specialist, Airports Division, Federal Aviation Administration, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803. Phone number: 781-
238-7613.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA's 
approval of the NCP Update for the Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport. 
Per United States Code section 47504 (49 U.S.C. 47504) and Title 14, 
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 150, an airport sponsor who 
previously

[[Page 88484]]

submitted a noise exposure map (NEM) may submit to the FAA a noise 
compatibility program which sets forth the measures taken or proposed 
by the airport sponsor for the reduction of existing non-compatible 
land uses and prevention of additional non-compatible land uses within 
the area covered by the NEMs. As required by 49 U.S.C. 47504, such 
programs must be developed in consultation with interested and affected 
parties including local communities, government agencies, airport 
users, and the FAA. The FAA does not substitute its judgment for that 
of the airport sponsor with respect to which measures should be 
recommended for action. The FAA approval or disapproval of an airport 
sponsor's recommendations in their noise compatibility program are made 
in accordance with the requirements and standards pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 
47504 and 14 CFR part 150, which is limited to the following 
determinations:
    a. The noise compatibility program was developed in accordance with 
the provisions and procedures of 14 CFR 150.23;
    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 noncompatible 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 of FAA's approval of NCPs are delineated in 14 
CFR 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 noise compatibility program nor a determination 
that all measures covered by the NCP are eligible for grant-in-aid 
funding from the FAA. Where federal funding is sought, requests must be 
submitted to the FAA New England Regional Office at 1200 District Ave., 
Burlington, MA 01803.
    The City of Westfield submitted the noise exposure maps, 
descriptions, and other documentation produced during the noise 
compatibility planning study to the FAA and the FAA determined that the 
NEMs for BAF were in compliance with applicable requirements under 14 
CFR 150, effective June 3, 2019 (Noise Exposure Map Notice; Westfield-
Barnes Regional Airport, Westfield, Massachusetts, volume 84, Federal 
Register, pages 35177-8, July 22, 2019). The airport operator requested 
that the FAA review the submitted material and that the noise 
mitigation measures, to be implemented jointly by the airport and 
surrounding communities, be approved as an NCP. The formal review 
period, limited by law to a maximum of 180 days, was initiated on May 
26, 2023. Notice of the intent to review the NCP was published in the 
Federal Register on July 11, 2023 (Notice of Receipt of Noise 
Compatibility Program Update and Request for Review, volume 88, Federal 
Register, pages 44182-3, July 11, 2023). The Federal Register Notice 
also announced the start of a 60- day period of public review for the 
NCP documentation. The FAA received no comments during the public 
review.
    It was requested that the FAA evaluate and approve this material as 
a noise compatibility program as described in 49 U.S.C. 47504. The FAA 
began its review and was required by a provision of 49 U.S.C. 47504 to 
approve or disapprove the program within 180 days, other than the use 
of new or modified flight procedures for noise control. The submitted 
program contained 23 proposed measures to minimize impacts of aviation 
noise on and off the airport. The FAA completed its review and 
determined that the procedural and substantive requirements of the 49 
U.S.C. 47504 and 14 CFR part 150 were satisfied. A Record of Approval 
for the overall program was issued by the FAA effective December 14, 
2023.
    The specific program elements and their individual determinations 
are as follows:
    NA-1--Maintain Runway Heading to East Mountain Ridge after 
Departing Runway 15. Approved as voluntary.
    NA-2--Prohibit the Use of Intersection Departures on Runway 33. 
Approved as voluntary.
    NA-3--Turn to 360-degrees Heading after Departing Runway 02. No 
action at this time.
    NA-4--Barnes ANG Preferential Runway Use Program. Approved as 
voluntary.
    NA-5: Barnes ANG Fighter Aircraft ``High Initial'' Approach 
Procedures. Disapproved for Purposes of Part 150.
    NA-6: Barnes ANG Noise Abatement Departure Procedures. Approved as 
voluntary.
    NA-7: Helicopter Noise Abatement Approach Procedures to Runway 02. 
Approved as voluntary.
    NA-8: Helicopter Noise Abatement Departure Procedures from Runway 
02. Approved as voluntary.
    NA-9: Helicopter Noise Abatement Approach Procedures to Runways 15 
and 33. Approved as voluntary.
    NA-10: Helicopter Noise Abatement Departure Procedures to Runways 
15 and 33. Approved as voluntary.
    LU-1: Sound Insulate Noise-Sensitive Structures. Approved.
    LU-2: Acquire Non-Compatible Residential Property. Approved.
    LU-3: Acquire Avigation Easements. Approved.
    LU-4: Modify Local Land Use Zoning. Approved.
    LU-5: Modify Local Subdivision Regulations. Approved.
    LU-6: Review Proposed Land Use Development within the 65 dB DNL 
Contour and Higher Contours. Approved.
    LU-7: Voluntary Acquisition of Undeveloped Land. Approved.
    LU-8: Real Estate Disclosure. Approved.
    LU-9: Acquire the Arbor Mobile Home Park. Approved.
    PM-1: Re-establish and Maintain a Noise Mitigation Advisory 
Committee. Approved.
    PM-2: Continue the Community Awareness Program. Approved.
    PM-3: Expand the Fly Quiet Program. Approved as Voluntary.
    PM-4: Periodically Evaluate Noise Exposure. Approved.
    These determinations are set forth in detail in the Record of 
Approval signed by the FAA Airports New England Deputy Director on 
December 14, 2023. 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. The Record of Approval will also 
be available on the internet on the FAA's website at http://www.faa.gov/airports/environmental/airport_noise/part_150/states/ and 
the City of Westfield Airport's website at www.barnesairport.com.


[[Page 88485]]


    Issued in New England Regional Office, Burlington, MA, on 
December 14, 2023.
Julie Seltsam-Wilps,
Deputy Director, ANE-600.
[FR Doc. 2023-28148 Filed 12-20-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P