[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 235 (Wednesday, December 6, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76339-76340]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-31090]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Air Traffic Noise Screen

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) DOT.

ACTION: Notice of change in air traffic noise screen policy.

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SUMMARY: This action changes the FAA Air Traffic Noise Screen (ATNS) 
policy to incorporate an administrative change in the procedures to 
conduct the ATNS. This action is issued as a Final Notice without prior 
notice because this change is administrative and/or required by 
statute. Also, the current adoption of the policy change is in the 
public interest.

DATES: Effective January 5, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William J. Marx, Environmental 
Programs Division, Office of Air Traffic Airspace Management, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 
20591; Telephone: (202) 267-3705.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In 1987 the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented the 
Expanded East Coast Plan (EECP). At that time air traffic proposed 
actions above 3,000 feet above ground level (AGL) were considered non-
controversial by nature and were categorically excluded from further 
environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969. When the EECP was categorically excluded from further 
environmental review, populations in New Jersey reacted strongly. The 
action became highly controversial, and Congress mandated that an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) be completed by the FAA. At that 
time, there was no precedence for analyzing noise effects from aircraft 
above 3,000 feet AGL.
    In 1991 Air Traffic Services began the Congressionally mandated EIS 
of air traffic procedural actions associated with the EECP. Populations 
in the study area were analyzed for noticeable changes (<plus-minus> 5 
decibels on an average annual basis) in their exposure to aircraft 
noise due to the EECP.
    The FAA chose to model predicted change in noise exposure up to 
18,000 feet AGL to insure that communities with predicted 45 decibel 
(dB) Day Night Level (DNL) (average aircraft noise level over a 24 hour 
period averaged over the course of a year) noise footprints were 
included in the study area. The resulting Air Traffic Noise Screen 
(ATNS) was created to address airspace changes that may cause 
controversy on environmental grounds at altitudes between 3,000 feet 
AGL and 18,000 feet AGL. It was a factor to be considered in 
determining whether actions normally categorically excluded from 
further environmental review should be reviewed as part of an 
environmental assessment because of the potential for community 
annoyance and reaction.
    Since the EECP EIS, Air Traffic Services has used 18,000 feet AGL 
as the altitude ceiling when screening for potentially controversial 
noise exposures that could be expected from proposed air traffic 
actions. In 1999 the FAA's Office of Air Traffic Airspace Management 
initiated a scientific study

[[Page 76340]]

of the ATNS to rigorously analyze predicted noise exposures using 
different altitude ceilings. Using a research and development tool, FAA 
analyzed data from a major airspace project and proposed alternative 
that reflected the largest proposed changes to the current area 
airspace design. The science-based study provided analysis on the 
difference in noise screening results by comparing results using an 
18,000 feet AGL altitude ceiling with results using 10,000, 12,000, 
14,000, and 16,000 feet AGL. Completed in July 1999, the results 
revealed equivalent predicted noise exposure values using a 10,000 feet 
ceiling as were predicted using a 18,000 feet ceiling. In addition, 
since the ATNS was implemented, proposals to change air traffic 
procedures have not identified 5 decibel or greater changes at 
altitudes above 10,000 feet AGL.
    The results of this analysis confirm that an altitude cut-off of 
10,000 feet AGL has materially the same predictive capability as the 
ATNS run to 18,000 feet AGL. The FAA has determined that the public 
interest is served by this action. The policy change enables the Air 
Traffic Service to avoid unproductive agency resource use; further, the 
policy change enables resource allocation to more timely analysis of 
environmental conditions for proposed airspace projects without 
changing environmental protection and consideration to affected 
communities.

Air Traffic Noise Screen Policy

    Beyond the airport environs, aircraft following air traffic routes 
and procedures normally do not significantly influence the noise 
environment of underlying land uses. Air traffic procedures for 
operations over 3,000 feet AGL are normally categorically excluded from 
environmental assessment requirements delineated in FAA Order 1050.1, 
Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures.
    At the same time, in recognition that some actions that are 
normally categorically excluded can be highly controversial on 
environmental grounds, the FAA has developed the ATNS which allows air 
traffic specialists and planners to evaluate potential noise impacts 
from proposed air traffic changes. The ATNS is a computerized noise 
screening procedure that provides guidance to air traffic managers in 
identifying air traffic changes that will increase aircraft noise 
exposure, and the possible need for an environmental assessment.
    The ATNS will be used to evaluate proposed changes in arrival 
procedures between 3,000 feet and 7,000 feet and departure procedures 
between 3,000 and 10,000 feet AGL, for large civil jet aircraft 
weighing over 75,000 pounds. Where a proposed change would cause an 
increase in noise of 5 dB DNL or greater, FAA considers whether there 
are extraordinary circumstances in accordance with Order 1050.1 that 
warrant preparation of an environmental assessment.

    Issued in Washington, DC November 30, 2000.
Nancy B. Kalinowski,
Deputy Program Director for Air Traffic Airspace Management, ATA-1.
[FR Doc. 00-31090 Filed 12-5-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M