[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 36 (Tuesday, February 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9846-9847]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-03777]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


FAA Approval of Noise Compatibility Program; Westover 
Metropolitan Airport, Chicopee, 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 submitted by the Westover 
Metropolitan Development Authority under the provisions of Title I of 
the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979. On September 25, 
2014, the FAA determined the noise exposure maps submitted by the 
Westover Metropolitan Development Corporation under Part 150 were in 
compliance with applicable requirements. On February 6, 2015 the New 
England Region Airports Division Manager approved the Noise 
Compatibility Program.

DATES: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the Westover 
Metropolitan Airport noise compatibility program is February 6, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Doucette, Federal Aviation 
Administration, New England Region, Airports Division, ANE-600, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803, telephone (781) 238-7613.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 47501-47510; 14 CFR part 150.

    This notice announces that the FAA has given its overall approval 
to Westover Metropolitan Airport noise compatibility program, effective 
February 6, 2015.
    Under Section 104 (a) of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement 
Act of 1979 (hereinafter the Act), an airport operator who has 
previously submitted a noise exposure map may submit to the FAA a noise 
compatibility program which sets forth the measures taken or proposed 
by the airport operator for the reduction of existing non-compatible 
land uses and prevention of additional non-compatible land uses within 
the area covered by the noise exposure maps.
    The Act requires such programs to be developed in consultation with 
interested and affected parties including local communities, government 
agencies, airport users, and FAA personnel.
    Each airport noise compatibility program developed in accordance 
with Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR), Part 150 is a local program, 
not a federal program. The FAA does not substitute its judgment for 
that of the airport proprietor with respect to which measures should be 
recommended for action. The FAA's approval or disapproval of FAR Part 
150 program recommendations is measured according to the standards 
expressed in Part 150 and the Act, and is limited to the following 
determinations:
    (a) The noise compatibility program was developed in accordance 
with the provisions and procedures of FAR Part 150;
    (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 non-compatible 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

[[Page 9847]]

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 as prescribed by law.
    Specific limitations with respect to FAA's approval of an airport 
noise compatibility program are delineated in FAR Part 150, Section 
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 a 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 program nor a determination that 
all measures covered by the program are eligible for grant-in-aid 
funding from the FAA under the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 
1982. Where Federal funding is sought, requests for project grants must 
be submitted to the FAA Regional Office in Burlington, Massachusetts.
    The Westover Metropolitan Development Corporation submitted to the 
FAA, on September 25, 2014, noise exposure maps, descriptions, and 
other documentation produced during the noise compatibility planning 
study conducted from 2013 to 2014. The Westover Metropolitan Airport 
noise exposure maps were determined by FAA to be in compliance with 
applicable requirements on September 25, 2014. Notice of this 
determination was published in the Federal Register on February 6, 
2013.
    The Westover Metropolitan Airport study contains a proposed noise 
compatibility program comprised of actions designed for implementation 
by airport. The Westover Metropolitan Development Corporation requested 
that the FAA evaluate and approve this material as a noise 
compatibility program as described in Section 104(b) of the Act. The 
FAA began its review of the program on September 25, 2014, and was 
required by a provision of the Act to approve or disapprove the program 
within 180 days (other than the use of new flight procedures for noise 
control). Failure to approve or disapprove such a program within the 
180-day period shall be deemed to be an approval of such a program.
    The submitted program contained a change to one noise mitigation 
measure in the Noise Compatibility Program. This change allows for 
voluntary acquisition of residential properties located in the 65DNL 
noise contour. The FAA completed its review and determined that the 
procedural and substantive requirements of the Act and FAR Part 150 
have been satisfied. The New England Region Airports Division Manager 
therefore approved the overall program on February 6, 2015. 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 and at the administrative offices of Westover Metropolitan 
Airport.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts on February 6, 2015.
Mary T. Walsh,
Manager, Airports Division, FAA New England Region.
[FR Doc. 2015-03777 Filed 2-23-15; 8:45 am]
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