63276 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 205 / Wednesday, October 23, 2013 / Notices 

1FAA Technical Guidance for Evaluating 

Selected Solar Technologies on Airports, Section 

2.3.5, states that ‘‘solar installations of any size, 

located on an airport, that are not collocated on an 

existing structure (i.e., roof of an existing building) 

and require a new footprint, need to be shown on 

the Airport Layout Plan (ALP). Collocated solar 

installations need to be shown on the ALP only if 

these installations substantially change the 

footprint of the collocated building or structure. 

Available at: http://www.faa.gov/airports/ 

environmental/policy_guidance/media/ 

airport_solar_guide_print.pdf. Title 49 of the United 

States Code (USC), sec. 47107(a), requires, in part, 

a current ALP approved by the FAA prior to the 

approval of an airport development project. See 

Grant Assurance No. 29, AC No. 150/5070–6B, and 

FAA Order No. 5100.38. 

2Any solar installation means any ground-based 

solar energy installation and those solar energy 

installations collocated with a building or structure 

(i.e., rooftop installations). 

3FAA Technical Guidance for Evaluating 

Selected Solar Technologies on Airports Section 3.1 

reads in part ‘‘All solar projects at airports must 

submit to FAA a Notice of Proposed Construction 

Form 7460 . . .’’. This section further states ‘‘Even 

if the project will be roof mounted . . . the sponsor 

must still submit a case’’ [i.e., file a Form 7460–1]. 

4The requirements of this policy are not 

mandatory for a proposed solar installation that is 

not on an airport and for which a form 7460–1 is 

filed under part 77 and is studied under the 

Obstruction Evaluation Program. However, the FAA 

urges proponents of off-airport solar-installations to 

voluntarily implement the provisions in this policy. 

Research and Innovative Technology 

Administration 

Aylward, Anne D.; Brecht-Clark, Jan M.; 

Farley, Audrey L.; Hu, Patricia S.; 

Ishihara, David S.; Johns, Robert C.; 

Lang, Steven R.; Partridge, Ellen L.; 

Schmitt, Rolf R.; Womack, Kevin C. 

Saint Lawrence Seaway Development 

Corporation 

Middlebrook, Craig H.; Pisani, Salvatore 

L. 

[FR Doc. 2013–24813 Filed 10–22–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

Interim Policy, FAA Review of Solar 

Energy System Projects on Federally 

Obligated Airports 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of interim policy; 

opportunity to comment. 

SUMMARY: This notice establishes 

interim FAA policy for proposals by 

sponsors of federally obligated airports 

to construct solar energy systems on 

airport property. FAA is adopting an 

interim policy because it is in the public 

interest to enhance safety by clarifying 

and adding standards for measuring 

ocular impact of proposed solar energy 

systems which are effective upon 

publication. FAA will consider 

comments and make appropriate 

modifications before issuing a final 

policy. The policy applies to any 

proposed on-airport solar energy system 

that has not received from the FAA 

either an unconditional airport layout 

plan approval or a ‘‘no objection’’ 

finding on a Notice of Proposed 

Construction or Alteration Form 

7460–1. 

DATES: The effective date of this interim 

policy is October 23, 2013. 

Comments must be received by 

November 22, 2013. 

ADDRESSES: You can get an electronic 

copy of the interim policy and the 

comment form on the FAA Airports 

Web site at http://www.faa.gov/airports/ 

environmental/. 

You can submit comments using the 

Comments Matrix, using any of the 

following methods: 

Electronic Submittal to the FAA: Go 

to http://www.faa.gov/airports/ 

environmental/ and follow the 

instructions for sending your comments 

electronically. 

Mail: FAA Office of Airports, Office of 

Airport Planning and Programming, 

Routing Symbol APP–400, 800 

Independence Avenue SW., Room 615, 

Washington, DC 20591. Please send two 

copies. 

Fax: 1–202–267–5302. 

Hand Delivery: To FAA Office of 

Airports, Office of Airport Planning and 

Programming, Routing Symbol APP– 

400, 800 Independence Avenue SW., 

Room 615, Washington, DC 20591; 

between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

Please provide two copies. 

For more information on the notice 

and comment process, see the 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of 

this document. 

Privacy: We will post all comments 

we receive, without change, to http:// 

www.faa.gov/airports/environmental/, 

including any personal information you 

provide. 

Comments Received: To read 

comments received, go to http:// 

www.faa.gov/airports/environmental/ at 

any time. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Ralph Thompson, Manager, Airport 

Planning and Environmental Division, 

APP–400, Federal Aviation 

Administration, 800 Independence Ave. 

SW., Washington, DC 20591, telephone 

(202) 267–3263; facsimile (202) 267– 

5257; email: ralph.thompson@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA 

invites interested persons to join in this 

notice and comment process by filing 

written comments, data, or views. The 

most helpful comments reference a 

specific portion of the proposal, explain 

the reason for any recommended 

change, and include supporting data. 

Availability of Documents 

You can get an electronic copy of this 

interim policy by visiting the FAA’s 

Airports Web page at http:// 

www.faa.gov/airports/environmental/. 

Authority for the Policy 

This notice is published under the 

authority described in Subtitle VII, part 

B, chapter 471, section 47122 of title 49 

United States Code. 

Background 

There is growing interest in installing 

solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar hot 

water (SHW) systems on airports. While 

solar PV or SHW systems (henceforth 

referred to as solar energy systems) are 

designed to absorb solar energy to 

maximize electrical energy production 

or the heating of water, in certain 

situations the glass surfaces of the solar 

energy systems can reflect sunlight and 

produce glint (a momentary flash of 

bright light) and glare (a continuous 

source of bright light). In conjunction 

with the United States Department of 

Energy (DOE), the FAA has determined 

that glint and glare from solar energy 

systems could result in an ocular impact 

to pilots and/or air traffic control (ATC) 

facilities and compromise the safety of 

the air transportation system. While the 

FAA supports solar energy systems on 

airports, the FAA seeks to ensure safety 

by eliminating the potential for ocular 

impact to pilots and/or air traffic control 

facilities due to glare from such projects. 

The FAA established a crossorganizational working group in 2012, 

to establish a standard for measuring 

glint and glare, and clear thresholds for 

when glint and glare would impact 

aviation safety. The standards that this 

working group developed are set forth 

in this notice. 

A sponsor of a federally-obligated 

airport must request FAA review and 

approval to depict certain proposed 

solar installations (e.g., ground-based 

installations and collocated installations 

that increase the footprint of the 

collocated building or structure) on its 

airport layout plan (ALP), before 

construction begins.1 A sponsor of a 

federally-obligated airport must notify 

the FAA of its intent to construct any 

solar installation 2 by filing FAA Form 

7460–1, ‘‘Notice of Proposed 

Construction or Alteration’’ under 14 

CFR Part 77 for a Non-Rulemaking case 

(NRA) 3 4. This includes the intent to 

permit airport tenants, including 

Federal agencies, to build such 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 205 / Wednesday, October 23, 2013 / Notices 63277 

installations. The sponsor’s obligation to 

obtain FAA review and approval to 

depict certain proposed solar energy 

installation projects at an airport is 

found in 49 U.S.C. 47107(a)(16) and 

Sponsor Grant Assurance 29, ‘‘Airport 

Layout Plan.’’ Under these latter 

provisions, the sponsor may not make or 

permit any changes or alterations in the 

airport or any of its facilities which are 

not in conformity with the ALP as 

approved by the FAA and which might, 

in the opinion of the FAA, adversely 

affect the safety, utility or efficiency of 

the airport. 

Airport sponsors and project 

proponents must comply with the 

policies and procedures in this notice to 

demonstrate to the FAA that a proposed 

solar energy system will not result in an 

ocular impact that compromises the 

safety of the air transportation system. 

This process enables the FAA to 

approve amendment of the ALP to 

depict certain solar energy projects or 

issue a ‘‘no objection’’ finding to a filed 

7460–1 form. The FAA expects to 

continue to update these policies and 

procedures as part of an iterative 

process as new information and 

technologies become available. 

Solar energy systems located on an 

airport that is not federally-obligated or 

located outside the property of a 

federally-obligated airport are not 

subject to this policy. Proponents of 

solar energy systems located off-airport 

property or on non-federally-obligated 

airports are strongly encouraged to 

consider the requirements of this policy 

when siting such systems. 

This interim policy clarifies and adds 

standards for measurement of glint or 

glare presented in the 2010 Technical 

Guidance document. Later this year the 

FAA plans to publish an update to the 

‘‘Technical Guidance for Evaluating 

Selected Solar Technologies on 

Airports,’’ (hereinafter referred to as 

‘‘Technical Guidance’’) dated November 

2010. This update to the technical 

guidance will include the standards for 

measuring glint and glare outlined in 

this notice. It will also provide 

enhanced criteria to ensure the proper 

siting of a solar energy installation to 

eliminate the potential for harmful glare 

to pilots or air traffic control facilities. 

In advance of the planned update, as 

part of this Notice, we are clarifying one 

aspect of the Technical Guidance 

relating to airport sponsor and FAA 

responsibilities for evaluating the 

potential for solar energy systems 

installed on airports to either block, 

reflect, or disrupt radar signals, 

NAVAIDS, and other equipment 

required for safe aviation operations. 

Section 3.1 of the Technical Guidance, 

entitled ‘‘Airspace Review,’’ correctly 

states that this role is exclusively the 

responsibility of FAA Technical 

Operations (Tech Ops). However 

subsection 3.1.3, ‘‘System Interference,’’ 

states: ‘‘[s]tudies conducted during 

project siting should identify the 

location of radar transmission and 

receiving facilities and other NAVAIDS, 

and determine locations that would not 

be suitable for structures based on their 

potential to either block, reflect, or 

disrupt radar signals.’’ 

Reading the two sections together, 

what is meant is that the airport 

sponsor, in siting a proposed solar 

energy system, is responsible for 

limiting the potential for inference with 

communication, navigation, and 

surveillance (CNS) facilities. The 

sponsor should do so by ensuring that 

solar energy systems remain clear of the 

critical areas surrounding CNS facilities. 

FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 5300–13, 

‘‘Airport Design,’’ Chapter 6, defines the 

critical areas for common CNS facilities 

located on an airport. Sponsors may 

need to coordinate with FAA Technical 

Operations concerning CNS facilities 

not in AC 5300–13. As stated in Section 

3.1, the FAA is responsible for 

evaluating if there are any impacts to 

CNS facilities. The FAA will conduct 

this review after the Form 7460–1 is 

filed for the construction of a new solar 

energy system installation on an airport. 

In summary, airport sponsors do not 

need to conduct studies on their own to 

determine impacts to CNS facilities 

when siting a solar energy system on 

airport. Section 3.1.3 will be revised 

accordingly in the next version of the 

Technical Guidance. 

Interim Policy Statement 

The following sets forth the standards 

for measuring ocular impact, the 

required analysis tool, and the 

obligations of the Airport Sponsor when 

a solar energy system is proposed for 

development on a federally-obligated 

airport. 

The FAA is adopting an interim 

policy because it is in the public interest 

to enhance safety by clarifying and 

adding standards for measuring ocular 

impact of proposed solar energy 

systems. FAA will consider comments 

and make appropriate modifications 

before issuing a final policy in a future 

Federal Register Notice. The policy 

applies to any proposed solar energy 

system that has not received 

unconditional airport layout plan 

approval (ALP) or a ‘‘no objection’’ from 

the FAA on a filed 7460–1, Notice of 

Proposed Construction or Alteration. 

Standard for Measuring Ocular Impact 

FAA adopts the Solar Glare Hazard 

Analysis Plot shown in Figure 1 below 

as the standard for measuring the ocular 

impact of any proposed solar energy 

system on a federally-obligated airport. 

To obtain FAA approval to revise an 

airport layout plan to depict a solar 

installation and/or a ‘‘no objection’’ to a 

Notice of Proposed Construction Form 

7460–1, the airport sponsor will be 

required to demonstrate that the 

proposed solar energy system meets the 

following standards: 

1. No potential for glint or glare in the 

existing or planned Airport Traffic 

Control Tower (ATCT) cab, and 

2. No potential for glare or ‘‘low 

potential for after-image’’ (shown in 

green in Figure 1) along the final 

approach path for any existing landing 

threshold or future landing thresholds 

(including any planned interim phases 

of the landing thresholds) as shown on 

the current FAA-approved Airport 

Layout Plan (ALP). The final approach 

path is defined as two (2) miles from 

fifty (50) feet above the landing 

threshold using a standard three (3) 

degree glidepath. 

Ocular impact must be analyzed over 

the entire calendar year in one (1) 

minute intervals from when the sun 

rises above the horizon until the sun 

sets below the horizon. 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
63278 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 205 / Wednesday, October 23, 2013 / Notices 

Tool To Assess Ocular Impact 

In cooperation with the DOE, the FAA 

is making available free-of-charge the 

Solar Glare Hazard Analysis Tool 

(SGHAT). The SGHAT was designed to 

determine whether a proposed solar 

energy project would result in the 

potential for ocular impact as depicted 

on the Solar Glare Hazard Analysis Plot 

shown above. 

The SGHAT employs an interactive 

Google map where the user can quickly 

locate a site, draw an outline of the 

proposed solar energy system, and 

specify observer locations (Airport 

Traffic Control Tower cab) and final 

approach paths. Latitude, longitude, and 

elevation are automatically recorded 

through the Google interface, providing 

necessary information for sun position 

and vector calculations. Additional 

information regarding the orientation 

and tilt of the solar energy panels, 

reflectance, environment, and ocular 

factors are entered by the user. 

If glare is found, the tool calculates 

the retinal irradiance and subtended 

source angle (size/distance) of the glare 

source to predict potential ocular 

hazards ranging from temporary afterimage to retinal burn. The results are 

presented in a simple, easy-to-interpret 

plot that specifies when glare will occur 

throughout the year, with color codes 

indicating the potential ocular hazard. 

The tool can also predict relative energy 

production while evaluating alternative 

designs, layouts, and locations to 

identify configurations that maximize 

energy production while mitigating the 

impacts of glare. 

Users must first register for the use of 

the tool at this web address: 

www.sandia.gov/glare. 

Required Use of the SGHAT 

As of the date of publication of this 

interim policy, the FAA requires the use 

of the SGHAT to demonstrate 

compliance with the standards for 

measuring ocular impact stated above 

for any proposed solar energy system 

located on a federally-obligated airport. 

The SGHAT is a validated tool 

specifically designed to measure glare 

according to the Solar Glare Hazard 

Analysis Plot. All sponsors of federallyobligated airports who propose to install 

or to permit others to install solar 

energy systems on the airport must 

attach the SGHAT report, outlining solar 

panel glare and ocular impact, for each 

point of measurement to the Notice of 

Proposed Construction Form 7460–1. 

The FAA will consider the use of 

alternative tools or methods on a caseby-case basis. However, the FAA must 

approve the use of an alternative tool or 

method prior to an airport sponsor 

seeking approval for any proposed onairport solar energy system. The 

alternative tool or method must evaluate 

ocular impact in accordance with the 

Solar Glare Hazard Analysis Plot. 

Please contact the Office of Airport 

Planning and Programming, Airport 

Planning and Environmental Division, 

APP–400, for more information on the 

validation process for alternative tools 

or methods. 

Airport sponsor obligations have been 

discussed above under Background. We 

caution airport sponsors that under 

preexisting airport grant compliance 

policy, failure to seek FAA review of a 

solar installation prior to construction 

could trigger possible compliance action 

under 14 CFR Part 16, ‘‘Rules of Practice 

for Federally-Assisted Airport 

Enforcement Proceedings.’’ Moreover, if 

a solar installation creates glare that 

interferes with aviation safety, the FAA 

could require the airport to pay for the 

elimination of solar glare by removing 

or relocating the solar facility. 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICESEN23OC13.002</GPH>
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 205 / Wednesday, October 23, 2013 / Notices 63279 

Issued in Washington, DC, on September 

27, 2013. 

Benito De Leon, 

Director, Office of Airport Planning and 

Programming. 

[FR Doc. 2013–24729 Filed 10–22–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

Third Meeting: RTCA Tactical 

Operations Committee (TOC) 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), U.S. Department 

of Transportation (DOT) 

ACTION: Third Meeting Notice of RTCA 

Tactical Operations Committee. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is issuing this notice 

to advise the public of the third meeting 

of the RTCA Tactical Operations 

Committee. 

DATES: The meeting will be held 

November 7, 2013 from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

RTCA Headquarters, 1150 18th Street 

NW., Suite 910, Washington, DC 20036. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The 

RTCA Secretariat, 1150 18th Street NW., 

Suite 910, Washington, DC 20036, or by 

telephone at (202) 833–9339, fax at (202) 

833–9434, or Web site http://

www.rtca.org. Andy Cebula, NAC 

Secretary can also be contacted at 

acebula@rtca.org or 202–330–0652. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant 

to section 10(a)(2) of the Federal 

Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. No. 

92–463, 5 U.S.C., App.), notice is hereby 

given for a meeting of the Tactical 

Operations Committee (TOC). The 

agenda will include the following: 

November 19, 2013 

• Opening of Meeting/Introduction of 

TOC Members 

• Official Statement of Designated 

Federal Official 

• Approval of July 23, 2013 Meeting 

Summary 

• FAA Report 

• Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) Activity 

Prioritization 

• Regional Task Groups (RTGs) 

• Reports on current activities 

underway by Regional Task Groups: 

Eastern, Central, Western 

• VHF Omni-directional Range (VOR) 

Minimum Operating Network 

• New Tasking: Obstacle Clearance 

• Anticipated Issues for TOC 

consideration and action at the next 

meeting 

• Other Business 

• Adjourn 

Attendance is open to the interested 

public but limited to space availability. 

With the approval of the chairman, 

members of the public may present oral 

statements at the meeting. Persons 

wishing to present statements or obtain 

information should contact the person 

listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT section. Members of the public 

may present a written statement to the 

committee at any time. 

Issued in Washington, DC, on October 18, 

2013. 

Edith V. Parish, 

Senior Advisor, Mission Support Services, Air 

Traffic Organization, Federal Aviation 

Administration. 

[FR Doc. 2013–24968 Filed 10–22–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

Public Notice for Waiver of 

Aeronautical Land-Use Assurance 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of intent of waiver with 

respect to land; French Lick Airport; 

French Lick, Indiana. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is considering a 

proposal to change a portion of airport 

land from aeronautical use to nonaeronautical use and to authorize the 

sale of airport property located at 

French Lick Airport, French Lick, 

Indiana. The aforementioned land is not 

needed for aeronautical use. The 

proposal consists of 18.606 acres located 

in the southern section of airport 

property which is not being used by the 

airport presently. The land is to be sold 

to Commissioners of Orange County for 

the construction of County Road CR 300 

South/Airport Road to facilitate access 

to the airport. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before November 22, 2013. 

ADDRESSES: Documents are available for 

review by appointment at the FAA 

Airports District Office, Azra Hussain, 

Program Manager, 2300 E. Devon 

Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018 

Telephone: (847) 294–8252/Fax: (847) 

294–7046 and Zachary D. Brown, 

French Lick Municipal Airport, 9764 

West County Road 375 South, French 

Lick, Indiana, 47933. 

Written comments on the Sponsor’s 

request must be delivered or mailed to: 

Azra Hussain, Program Manager, 

Federal Aviation Administration, 

Airports District Office, 2300 E. Devon 

Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois (847) 294– 

7046. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Azra 

Hussain, Program Manager, Federal 

Aviation Administration, Airports 

District Office, 2300 E. Devon Avenue, 

Des Plaines, Illinois 60018. Telephone 

Number: (847) 294–8252/FAX Number: 

(847) 294–7046. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 

accordance with section 47107(h) of 

Title 49, United States Code, this notice 

is required to be published in the 

Federal Register 30 days before 

modifying the land-use assurance that 

requires the property to be used for an 

aeronautical purpose. 

The subject land consists of two 

parcels. Parcel 1 (approx. 16.667 acres) 

was acquired through the Federal Aid to 

Airport Program dated July 28, 1963 and 

Parcel 2 (approx. 1.939 acres) was 

acquired by the sponsor as part of a 

larger parcel (approx. 9.97 acres) for the 

nominal sum of One Dollar and zero 

cents ($1.00) on April 19, 2010. The 

Commissioners of Orange County intend 

to purchase the property for a nominal 

sum of One Dollar and zero cents 

($1.00) for the construction of County 

Road CR 300 South/Airport Road. 

Construction of the road will facilitate 

access to the airport. The 

aforementioned land is not needed for 

aeronautical use, as shown on the 

Airport Layout Plan. There are no 

impacts to the airport by allowing the 

airport to dispose of the property. 

This notice announces that the FAA 

is considering the release of the subject 

airport property at French Lick Airport, 

French Lick, Indiana, subject to 

easements and covenants running with 

the land. Approval does not constitute 

a commitment by the FAA to financially 

assist in the disposal of the subject 

airport property nor a determination 

that all measures covered by the 

program are eligible for grant-in-aid 

funding from the FAA. The disposition 

of proceeds from the sale of the airport 

property will be in accordance with 

FAA’s Policy and Procedures 

Concerning the Use of Airport Revenue, 

published in the Federal Register on 

February 16, 1999 (64 FR 7696). 

Issued in Des Plaines, Illinois on 

September 30, 2013. 

James Keefer, 

Manager, Chicago Airports District Office, 

FAA, Great Lakes Region. 

[FR Doc. 2013–24738 Filed 10–22–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES