[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 78 (Thursday, April 23, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20239-20240]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10806]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review, Indianapolis International Airport, 
Indianapolis, Indiana

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces it's 
determination that the noise exposure maps submitted by Indianapolis 
Airport Authority for Indianapolis International Airport under the 
provisions of Title I of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 
1979 (Public Law 96-193) and 14 CFR Part 150 are in compliance with 
applicable requirements. The FAA also announces that it is reviewing a 
proposed noise compatibility program that was submitted for 
Indianapolis International Airport under Part 150 in conjunction with 
the noise exposure map, and that this program will be approved or 
disapproved on or before October 12, 1998.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's determination on the 
noise exposure maps and of the start of its review of the associated 
noise compatibility program is April 15, 1998. The public comment 
period ends June 15, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Prescott C. Snyder, Airport 
Environmental Program Manager, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, 
Illinois 60018. [Telephone Number (847) 294-7538/Fax Number (847) 294-
7046] Comments on the proposed noise compatibility program should also 
be submitted to the above office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds 
that the noise exposure maps submitted for Indianapolis International 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, 
effective April 15, 1998. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise 
compatibility program for that airport which will be approved or 
disapproved on or before October 12,

[[Page 20240]]

1998. This notice also announces the availability of this program for 
public review and comment.
    Under section 103 of Title I of the Aviation Safety and Noise 
Abatement Act of 1979 (hereinafter referred to as ``the Act''), an 
airport operator may submit to the FAA noise exposure maps which meet 
applicable regulations and which depict noncompatible 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 Title I of 
the Act, may submit a noise compatibility program for FAA approval 
which sets forth the measures the operator has taken or proposes for 
the reduction of existing noncompatible uses and for the prevention of 
the introduction of additional noncompatible uses.
    Indianapolis Airport Authority submitted to the FAA on February 18, 
1998, noise exposure maps, descriptions and other documentation, which 
were produced during Indianapolis International Airport's FAR Part 150 
Noise Compatibility Study, February 1998. It was requested that the FAA 
review this material as the noise exposure maps, as described in 
section 103(a)(1) of the Act, and that the noise mitigation measures, 
to be implemented jointly by the airport and surrounding communities, 
be approved as a noise compatibility program under section 104(b) of 
the Act.
    The FAA has completed its review of the noise exposure maps and 
related descriptions submitted by Indianapolis Airport Authority. The 
specific maps under consideration are the Existing Noise Exposure Map 
and 2002 Official NEM/NCP Noise Contours in the submission. The FAA has 
determined that these maps for Indianapolis International Airport are 
in compliance with applicable requirements. This determination is 
effective on April 15, 1998. 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 103 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 107 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 detail overlaying of noise 
exposure contours onto the map depicting properties on the surface 
rests exclusively with the airport operator which submitted those maps, 
or with those public agencies and planning agencies with which 
consultation is required under section 103 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.
    The FAA has formally received the noise compatibility program for 
Indianapolis International Airport, also effective on April 15, 1998. 
Preliminary review of the submitted material indicates that it conforms 
to the requirements for the submittal of noise compatibility programs, 
but that further review will be necessary prior to approval or 
disapproval of the program. The formal review period, limited by law to 
a maximum of 180 days, will be completed on or before October 12, 1998.
    The FAA's detailed evaluation will be conducted under the 
provisions of 14 CFR Part 150, section 150.33. The primary 
considerations in the evaluation process are whether the proposed 
measures may reduce the level of aviation safety, create an undue 
burden on interstate or foreign commerce, or be reasonably consistent 
with obtaining the goal of reducing existing noncompatible land uses 
and preventing the introduction of additional noncompatible land uses.
    Interested persons are invited to comment on the proposed program 
with specific reference to these factors. All comments, other than 
those properly addressed to local land use authorities, will be 
considered by the FAA to the extent practicable. Copies of the noise 
exposure maps, the FAA's evaluation of the maps, and the proposed noise 
compatibility program are available for examination at the following 
locations:

Federal Aviation Administration, Chicago Airports District Office, Room 
201, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018
Indianapolis Airport Authority, Post Office Box 100, 2500 S. High 
School Road, Indianapolis International Airport, Indianapolis, Indiana 
46241-4941.
    Copies of the FAR Part 150 Noise Compatibility Program documents 
are also available for public review during normal business hours at 
the following locations:

Decatur Township Branch Library, 5301 Kentucky Avenue, Indianapolis, 
Indiana 46241
Marion County Public Library, 40 East St. Clair, Indianapolis, Indiana 
46204
Mooresville Public Library, 220 W. Harrison Street, Mooresville, 
Indiana 46158
Plainfield Public Library, 1120 Stafford Road, Plainfield, Indiana 
46208
Wayne Township Branch Library, 198 South Girls School Road, 
Indianapolis, Indiana 46214.
Aeronautics Section, Intermodal Division, Indiana Department of 
Transportation, Indiana Government Center North, Room N901, 100 North 
Senate Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2219.

    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Des Plaines, Illinois, on April 15, 1998.
Pene A. Beversdorf,
Acting Manager, Chicago Airports District Office, FAA Great Lakes 
Region.
[FR Doc. 98-10806 Filed 4-22-98; 8:45 am]
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