[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 6, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5485-5486]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-507]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice: Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
determination that the noise exposure maps submitted by Columbus 
Regional Airport Authority for Rickenbacker International Airport under 
the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et. seq. (Aviation Safety and Noise 
Abatement Act) 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 Rickenbacker 
International Airport under Part 150 in conjunction with the noise 
exposure map, and that this program will be approved or disapproved on 
or before July 23, 2007.

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 January 25, 2007. The public comment 
period ends March 25, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Katherine S. Jones, Federal 
Aviation Administration, Detroit Airports District Office, 11677 South 
Wayne Road, Suite 107, Romulus, Michigan, phone number (734) 229-2958. 
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 Rickenbacker International 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, 
effective January 25, 2007. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise 
compatibility program for that airport which will be approved or 
disapproved on or before July 23, 2007. This notice also announces the 
availability of this program for public review and comment.
    Under 49 U.S.C., section 47503 (the Aviation Safety and Noise 
Abatement Act, hereinafter referred to as ``the Act''), an airport 
operator may submit to the FAA noise exposure maps which meet 
applicable regulations and which depict non-compatible 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 the Act, 
may submit a noise compatibility program for FAA approval which sets 
forth the forth the measures the operator has taken or proposes to take 
to reduce existing non-compatible uses and prevent the introduction of 
additional non-compatible uses.
    Columbus Regional Airport Authority submitted to the FAA on 
December 21, 2006 noise exposure maps, descriptions and other 
documentation that were produced during the Rickenbacker International 
Airport FAR Part 150 Noise Compatibility Program Update, December 2006. 
It was requested that the FAA review this material as the noise 
exposure maps, as described in section 47503 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 47504 of the Act.
    The FAA has completed its review of the noise exposure maps and 
related descriptions submitted by Columbus Regional Airport Authority. 
The specific documentation determined to constitute the noise exposure 
maps includes: Existing (2006) Noise Exposure Map (NEM), Future (2011) 
NEM with Noise Compatibility Program (NCP), FAR Part 150 Noise 
Compatibility Program Update contains the required information for 
Section 47503 and section A150.101 including the following specific 
references: Current and forecast operations in Appendix J, Table 8; 
fleet mix and nighttime operations in Appendix J-Table 8,

[[Page 5486]]

Appendix C-Tables C-6, C-7, C-8, and C-9; flight patterns in Appendix 
C-Exhibits C-5, C-6, C-7, C-8, and C-9, and land use in Exhibit 2-3. 
The FAA has determined that these maps for Rickenbacker International 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements. This 
determination is effective on January 25, 2007. 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 constitute 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 47503 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 47506 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 detailed overlying of noise 
exposure contours onto the map depicting properties on the surface 
rests exclusively with the airport operator that submitted those maps, 
or with those public agencies and planning agencies with which 
consultation is required under section 47503 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 
Rickenbacker International Airport, also effective on January 25, 2007. 
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 July 23, 2007.
    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 non-compatible land uses 
and preventing the introduction of additional non-compatible 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 Detroit Airports District Office, 
11677 South Wayne, Road, Suite 107, Romulus, Michigan 48174.
    Rickenbacker International Airport, 7161 Second Street, Columbus, 
Ohio 43217.
    Columbus Regional Airport Authority, Port Columbus International 
Airport, 4400 International Gateway, Columbus, Ohio 43219.
    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Romulus, Michigan, January 25, 2007.
Irene R. Porter,
Manager, Detroit Airports District Office, Great Lakes Region.
[FR Doc. 07-507 Filed 2-5-07; 8:45 am]
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