[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 16 (Tuesday, January 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4359-4360]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01416]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Approval of Noise Compatibility Program for Laughlin/Bullhead 
International Airport, Bullhead City, Arizona

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 Mohave 
County Airport Authority (MCAA) under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 
et seq. (formerly the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, 
hereinafter referred to as ``the Act'') and Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) Part 150 (hereinafter referred to as ``Part 150''). 
On November 21, 2013, the FAA determined that the noise exposure maps 
submitted by the MCAA under Part 150 were in compliance with applicable 
requirements. On January 11, 2016, the FAA approved the Laughlin/
Bullhead International Airport Noise Compatibility Program. All of the 
recommendations of the program were approved. No program elements 
relating to new or revised flight procedures for noise abatement were 
proposed.

DATES: Effective Date: This notice is effective January 26, 2016 and 
applicable January 11, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jared Raymond, Airport Planner, FAA 
Phoenix Airports District Office, 3800 North Central Avenue, Suite 
1025, Phoenix, Arizona 85012, telephone number (602) 792-1072. 
Documents reflecting this FAA action may be reviewed at this same 
location.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA has given 
its overall approval to the Noise Compatibility Program for Laughlin/
Bullhead International Airport, effective January 11, 2016. Under 
Section 104(a) of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979, 
as amended (herein after referred to as the ``Act'') [recodified as 49 
U.S.C. 47504], 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 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 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 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 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 
prescribed by law.
    Specific limitations with respect to FAA's approval of an airport 
noise compatibility program are delineated in 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 an 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, as amended. 
Where federal funding is sought, requests for project grants must be 
submitted to the FAA Airports District Office in Phoenix, Arizona.
    The MCAA submitted to the FAA on July 29, 2013, the Noise Exposure 
Maps for evaluation. The FAA determined that the Noise Exposure Maps 
for Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport were in compliance with 
applicable requirements on November 21, 2013. Notice of this 
determination was published in the Federal Register on November 29, 
2013 (Volume 78/No. 230/pages 71706-71707).
    The Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport study contains a 
proposed noise compatibility program comprised of actions designed for 
phased implementation by airport management and adjacent jurisdictions. 
It was requested that the FAA evaluate and approve this material as a 
Noise Compatibility Program as described in 49 U.S.C. 47504 (formerly 
Section 104(b) of the Act). The FAA began its review of the program on 
July 23, 2015, and was required by a provision of the Act to approve or 
disapprove the program within 180 days (other than the use of new or 
modified flight procedures for noise control). Failure to approve or 
disapprove such program within the 180-day period shall be deemed to be 
an approval of such program.
    The Noise Compatibility Program recommended one (1) Noise Abatement 
Element, seven (7) Land Use Planning Measures and three (3) Program 
Management Elements. The FAA completed its review and determined that 
the procedural and substantive requirements of the Act and Part 150 
have been satisfied. The overall program was approved, with the partial 
disapproval of two (2) Land Use Management Measures by the Manager of 
the Airports Division, Western-Pacific Region, effective January 11, 
2016.
    Approval was granted for one Noise Abatement Measure, partial 
approval was granted for two of the seven Land Use Management Elements, 
and approval granted for all three Program Management Elements. The 
approved Noise Abatement Measure includes: Develop a Pilot and Public 
Education Program. The Land Use Management Measures include the 
following: Designate the Public Disclosure Map Boundary on the General 
Plan; Revise the General Plan designations for compatible land uses to 
help preserve those compatible land uses (industrial, commercial, open 
space) within the noise contours; Rezone for compatible use all areas 
within the noise contours; The City of Bullhead City should adopt an 
airport compatibility checklist for discretionary review of projects 
within the vicinity of the airport; Mohave County Airport Authority and 
the City

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of Bullhead City should provide access to the Airport's Disclosure Map 
on their respective Web sites; Establish communication between the 
Airport and the City of Bullhead City Public Works Department. FAA 
approved in part and disapproved in part the following Land Use 
Management Measures: Designate the Public Disclosure Map Boundary on 
the General Plan; and Amend Airport Noise and Height Overlay Zone.
    The approved Program Management Elements include the following: 
Update Noise Exposure Maps and Noise Compatibility Program; Monitor 
implementation of the Part 150 Noise Compatibility Program; and 
Maintain system for receiving and responding to noise complaints.
    The FAA determinations are set forth in detail in the Record of 
Approval signed by the Manager of the Airports Division, Western-
Pacific Region, on January 11, 2016. 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 the Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport. 
The Record of Approval also will be available on-line at: http://www.faa.gov/airports/environmental/airport_noise/part_150/states/.

    Issued in Hawthorne, California, on January 15, 2016.
Mia Paredes Ratcliff,
Acting Manager, Airports Division, Western-Pacific Region, AWP-600.
[FR Doc. 2016-01416 Filed 1-25-16; 8:45 am]
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