[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 1, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 11164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-4981]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration


Baltimore/Washington International Airport, Baltimore, Maryland; 
Noise Exposure Map Notice

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
determination that the revised noise exposure maps submitted by the 
Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA) for the Baltimore/Washington 
International Airport (BWI) under the provisions of Title I of the 
Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (Pub. L. 96-193) and 14 
CFR part 150 are in compliance with applicable requirements.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's determination on the 
noise exposure maps is February 7, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Squeglia, Environmental 
Specialist, FAA--Eastern Region Office, Airports Division, AEA-610, 
Fitzgerald Federal Building, JFK Int'l Airport, Jamaica, NY 11430, 
(718), 553-0798.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds 
that the revised noise exposure maps submitted for the BWI Airport are 
in compliance with applicable requirements of FAR part 150, effective 
February 7, 1995.
    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 (or 
revisions thereto) which meet applicable regulations and which depict 
noncompatible land uses (or new noncompatible land uses) as of the date 
of submission of such maps, a description of projected aircraft 
operations, and the way 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.
    The Maryland Aviation Administration submitted to the FAA on 
December 23, 1994, supplemental FAR part 150 documentation supporting a 
recent update of the Noise Exposure Maps (NEM's) at BWI. It was 
requested that the FAA review this material for compliance with part 
150 regarding updates to noise exposure maps, as described in Section 
103(a)(2) of the Act.
    BWI received notification of FAA acceptance of its NEMs in December 
1989, and approval of its Noise Compatibility Program in July 1990. A 
1993 update of the BWI Airport Noise Zone has led to a revised set of 
noise contours. These revised contours also serve as the basis for 
revised Maps and the Volume V document, with appendices, constitutes 
supplemental information submitted by MAA to update the NEM's in 
accordance with FAR part 150 requirements. In addition to complying 
with requirements for NEM updates, MAA's request for FAA acceptance of 
the updated NEM's will insure an accurate depiction of noise sensitive 
land uses included in the NCP approved by the FAA in 1990.
    The FAA has completed its review of the updated noise exposure maps 
and related documentation submitted by MAA in its December 1994 Volume 
V Supplemental document. The specific maps under consideration are the 
NEM's: Figure 2.1 Existing Conditions (1991) Noise Exposure Map (page 
8) and Figure 2.2 Five Year Forecast (1998) Noise Exposure Map (page 9) 
of the Volume V Supplement.
    The FAA has determined that these updated maps for BWI are in 
compliance with applicable requirements. This determination is 
effective on February 7, 1995. FAA's determination on an airport 
operator's noise exposure maps is limited to 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 for future 
approval of 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 maps 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 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 detailed 
overlaying of noise exposure contours onto the maps 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 Sec. 150.21 of FAR part 150, that the statutorily required 
consultation has been accomplished.
    Copies of the updated NEM's associated evaluation material and the 
Supplemental Document comprising the submittal are available for review 
at the FAA office listed above and at the administrative offices of the 
BWI Airport.

    Issued in Jamaica, New York, on February 22, 1995.
William DeGraaff,
Manager, Planning & Programming Branch.
[FR Doc. 95-4981 Filed 2-28-95; 8:45 am]
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