[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 36 (Thursday, February 23, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10139-10140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-4437]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review Greater Rockford Airport, Rockford, IL

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 the Greater 
Rockford Airport Authority for Greater Rockford 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 Greater 
Rockford Airport under Part 150 in conjunction with the noise exposure 
map, and that this program will be approved or disapproved on or before 
July 30, 1995.

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 31, 1995. The public comment 
period ends April 3, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Melissa Wishy, Federal Aviation Administration, Chicago Airports 
District Office, CHI-ADO-640.8, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, 
Illinois, 60018, (708) 294-7524.

[[Page 10140]] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that 
the FAA finds that the noise exposure maps submitted for Greater 
Rockford Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 
150, effective January 31, 1995. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed 
noise compatibility program for that airport which will be approved or 
disapproved on or before July 30 1995. This notice 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 operators 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.
    Greater Rockford Airport Authority submitted to the FAA on May 3, 
1994 noise exposure maps, descriptions and other documentation which 
were produced during the Airport Noise Compatibility Planning (Part 
150) Study at Greater Rockford Airport from February 1993 to May 1994. 
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 the Greater Rockford Airport 
Authority. The specific maps under consideration are Noise Exposure 
Maps: Official 1993 Noise Exposure Map and Official 1998 Noise Exposure 
Map. They are included along with supporting documentation found in the 
Part I Noise Exposure Map Documentation of the Part 150 Study in the 
submission. The FAA has determined that these maps for Greater Rockford 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements. This 
determination is effective January 31, 1995. 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 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 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 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 
Greater Rockford Airport, also effective January 31, 1995. Preliminary 
review of 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 30, 1995.
    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:

Airport Manager's Office, Greater Rockford Airport Authority, 3600 
Airport Drive, Rockford, Illinois 61125-0063
Rockford City Clerk's Office, Rockford City Hall, 1201 Broadway, 
Rockford, Illinois
Winnebago County Courthouse, County Clerk's Office, 400 West State, 
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford Public Library, 215 North Wymann, Rockford, Illinois
Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics, One 
Langhorne Drive, Capitol Airport, Springfield, Illinois
Federal Aviation Administration, Chicago Airports District Office, 2300 
East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018

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

    Issued in Des Plaines, Illinois on January 31, 1995.
Louis H. Yates,
Manager, Chicago Airports District Office, FAA, Great Lakes Region.
[FR Doc. 95-4437 Filed 2-22-95; 8:45 am]
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