[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 126 (Thursday, July 2, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31791-31792]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-15698]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport; Noise 
Exposure Map

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 
Metropolitan Airport Authority of Peoria for General Wayne A. Downing 
Peoria 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

[[Page 31792]]

applicable requirements. The FAA also announces that it is reviewing a 
proposed noise compatibility program that was submitted for General 
Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport under Part 150 in 
conjunction with the noise exposure map, and that this program will be 
approved or disapproved on or before December 26, 2009.

DATES: 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 June 26, 2009. The public 
comment period ends August 26, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Amy Hanson, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, CHI-603, Federal Aviation Administration, 
Chicago Airport District Office, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, 
IL 60018. Telephone number: 847-294-7354. 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 General Wayne A. Downing 
Peoria International Airport are in compliance with applicable 
requirements of Part 150, effective June 26, 2009. Further, FAA is 
reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program for that airport which 
will be approved or disapproved on or before December 26, 2009. 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 measures the operator has taken or proposes to take to reduce 
existing non-compatible uses and prevent the introduction of additional 
non-compatible uses.
    Metropolitan Airport Authority of Peoria submitted to the FAA on 
October 31, 2008 noise exposure maps, descriptions and other 
documentation that were produced during noise compatibility planning 
study conducted from 2004 through 2008. 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 Metropolitan Airport Authority of 
Peoria. The specific documentation determined to constitute the noise 
exposure maps includes: Exhibit 7-4, Exhibit 8-1, and Sections 4 
through 8 of the Part 150 study document). The FAA has determined that 
these maps for General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport 
are in compliance with applicable requirements. This determination is 
effective on June 26, 2009. 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 overlaying 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 
General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport, also effective 
on November 24, 2008. 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 December 26, 2009. A public hearing was held on September 24, 
2008 at the General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport lower 
level conference room.
    The FAA's detailed evaluation will be conducted under the 
provisions of 14 CFR part 150, Sec.  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, Chicago Airport District Office, 2300 
East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, IL 60018.
Metropolitan Airport Authority of Peoria, 6100 W. Everett McKinley 
Dirksen Parkway, Peoria, IL 61607.

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

    Issued in Des Plaines, IL, June 26, 2009.
James G. Keefer,
Manager, Chicago Airports District Office.
[FR Doc. E9-15698 Filed 7-1-09; 8:45 am]
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