[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 5, 1994)]
[Notices]
[Pages 643-645]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-139]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 5, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

 

Noise Exposure Map Notice, Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review; Minneapolis-St. Paul International (Wold-
Chamberlain Field) Airport, Minneapolis, MN

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 
Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Airports Commission for Minneapolis-
St. Paul International (Wold-Chamberlain Field) Airport 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. The FAA also announces that it is reviewing a 
proposed noise compatibility program that was submitted for 
Minneapolis-St. Paul International (Wold-Chamberlain Field) Airport 
under part 150 in conjunction with the noise exposure map, and that 
this program will be approved or disapproved on or before June 8, 1994.

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 December 10, 1993. The public comment 
period ends February 8, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
John M. Dougherty, Federal Aviation Administration, Airports District 
Office, room 102, 6020 28th Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55450, 
(612) 725-4222. 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 Minneapolis-St. Paul 
International (Wold-Chamberlain Field) Airport are in compliance with 
applicable requirements of part 150, effective December 10, 1993. 
Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program for 
that airport which will be approved or disapproved on or before June 8, 
1994. This notice also 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 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 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 non-compatible uses.
    The Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Airports Commission submitted 
to the FAA on March 30, 1992, noise exposure maps, descriptions and 
other documentation which were produced during the FAR Part 150 Noise 
Compatibility Study from March 1991 to March 1992. 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 Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan 
Airports Commission. The specific maps under consideration are the 1991 
existing Noise Exposure Map and the 1996 future Noise Exposure Map. The 
FAA has determined that these maps for the Minneapolis-St. Paul 
International (Wold-Chamberlain Field) Airport are in compliance with 
the applicable requirements. This determination is effective on 
December 10, 1993. 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 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 detail overlaying of noise 
exposure contours onto the map depicting properties on the surface 
rests exclusively with the airport operator who 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.
    The FAA has formally received the noise compatibility program for 
the Minneapolis-St. Paul International (Wold-Chamberlain Field) 
Airport, also effective on December 10, 1993. 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 June 8, 1994.
    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 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:

Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., room 617, 
Washington, DC 20591
Federal Aviation Administration, Minneapolis Airports District Office, 
room 102, 6020-28th Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55450
The Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Airports Commission, Minneapolis-
St. Paul International (Wold-Chamberlain Field) Airport, 6040-28th 
Street South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55450

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

    Issued in Minneapolis, Minnesota on December 10, 1993.
Franklin D. Benson,
Manager, Minneapolis Airports District Office, FAA Great Lakes Region.
[FR Doc. 94-139 Filed 1-4-94; 8:45 am]
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