[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 8, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-13915]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 8, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

 

Acceptance of Noise Exposure Maps and Request for Review of Noise 
Compatibility Program for Lake Tahoe Airport, South Lake Tahoe, CA

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 city of South 
Lake Tahoe, California, for Lake Tahoe 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 incompliance with applicable 
requirements. The FAA also announces that it is reviewing a proposed 
noise compatibility program that was submitted for Lake Tahoe Airport 
under part 150 in conjunction with the noise exposure map, and that 
this program will be approved or disapproved on or before November 14, 
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 May 18, 1994. The public comment period 
ends July 17, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Joseph R. Rodriguez, Planning/Programming Supervisor, Federal Aviation 
Administration, San Francisco Airports District Office, 831 Mitten 
Road, room 210, Burlingame, California 94010-1303, Telephone: (415) 
876-2805. 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 Lake Tahoe Airport are in 
compliance with applicable requirements of part 150, effective May 18, 
1994. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program 
for that airport which will be approved or disapproved on or before 
November 14, 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 noncompatible uses.
    The City of South Lake Tahoe, submitted to the FAA on September 24, 
1992 noise exposure maps, descriptions and other documentation which 
were produced during the preparation of the Noise Compatibility 
Program, Lake Tahoe Airport, California, dated September 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 city of South Lake Tahoe. The 
specific maps under consideration are Figure 3.3.1, ``Predicted 1991 
CNEL Contours'', and Figure 3.3.2, ``Predicted 1996 CNEL contours'', in 
the submission. The FAA has determined that these maps for Lake Tahoe 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements.
    This determination is effective on May 18, 1994. 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 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 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 
Lake Tahoe Airport, also effective on May 18, 1994. 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 November 14, 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, Western-Pacific Region, Airports 
Division, AWP-600, 15000 Aviation Blvd., Hawthorne, CA 90261, Mail 
Address: P.O. Box 92007, World Way Postal Center, Los Angeles, CA 
90009-2007
Federal Aviation Administration, San Francisco Airports District 
Office, 831 Mitten Road, room 210, Burlingame, California 94010-1303
Mr. Richard D. French, AAE, Airport Director, City of South Lake Tahoe, 
Lake Tahoe Airport, 1901 Airport Road, suite 100, South Lake Tahoe, 
California 96150-7004

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

    Issued in Hawthorne, California on May 18, 1994.
Robert C. Bloom,
Acting Manager, Airports Division, AWP-600.
[FR Doc. 94-13915 Filed 6-7-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M