[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 159 (Thursday, August 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-20301]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 18, 1994]


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SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
 

Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review; Little Rock Regional Airport, Little Rock, AR

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 Little Rock 
Airport Commission for Little Rock Regional 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 Little Rock 
Regional Airport under Part 150 in conjunction with the noise exposure 
maps and that this program will be approved or disapproved on or before 
February 7, 1995.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's determination on the 
noise exposure maps and the start of its review of the associated noise 
compatibility program is August 11, 1994. The public comment period 
ends October 9, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Hess, Department of 
Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Fort Worth, Texas, 
76193-0630, (817) 222-5634. 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 Little Rock Regional Airport 
are in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, effective 
August 11, 1994. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise 
compatibility program for that airport which will be approved or 
disapproved on or before February 7, 1995. 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 the 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 proposed for 
the reduction of existing noncompatible uses and for the prevention of 
the introduction of additional noncompatible uses.
    The Little Rock Airport Commission submitted to the FAA on November 
10, 1993, noise exposure maps, descriptions and other documentation 
which were produced during development of the Little Rock Regional 
Airport F.A.R. Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study. 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 Little Rock Airport Commission. 
The specific maps under consideration are Exhibit 1, 1993 Noise 
Exposure Map, and Exhibit 2, 1998 Noise Exposure Map in the submission.
    The FAA has determined that these maps for Little Rock Regional 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements. This 
determination is effective on August 10, 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 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 
Little Rock Regional Airport, also effective on August 11, 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 February 7, 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:

Federal Aviation Administration, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Airports 
Division, ASW-630, Fort Worth, Texas 76137-4298
Little Rock Regional Airport, #1 Airport Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas 
72202-4489

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

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, August 11, 1994.
Faye S. Nedderman,
Manager, Arkansas/Louisiana, Airport Development Office.
[FR Doc. 94-20301 Filed 8-17-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M