[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 168 (Wednesday, August 31, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-21526]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 31, 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 McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, NV

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 Clark County, 
Nevada, for McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada, 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 also 
reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program that was submitted for 
McCarran International Airport under Part 150 in conjunction with the 
noise exposure map, and that this program will be approved or 
disapproved on or before February 15, 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 19, 1994. The public comment period 
ends October 18, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph R. Rodriguez, Federal Aviation 
Administration, San Francisco Airports District Office, 831 Mitten 
Road, Burlingame, California 94010-1303, Telephone 415/876-2805.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds 
that the noise exposure maps submitted for the McCarran International 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150 
effective August 19, 1994.
    Under Section 103 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.
    Clark County, Nevada submitted to the FAA on March 9, 1994, noise 
exposure maps, descriptions and other documentation which were produced 
during the McCarran International Airport Part 150 Study conducted 
between May, 1992 and January 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 Clark County, Nevada. The specific 
maps under consideration are Figure 11 ``Noise Exposure Map: 1992 with 
Existing Land Use'', and Figure 12, ``Noise Exposure Map: 1997 Existing 
and Approved Land'' in the submission. The FAA has determined that 
these maps for the McCarran International Airport are in compliance 
with applicable requirements. This determination is effective on August 
19, 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 maps 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 
McCarran International Airport, also effective on August 19, 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 15, 
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 and of 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, Room 3012, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Hawthorne, California 
90261
Federal Aviation Administration, San Francisco Airports District 
Office, 831 Mitten Road, Burlingame, California 94010-1303
Mr. Robert N. Broadbent, Director of Aviation, Clark County, Nevada, 
P.O. Box 11005, Las Vegas, Nevada 89111-1105

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

    Issued in Hawthorne, California on August 19, 1994.
Ellsworth L. Chan,
Acting Manager, Airports Division, AWP-600, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 94-21526 Filed 8-30-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M