[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