[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 232 (Monday, December 5, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-29500]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: December 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, Palm Beach International Airport, West Palm 
Beach, FL

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
determination that the revised future noise exposure map submitted by 
the Palm Beach County Department of Airports, West Palm Beach, Florida 
for The Palm Beach International 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 is in compliance with applicable 
requirements. The FAA also announces that it is reviewing a proposed 
noise compatibility program that was submitted for The Palm Beach 
International Airport under Part 150 in conjunction with the noise 
exposure maps, and that this program will be approved or disapproved on 
or before May 17, 1995. This program was submitted subsequent to a 
determination by FAA that the associated existing noise exposure map 
submitted under 14 CFR Part 150 for The Palm Beach International 
Airport was in compliance with applicable requirements effective 
February 1, 1993.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's determination on the 
revised future noise exposure map and of the start of its review of the 
associated noise compatibility program is November 18, 1994. The public 
comment period ends January 17, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Tommy J. Pickering, P.E., Federal Aviation Administration, Orlando 
Airports District Office, 9677 Tradeport Drive, Suite 130, Orlando, 
Florida 32827-5397, (407) 648-6583. 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 revised future noise exposure map submitted for The Palm Beach 
International Airport is in compliance with applicable requirements of 
Part 150, effective November 18, 1994. Further, FAA is reviewing a 
proposed noise compatibility program for that airport which will be 
approved or disapproved on or before May 17, 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 to 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 Palm Beach County Department of Airports, West Palm Beach, 
Florida, submitted to the FAA on October 6, 1994, a revised future 
noise exposure map, descriptions and other documentation which were 
produced during the Palm Beach International Airport FAR Part 150 Study 
conducted between March 21, 1991 and October 4, 1994. It was requested 
that the FAA review this material as the future noise exposure map, 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 revised future nose 
exposure map and related descriptions submitted by the Palm Beach 
County Department of Airports, West Palm Beach, Florida. The specific 
map under consideration is ``REVISED FIVE-YEAR (1998) NOISE EXPOSURE 
MAP, INCLUDING IMPLEMENTATION OF REVISED NOISE COMPATIBILITY PROGRAM 
WITH EXISTING OFF-AIRPORT LAND USE'' in the submission. The FAA has 
determined that this map for The Palm Beach International Airport is in 
compliance with applicable requirements. This determination is 
effective on November 18, 1994. FAA's determination on an airport 
operator's noise exposure maps is limited to a funding 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 overlying of noise 
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 
The Palm Beach International Airport, also effective on November 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 May 17, 1995.
    The FAA's detailed evaluation will be conducted under the provision 
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, crate an undue burden on interstate or 
foreign commerce, or be reasonable 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, Orlando Airports District Office, 9677 
Tradeport Drive, Suite 130, Orlando, Florida 32827-5397
Palm Beach County Department of Airports, Palm Beach International 
Airport, Building 846, West Palm Beach, FL 33406-1491

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

    Issued in Orlando, Florida, November 18, 1994.
Charles E. Blair,
Manager, Orlando Airports District Office.
[FR Doc. 94-29500 Filed 12-2-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M