[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 241 (Friday, December 16, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-30960]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: December 16, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

 

Approval of Noise Compatibility Program for Modesto City-County 
Airport, Modesto, CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
findings on the noise compatibility program submitted by the City of 
Modesto, Modesto, California 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. These findings are made in recognition of the 
description of federal and nonfederal responsibilities in Senate Report 
No. 96-52 (1980). On February 26, 1993, the FAA determined that the 
noise exposure maps submitted by the County under Part 150 were in 
compliance with applicable requirements. On November 22, 1994, the 
Assistant Administrator for Airports approved the Modesto City-County 
Airport noise compatibility program. Fourteen (14) of the proposed 
action elements were approved, one (1) element was disapproved.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the Modesto 
City-County Airport noise compatibility program is November 22, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John L. Pfeifer, Manager, Airports 
District Office, SFO-600, Federal Aviation Administration, 831 Mitten 
Road, Burlingame, California 94010. Documents reflecting this FAA 
action may be reviewed at this same location.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA has given 
its overall approval to the noise compatibility program for the Modesto 
City-County Airport, effective November 22, 1994.
    Under Section 104(a) of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act 
of 1979 (hereinafter referred to as ``the Act''), an airport operator 
who has previously submitted a noise exposure map, may submit to the 
FAA, a noise compatibility program which sets forth the measures taken 
or proposed by the airport operator for the reduction of existing 
noncompatible land uses and prevention of additional noncompatible land 
uses within the area covered by the noise exposure maps. The Act 
requires such programs to be developed in consultation with interested 
and affected parties including local communities, government agencies, 
airport users, and FAA personnel.
    Each airport noise compatibility program developed in accordance 
with Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 150 is a local program, 
not a federal program. The FAA does not substitute its judgment for 
that of the airport proprietor with respect to which measures should be 
recommended for action. The FAA's approval or disapproval of FAR Part 
150 program recommendations is measured according to the standards 
expressed in Part 150 and the Act and is limited to the following 
determinations:
    a. The noise compatibility program was developed in accordance with 
the provisions and procedures of FAR Part 150;
    b. Program measures are reasonably consistent with achieving the 
goals of reducing existing noncompatible land uses around the airport 
and preventing the introduction of additional noncompatible land uses;
    c. Program measures would not create an undue burden on interstate 
or foreign commerce, unjustly discriminate against type or classes of 
aeronautical uses, violate the terms of airport grant agreements, or 
intrude into areas preempted by the federal government; and
    d. Program measures relating to the use of flight procedures can be 
implemented within the period covered by the program without derogating 
safety, adversely affecting the efficient use and management of the 
navigable airspace and air traffic control systems, or adversely 
affecting other powers and responsibilities of the Administrator 
prescribed by law.
    Specific limitations with respect to FAA's approval of an airport 
noise compatibility program are delineated in FAR Part 150, Sec. 150.5. 
Approval is not a determination concerning the acceptability of land 
uses under federal, state, or local law. Approval does not by itself 
constitute an FAA implementing action. A request for federal action or 
approval to implement specific noise compatibility measures may be 
required, and an FAA decision on the request may require an 
environmental assessment of the proposed action. Approval does not 
constitute a commitment by the FAA to financially assist in the 
implementation of the program nor a determination that all measures 
covered by the program are eligible for grant-in-aid funding from the 
FAA. Where federal funding is sought, request for project grants must 
be submitted to the Airports District Office at the location identified 
in ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT'' clause above.
    The City of Modesto submitted to the FAA on June 29, 1992, the 
Noise Exposure Maps, descriptions, and other documentation produced 
during the noise compatibility planning study conducted from January 
1991, through June 1992. The Modesto City-County Airport noise exposure 
maps were determined by FAA to be in compliance with applicable 
requirements on February 26, 1993.
    The Modesto City-County Airport Study contains proposed noise 
compatibility program comprised of actions designed for phased 
implementation by airport management and adjacent jurisdictions from 
the date of study completion to (or beyond) the year 2000. It was 
requested that the FAA evaluate and approve this material as a noise 
compatibility program as described in Section 104(b) of the Act. The 
FAA began its review of the program on November 22, 1994, and was 
required by a provision of the Act to approve or disapprove the program 
within 180-days (other than the use of new flight procedures for noise 
control). Failure to approve or disapprove such program within the 180-
days period shall be deemed to be an approval of such a program.
    The submitted program contained sixteen (16) proposed actions for 
noise mitigation on and off the airport. The FAA completed its review 
and determined that the procedural and substantive requirements of the 
Act and FAR Part 150 have been satisfied. The overall program, 
therefore, was approved by the Associate Administrator for Airports 
effective November 22, 1994.
    Outright approval was granted for fourteen (14) of the specific 
program elements. One (1) element was approved in part and disapproved 
in part. One element was a no action required at this time because it 
related to flight procedures. The approved elements included existing 
flight track policies, existing runway use program, evaluating noise-
monitoring system, public information program, encouraging specific 
plans, consistent off airport improvement, zoning and disclosure to 
buyers.
    These determinations are set forth in detail in a Record of 
Approval endorsed by the Assistant Administrator for Airports on 
November 22, 1994. The Record of Approval, as well as other evaluation 
materials and the documents comprising the submittal, are available for 
review at the FAA office listed above at the administrative offices of 
Modesto.
    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, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Room 3E24, Hawthorne, California, 
Mail: P.O. Box 92007, Worldway Postal Center, Los Angeles, California 
90009;
Mr. Howard L. Cook, Airport Manager, Modesto City-County Airport, 617 
Airport Way, Modesto, California 95354-3916.

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

    Issued in Hawthorne, California on November 29, 1994.
Robert C. Bloom,
Acting Manager, Airports Division, AWP-600, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 94-30960 Filed 12-15-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M