[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 5, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35097-35098]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-16441]



=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Approval of Noise Compatibility Program, Laredo International 
Airport, Laredo, TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
findings on the noise compatibility program submitted by the city of 
Laredo, TX, under the provisions of Title I of the Aviation Safety and 
Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (Public Law 96-193) and CFR Part 150. These 
findings are made in recognition of the description of Federal and non-
Federal responsibilities in Senate Report No. 96-52 (1980). On April 
18, 1994, the FAA determined that the noise exposure maps submitted by 
the city of Laredo under Part 150 were in compliance with applicable 
requirements. On October 14, 1994, the Administrator approved the 

[[Page 35098]]
noise compatibility program. Most of the recommendations of the program 
were approved.

EFFECTIVE DATES: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the Laredo 
International Airport noise compatibility program is October 14, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Guillermo Y. Villalobos, Department of 
Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, 2601 Meacham 
Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76193-0650, (817) 222-5657. 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 Laredo 
International Airport, effective October 19, 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 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 types 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, Section 
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, requests for project grants must 
be submitted to the FAA Airports Division Office in Forth Worth, TX.
    The city of Laredo submitted to the FAA on April 18, 1994, the 
noise exposure maps, descriptions, and other documentation produced 
during the noise compatibility planning study conducted from April 16, 
1992, through April 18, 1994. The Laredo International Airport noise 
exposure maps were determined by FAA to be in compliance with 
applicable requirements on April 18, 1994. Notice of this determination 
was published in the Federal Register on April 29, 1994.
    The Laredo International Airport noise compatibility study contains 
a proposed noise compatibility program comprised of actions designed 
for phased implementation by airport management and adjacent 
jurisdictions from the date of study completion to the year 1997.
    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 April 18, 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-
day period shall be deemed to be an approval of such program.
    The submitted program contained 9 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 Administrator effective October 14, 1994.
    Outright approval was granted for 8 of the 9 specific program 
elements.
    Operational element No. 1 was approved in part. Extension of Runway 
17L 2,000 feet to the north and reconstruction of Runway 17L/35R are 
disapproved for purposes of Part 150. These improvements are more 
related to capacity than to noise.
    Operational element No. 3 is approved in part for the same reason 
stated in the above paragraph as it relates to the extension and 
reconstruction of Runway 14/32.
    Operational element No. 5 is disapproved pending submission of 
additional information.
    Land use management element No. 1, (d) is approved in part pending 
a showing that at the time of implementation the property is within the 
DNL 75 contour, and, to a determination that the property is in danger 
of being developed incompatibly unless it is acquired by the airport 
operator. Portions of this undeveloped land to be acquired in 
connection with proposed runway improvements are disapproved for 
purposes of Part 150 and would be expected to be acquired as part of an 
airport development project rather than for noise mitigation.
    These determinations are set forth in detail in a Record of 
Approval endorsed by the Administrator on October 14, 1994. The Record 
of Approval, as well as other evaluation materials and the documents 
comprising the submittal, are available at the FAA office listed above 
and at the administrative offices of the Federal Aviation 
Administration, Community and Environmental Needs Development, APP-600, 
800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 27, 1995.
Otis T. Welch,
Manager, Texas Airport Development Branch.
[FR Doc. 95-16441 Filed 7-3-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M