[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 211 (Wednesday, November 1, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55643-55644]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-26989]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Approval of Noise Compatibility Program for Saipan International 
Airport

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 
Commonwealth Ports Authority 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 14, 1994 the FAA determined that the 
Noise Exposure Maps submitted by the Commonwealth Ports Authority under 
Part 150 were in compliance with applicable requirements. On September 
25, 1995, the Deputy Associate Administrator for Airports approved the 
Saipan International Airport, Obyan, Northern Mariana Islands, Noise 
Compatibility Program. Ten of the eleven recommendations of the program 
were approved and one had no action.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the Saipan 
International Airport Noise Compatibility Program is September 25, 
1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David J. Welhouse, Airport Planner, Honolulu Airports District Office, 
Federal Aviation Administration, P.O. Box 50244, Honolulu, Hawaii 
96850, Telephone: (808) 541-1243. Street Address: 300 Ala Moana Blvd, 
Room 7116. Documents reflecting this FAA action may be reviewed at the 
same location.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA has given 
its overall approval to the Noise Compatibility Program for the Saipan 
International Airport, effective September 25, 1995.
    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 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 

[[Page 55644]]
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 District Office in Honolulu, Hawaii.
    The Commonwealth Ports Authority submitted to the FAA on November 
15, 1993, the Noise Exposure Maps, descriptions, and other 
documentation produced during the noise compatibility planning study 
conducted from August 1993 through August 1994. The Saipan 
International Airport Noise Exposure Maps were determined by FAA to be 
in compliance with applicable requirements on February 14, 1994. Notice 
of this determination was published in the Federal Register on February 
28, 1994.
    The Saipan International Airport 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 1999. 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 March 29, 1995 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 eleven (11) 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 September 25, 
1995.
    Outright approval was granted for ten (10) of the eleven (11) of 
the specific program elements. Approval program measures include: Early 
power cutbacks in accordance with Advisory Circular 91-53A (approved as 
a voluntary measure only); Study possible land exchanges for private 
lands; Provide sound attenuation for impacted residences; Monitor 
development proposals in the Saipan International Airport environs; 
Monitor aircraft noise levels and operations at Saipan International 
Airport and conduct annual public information meetings on the progress 
of the Part 150 program; and Disclose airport noise impacts for all 
real estate transfers. No action was taken on the measure to implement 
an informal runway use program.
    These determinations are set forth in detail in a Record of 
Approval endorsed by the Administrator on September 25, 1995. The 
Record of Approval, as well as other evaluation materials and the 
documents comprising the submittal, are available for review in the FAA 
office listed above and at the administrative offices of the 
Commonwealth Ports Authority.

    Issued in Hawthorne, California on October 16, 1995.
Robert C. Bloom,
Acting Manager, Airports Division.
[FR Doc. 95-26989 Filed 10-31-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M