[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 53 (Monday, March 18, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11078-11079]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6402]



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


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Acceptance of Noise Exposure Maps and Request for Review of Noise 
Compatibility Program for Kahului Airport, Kahului, Maui, HI

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
determination that the noise exposure maps submitted by the State of 
Hawaii, Department of Transportation for the Kahului Airport under the 
provisions of Title I of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 
1979 (Pub. L. 96-193) and 14 CFR Part 150 are in compliance with 
applicable requirements. The FAA also announces that it is reviewing a 
proposed noise compatibility program that was submitted for Kahului 
Airport

[[Page 11079]]
under Part 150 in conjunction with the noise exposure map, and that 
this program will be approved or disapproved on or before August 31, 
1996.

EFFECTIVE DATES: The effective date of the FAA's determination on the 
noise exposure maps and of the start of its review of the associated 
noise compatibility program is March 4, 1996. The public comment period 
ends April 4, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David J. Welhouse, Airport Planner, Honolulu Airports District Office, 
Federal Aviation Administration, P.O. Box 50244, Honolulu, HI 96850, 
Telephone: (808) 541-1243. 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 noise exposure maps submitted for Kahului Airport are in 
compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, effective March 4, 
1996. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program 
for that airport which will be approved or disapproved on or before 
August 31, 1996. 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 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.
    The State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation, submitted to the 
FAA on October 26, 1995 noise exposure maps, descriptions and other 
documentation which were produced during the preparation of the Kahului 
Airport Noise Compatibility Study dated September, 1995. 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 the State of Hawaii, Department of 
Transportation. The specific maps under consideration are Figures 5-1 
and 6-1 in the submission. The FAA has determined that these maps for 
Kahului Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements. This 
determination is effective on March 4, 1996. 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 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 
Kahului Airport, also effective on March 4, 1996. 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 August 31, 1996.
    The FAA's detailed evaluation will be conducted under the 
provisions of 14 CFR 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, 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, D.C. 20591
Federal Aviation Administration, Western-Pacific Region, Airports 
Division, AWP-600, 15000 Aviation Blvd., Room 3E24, Hawthorne, 
California 90261
Federal Aviation Administration, Honolulu Airports District Office, 300 
Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 7116, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation, Airports Division, 
Honolulu International Airport, 400 Rodgers Boulevard, Suite 700, 
Honolulu, Hawaii 96819
State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation, Airports Division, 
District Office Manager, Kahului Airport, Kahului, Maui, Hawaii 96732

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

    Issued in Hawthorne, California on March 4, 1996.
Robert C. Bloom,
Acting Manager, Airports Division, AWP-600, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 98-6402 Filed 3-15-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M