[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 57 (Friday, March 22, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11937-11939]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-6994]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration


Approval of Revision No. 1 to the Approved Noise Compatibility 
Program for Reno/Tahoe International Airport, Reno, NV

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation (FAA) announces its findings on Revision 
No. 1 to the Approved Noise Compatibility Program for the Reno/Tahoe 
International Airport, submitted by the Airport Authority of Washoe 
County, Nevada, under the provisions of Title I of the Aviation Safety 
and Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (Pub. L. 96-193) (hereinafter referred 
to as ``the Act'') and 14 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 February 22, 
1991, the FAA determined that the Noise Exposure Maps, submitted by the 
Airport Authority of Washoe County under 14 CFR Part 150, were in 
compliance with applicable requirements. On September 1, 1993, the 
Associate Administrator for Airports approved the Noise Compatibility

[[Page 11938]]
Program for Reno/Tahoe International Airport. On December 8, 1995, the 
Associate Administrator for Airports approved Revision Number 1 to the 
Approved Noise Compatibility Program for Reno/Tahoe International 
Airport. The two (2) modifications to existing approved measures and 
one additional measure to the approved program were approved.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the Noise 
Compatibility Program for Reno/Tahoe International Airport is December 
8, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph R. Rodriguez, Planning/
Programming Section Supervisor, Federal Aviation Administration, 
Airports District Office, 831 Mitten Road, Burlingame, California 
94010-1303, Telephone (415) 876-2805. 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 Revision No. 1 to the Approved Noise 
Compatibility Program for Reno/Tahoe International Airport, effective 
December 8, 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 sponsor 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 
navigable airspace and air traffic control 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 implementation 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 under the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982, as amended. 
Where Federal funding is sought, requests for project grants must be 
submitted to the FAA Airports District Office in Burlingame, 
California.
    The Airport Authority of Washoe County, Nevada submitted to the FAA 
on July 31, 1990, the Noise Exposure Maps, descriptions, and other 
documentation produced during the Noise Compatibility Planning study 
conducted from July 1983 through July 1990. The Reno/Tahoe 
International Airport Noise Exposure Maps were determined by FAA to be 
in compliance with applicable requirements on February 22, 1991. Notice 
of this determination was published in the Federal Register on March 
11, 1991.
    The Reno/Tahoe International Airport study contained 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 or beyond, the year 1996. It was 
requested that the FAA evaluated 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 5, 1993 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). The Noise Compatibility Program was approved by the FAA on 
September 1, 1993. On June 13, 1995, the FAA began its review of 
Revision No. 1 to the approved program 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 an approval of such program.
    The submitted revision to the approved program contained three (3) 
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. Revision 
Number 1 to the Approved Noise Compatibility Program, was therefore 
approved by the Associate Administrator for Airports effective December 
8, 1995.
    Outright approval was granted for the following three (3) specific 
revision measures: A. The approved measures included modification of 
approved NCP Measure No. 4 to encourage the Nevada Air National Guard 
to convert their existing fleet of F-4 aircraft to F-16 or any other 
quieter aircraft. B. Modification of approved NCP measure No. 14 to add 
to the designated areas the remainder of two neighborhoods and include 
the voluntary acquisition of property interests such as navigation 
easements, development rights and deed restrictions and purchase 
assurance for homeowners within the 65 DNL noise contour, and C. 
Addition of a new NCP Measure No. 17 to make eligible for voluntary 
acquisition three residential parcels north of the airport within the 
65 DNL contour.
    This determination is set forth in detail in a Record of Approval 
endorsed by the Associate Administrator for Airports on December 8, 
1995. 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 and at the administrative offices of the 
Airport Authority of Washoe County, Reno, Nevada.


[[Page 11939]]

    Issued in Hawthorne, California on March 13, 1996.
Robert C. Bloom,
Acting Manager, Airports Division, AWP-600, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 96-6994 Filed 3-21-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M