[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 68 (Monday, April 8, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15557-15558]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-8642]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review Chattanooga Metropolitan (Lovell Field) Airport 
Chattanooga, TN

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
determination that the noise exposure maps submitted by Chattanooga 
Metropolitan Airport Authority for Chattanooga Metropolitan (Lovell 
Field) Airport 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 
are in compliance with applicable requirements. The FAA also announces 
that it is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program that was 
submitted for Chattanooga Metropolitan (Lovell Field) Airport under 
Part 150 in conjunction with the noise exposure map, and that this 
program will be approved or disapproved on or before September 23, 
1996.

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 27, 1996. The public comment period ends 
May 26, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jerry O. Bowers, Airports District Office, 2851 Directors Cove, Suite 
#3, Memphis, TN 38131-0301, telephone number 901-544-3495. 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 Chattanooga Metropolitan 
(Lovell Field) Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements 
of Part 150, effective March 27, 1996. Further, FAA is reviewing a 
proposed noise compatibility program for that airport which will be 
approved or disapproved on or before September 23, 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

[[Page 15558]]
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.
    Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority submitted to the FAA on 
October 2, 1995, noise exposure maps, descriptions and other 
documentation which were produced during Chattanooga Metropolitan 
Airport Noise Compatibility Study, initiated in Fall 1992. 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 Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport 
Authority. The specific maps under consideration are Chattanooga 
Metropolitan (Lovell Field) `1995 Base Case LDN Contours' and `1999 
Forecast Case LDN Contours' in the submission. The FAA has determined 
that these maps for Chattanooga Metropolitan (Lovell Field) Airport are 
in compliance with applicable requirements. This determination is 
effective on March 27, 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 
Chattanooga Metropolitan (Lovell Field) Airport, also effective on 
March 27, 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 
September 23, 1996.
    The FAA's detailed evaluation will be conducted under the 
provisions of 14 CFR Part 150, Sec. 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, Community and Environmental Needs 
Division, APP-600, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 615B, Washington, 
D.C. 20591
Federal Aviation Administration, Airports District Office, 2815 
Directors Cove, Suite #3, Memphis, Tennessee 38131-0301
Mr. Hugh Davis, President, Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority, 
P.O. Box 22444, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37422.

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

    Issued in Memphis Airports District Office, March 27, 1996.
LaVerne F. Reid,
Manager.
[FR Doc. 96-8642 Filed 4-5-96; 8:45 am]
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