[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 73 (Monday, April 15, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16518-16519]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9251]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION -
Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice and Receipt of Noise Compability 
Program and Request for Review

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 Snohomish 
County Airport (PAE) 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 Snohomish County Airport under Part 150 in 
conjunction with the noise exposure maps, and that this program will be 
approved or disapproved on or before October 2, 1996.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's determination on the 
Snohomish County Airport noise exposure maps and the start of its 
review of the associated noise compatibility program is April 5, 1996. 
The public comment period ends May 6, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dennis Ossenkop, FAA, Airports Division, ANM-611, 1601 Lind Avenue, 
S.W., Renton, Washington, 98055-4056. 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 for Snohomish County Airport are in 
compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, effective April 5, 
1996. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program 
for that airport which will be approved or disapproved on or before 
October 2, 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 a noise exposure map which meets 
applicable regulations and which depicts noncompatible land uses as of 
the date of submission of such map, a description of projected aircraft 
operations, and the ways in which such operations will affect such map. 
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 a noise exposure map that has 
been found by FAA to be in compliance with the requirements of Federal 
Aviation Regulation (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.

[[Page 16519]]

    The Airport Manager for Snohomish County Airport submitted to the 
FAA noise exposure maps, descriptions and other documentation which 
were produced during an airport Noise Compatibility Study. 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 PAE. The specific maps under 
consideration are Figures C5 and G1 in the submission. The FAA has 
determined that these maps for Snohomish County Airport are in 
compliance with applicable requirements. This determination is 
effective on April 5, 1996. FAA's determination on an airport 
operator's noise exposure maps is limited to the determination 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 noise exposure maps 
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 for 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 maps 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 the FAR Part 150, that the statutorily required consultation 
has been accomplished.
    The FAA has formally received the noise compatibility program for 
PAE, also effective on April 5, 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 October 2, 1996.
    The FAA's detailed evaluation will be conducted under the 
provisions of 14 CFR Part 150, paragraph 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 the 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, Independence Avenue, SW, Room 615, 
Washington, D.C.
Federal Aviation Administration, Airports Division, ANM-600, 1601 Lind 
Avenue, S.W., Renton, Washington, 98055-4056
Snohomish Country Airport, Everett, Washington

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

    Issued in Renton, Washington, April 5, 1996.
Matthew Cavanaugh,
Acting Manager, Airports Division, ANM-600, Northwest Mountain Region.
[FR Doc. 96-9251 Filed 4-12-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M