[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 142 (Tuesday, July 23, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38239-38240]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18689]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review, Tallahassee Regional Airport, Tallahassee, 
Florida

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
determination that the updated noise exposure maps submitted by the 
City of Tallahassee, Florida for Tallahassee Regional 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 update that was submitted for 
Tallahassee Regional Airport under Part 150 in conjunction with the 
noise exposure maps, and that this program update will be approved or 
disapproved on or before December 22, 1996.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's determination on the 
updated noise exposure maps and of the start of its review of the 
associated noise compatibility program update is June 25, 1996. The 
public comment period ends August 24, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Tommy J. Pickering, P.E., Federal 
Aviation Administration, Orlando Airports District Office, 9677 
Tradeport Drive, Suite 130, Orlando, Florida 32827-5397, (407) 648-
6583, Extension 29. Comments on the proposed noise

[[Page 38240]]

compatibility program update should also be submitted to the above 
office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds 
that the updated noise exposure maps submitted for Tallahassee Regional 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, 
effective June 25, 1996. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise 
compatibility program update for that airport which will be approved or 
disapproved on or before December 22, 1996. This notice also announces 
the availability of this program update 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 to 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 City of Tallahassee, Florida, submitted to the FAA on June 4, 
1996, updated noise exposure maps, descriptions and other documentation 
which were produced during the Tallahassee Regional Airport FAR Part 
150 Program Update conducted between January 3, 1994 and May 30, 1996. 
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 updated noise exposure maps 
and related descriptions submitted by the City of Tallahassee, Florida. 
The specific maps under consideration are ``CURRENT DNL NOISE CONTOURS 
MAP A'' and ``FUTURE FIVE-YEAR DNL NOISE CONTOURS WITH MODIFICATIONS 
MAP B'' in the submission. The FAA has determined that these maps for 
Tallahassee Regional Airport are in compliance with applicable 
requirements. This determination is effective on June 25, 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 responsibilies 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 
update for Tallahassee Regional Airport, also effective on June 25, 
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 update. The formal review period, limited 
by law to a maximum of 180 days, will be completed on or before 
December 22, 1996.
    The FAA's detailed evaluation will be conducted under the 
provisions of 14 CFR Part 150, Section 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 
update 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 updated 
noise exposure maps, the FAA's evaluation of the maps, and the proposed 
noise compatibility program update are available for examination at the 
following locations:

Federal Aviation Administration, Orlando Airports District Office, 9677 
Tradeport Drive, Suite 130, Orlando, Florida 32827-5397
Airport Director's Office, Tallahassee Regional Airport, 1400 Lee 
Wagener Boulevard, Tallahassee, FL 32304

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

    Issued in Orlando, Florida on June 25, 1996.
Charles E. Blair,
Manager, Orlando Airport District Office.
[FR Doc. 96-18689 Filed 7-22-96; 8:45am]
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