[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 213 (Friday, November 1, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56603-56604]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-28111]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice and Receipt of Noise Compatibility 
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 Portland 
International Airport (PDX) 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 proposed noise compatibility 
program that was submitted for Portland International Airport under 
Part 150 in conjunction with the noise exposure maps, and that this 
program will be approved or disapproved on or before April 21, 1997.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's determination on the 
Portland International Airport noise exposure maps and the start of its 
review of the associated noise compatibility program is October 22, 
1996. The public comment period ends December 23, 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 Portland International Airport are in 
compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, effective October 
22, 1996. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility 
program for that airport which will be approved or disapproved on or 
before April 21, 1997. 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.
    The Director of Aviation for Portland International 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 PDX. The specific maps under 
consideration are Exhibit 5-12 and 5-13 in the submission. The FAA has 
determined that these maps for Portland International Airport are in 
compliance with applicable requirements. This determination is 
effective on October 22, 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

[[Page 56604]]

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 
PDX, also effective on October 22, 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 April 21, 1997.
    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
Portland International Airport,
Portland, Oregon
    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, October 22, 1996.
David A. Field,
Acting Manager, Airports Division, ANM-600, Northwest Mountain Region.
[FR Doc. 96-28111 Filed 10-31-96; 8:45 am]
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