[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 6, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57510-57511]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-28561]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; 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 DeKalb County 
for DeKalb-Peachtree 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 DeKalb-Peachtree Airport under Part 150 
in conjunction with the noise exposure map, and that this program will 
be approved or disapproved on or before April 27, 1997.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 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 October 29, 1996. The public comment 
period ends December 28, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Atlanta Airport District Office, Campus Building, Attn: Ms. Lee Kyker, 
1701 Columbia Ave., Suite 2-260, College Park, GA 30337-2747, Phone: 
(404) 305-7149.
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 Peachtree-DeKalb Airport are 
in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, effective 
October 29, 1996. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise 
compatibility program for that airport which will be approved or 
disapproved

[[Page 57511]]

on or before April 27, 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 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 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 measure the operator has taken or proposes for the 
reduction of existing noncompatible uses and for the prevention of the 
introduction of additional noncompatible uses.
    DeKalb County submitted to the FAA on July 22, 1996 noise exposure 
maps, descriptions and other documentation which were produced during 
Noise Compatibility Program, March 1993 and update of the Noise 
Compatibility Study, September 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 noise exposure maps and 
related descriptions submitted by DeKalb County. The specific maps 
under consideration are 1996 Noise Contours and Forecast 2001 Noise 
Contours in the submission. The FAA has determined that these maps for 
Peachtree-DeKalb Airport are in compliance with applicable 
requirements. This determination is effective on October 29, 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 
Peachtree-DeKalb Airport, also effective on October 29, 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 27, 1997.
    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 
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, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 
617, Washington, D.C. 20591
Federal Aviation Administration, Atlanta Airports District Office, 
Campus Building, 1701 Columbia Ave., Suite 2-260, College Park, GA 
30337-2747
Mr. Jim Duguay, DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, Administration Building, Room 
212, 2000 Airport Road, Atlanta, GA 30341

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

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, October 29, 1996.
Dell Jernigan,
Manager, Atlanta Airports District Office.
[FR Doc. 96-28561 Filed 11-5-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M