[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 217 (Thursday, November 7, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57723-57724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-28664]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Approval of Noise Compatibility Program, Snohomish County 
Airport/Paine Field, Snohomish County, Washington

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
findings on the noise compatibility program submitted by the Airport 
Manager of the Snohomish County 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. These findings are made in recognition of the 
description of Federal and non-Federal responsibilities in Senate 
Report No. 96-52 (1980). On April 5, 1996, the FAA determined that the 
noise exposure maps submitted by the airport manager under Part 150 
were in compliance with applicable requirements. On October 2, 1996, 
the Associate Administrator for Airports approved the Snohomish County 
Airport noise compatibility program. All of the program elements were 
approved.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the 
Snohomish County Airport noise compatibility program is October 2, 
1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis G. Ossenkop; Federal Aviation 
Administration; Northwest Mountain Region; Airports Division, ANM-611; 
1601 Lind Avenue, S.W., Renton, Washington, 98055-4056. Documents 
reflecting this FAA action may be reviewed at this same location.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA has given 
its overall approval to the noise compatibility program for Snohomish 
County Airport, effective October 2, 1996. Under Section 104(a) of the 
Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (hereinafter referred 
to as ``the Act''), an airport operator who has previously submitted a 
noise exposure map may submit to the FAA a noise compatibility program 
which sets forth the measures taken or proposed by the airport operator 
for the reduction of existing noncompatible land uses and prevention of 
additional noncompatible land uses within the area covered by the noise 
exposure maps. The Act requires such a program to be developed in 
consultation with interested and affected parties including the state, 
local communities, government agencies, airport users, and FAA 
personnel.
    Each airport noise compatibility program developed in accordance 
with Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 150 is a local program, not 
a Federal program. The FAA does not substitute its judgment for that of 
the airport proprietor with respect to which measures should be 
recommended for action. The FAA's approval or disapproval of FAR Part 
150 program recommendations is measured according to the standards 
expressed in Part 150 and the Act and is limited to the following 
determinations:
    a. The noise compatibility program was developed in accordance with 
the provisions and procedures of FAR Part 150;
    b. Program measures are reasonably consistent with achieving the 
goals of reducing existing noncompatible land uses around the airport 
and preventing the introduction of additional noncompatible land uses;
    c. Program measures would not create an undue burden on interstate 
or foreign commerce, unjustly discriminate against types of classes of 
aeronautical uses, violate the terms of airport grant agreements, or 
intrude into areas preempted by the Federal Government; and
    d. Program measures relating to the use of flight procedures can be 
implemented within the period covered by the program without derogating 
safety, adversely affecting the efficient use and management of the 
navigable airspace and air traffic control systems, or adversely 
affecting other powers and responsibilities of the Administrator 
prescribed by law.
    Specific limitations with respect to FAA's approval of an airport 
noise compatibility program are delineated in FAR Part 150, Section 
150.5. Approval

[[Page 57724]]

is not a determination concerning the acceptability of land uses under 
Federal, state, or local law. Approval does not by itself constitute an 
FAA implementing action. A request for Federal action or approval to 
implement specific noise compatibility measures may be required, and an 
FAA decision on the request may require an environmental assessment of 
the proposed action. Approval does not constitute a commitment by the 
FAA to financially assist in the implementation of the program nor a 
determination that all measures covered by the program are eligible for 
grant-in-aid funding from the FAA. Where Federal funding is sought, 
requests for project grants must be submitted to the FAA Airports 
District Office in Seattle, Washington.
    Snohomish County Airport submitted to the FAA the noise exposure 
maps, descriptions, and other documentation produced during the noise 
compatibility planning study conducted at Snohomish County Airport. The 
Snohomish County Airport noise exposure maps were determined by FAA to 
be in compliance with applicable requirements on April 5, 1996. Notice 
of this determination was published in the Federal Register on April 
15, 1996.
    The Snohomish County Airport noise compatibility program contains a 
proposed noise compatibility program comprised of actions designed for 
phased implementation by airport management and adjacent jurisdictions 
from the date of study completion to the year 2000. It was requested 
that the FAA evaluate and approve this material as a noise 
compatibility program as described in Section 104(b) of the Act. The 
FAA began its review of the program on April 5, 1996, and was required 
by a provision of the Act of approve or disapprove the program within 
180 days (other than the use of new flight procedures for noise 
control). Failure to approve or disapprove such program within the 180-
day period shall be deemed to be an approval of such program.
    The submitted program contained 7 proposed actions for noise 
mitigation on and off the airport. The FAA completed its review and 
determined that the procedural and substantive requirements of the Act 
and FAR 150 have been satisfied. The overall program, therefore, was 
approved by the Associate Administrator for Airports effective October 
2, 1996. Outright approval was granted for all program elements.
    These determinations are set forth in detail in a Record of 
Approval endorsed by the Associate Administrator for Airports on 
October 2, 1996. The Record of Approval, as well as other evaluation 
materials and the documents comprising the submittal, are available for 
review at the FAA office listed above and at the administrative offices 
of the Snohomish County Airport.

    Issued in Renton, Washington on October 17, 1996.
Lowell H. Johnson,
Manager, Airports Division, Northwest Mountain Region.
[FR Doc. 96-28664 Filed 11-6-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M