[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 19, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7491-7492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4066]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, St. Louis, Missouri; FAA 
Approval of Noise Compatibility Program

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces it 
findings on the Noise Compatibility Program (NCP) update submitted by 
the city of St. Louis Airport Authority (STLAA) under the provisions of 
Title I of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act (ASNA) of 1979 
(Pub. L. 96-193) and 14 CFR part 150. These findings are made in 
recognition of the description of Federal and nonfederal 
responsibilities in Senate Report No. 96-52 (1980). On July 15, 1996, 
the FAA determined that the Noise Exposure Maps (NEM) submitted by 
STLAA under part 150 were in compliance with applicable requirements. 
On January 10, 1997, the Associate Administrator for Airports approved 
the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport Noise Compatibility 
Program. All measures in the NCP are approved with the exception of a 
portion of one measure related to height hazard zoning, which is not 
within the purview of part 150, and another measure which is a flight 
procedure that does not have to be acted on within the 180-day formal 
review period. An FAA determination on this flight procedure is 
anticipated within about 30 days.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the 
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport Noise Compatibility Program is 
January 10, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Moira D. Keane, ACE-615B, Federal Aviation Administration, Airports 
Division, 601 E. 12th St., Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Telephone No. 
(816) 426-4731. Documents reflecting this FAA action may be obtained 
from the same individual.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA has given 
its overall approval to the Noise Compatibility Program for the 
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, effective January 10, 1997.
    Under Section 104(a) the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act 
(ASNA) of 1979, an airport operator who has previously submitted a 
Noise Exposure Map 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 programs to be developed in 
consultation with interested and affected parties including local 
communities, government agencies, airport users, and FAA personnel.
    Each airport noise compatibility program developed in accordance 
with 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 
Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979, 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 or classes of 
aeronautical uses, violate the terms of airport grant agreements, or 
intrude into areas preempted by the Federal Government;
    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 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

[[Page 7492]]

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 Regional 
Office in Kansas City, Missouri.
    In May 1996, the STLAA submitted to the FAA the Noise Exposure 
Maps, descriptions, and other documentation produced during the Noise 
Compatibility Planning study. The Lambert-St. Louis International 
Airport Noise Exposure Maps were determined by FAA to be in compliance 
with applicable requirements on July 15, 1996. Notice of this 
determination was published in the Federal Register on July 31, 1996.
    The Lambert-St. Louis International Airport study contains a 
proposed update to its Noise Compatibility Program comprised of actions 
designed for phased implementation by airport management from the date 
of study completion to beyond the year 2002. 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 July 15, 1996, and was required by a provision in the 
Act to approve or disapprove the program within 180 days. 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 numerous proposed actions for noise 
abatement and mitigation on and off the airport, which were contained 
in the technical report entitled ``FAR Part 150 Noise Compatibility 
Program Update.'' The FAA completed its review and determined that the 
procedural and substantive requirements of the Act and FAR part 150 
have been satisfied. The overall program, therefore, was approved by 
the Associate Administrator effective January 10, 1997.
    Outright approval was granted for all measures in the NCP, with the 
exception of a portion of one measure related to height hazard zoning, 
which is not within the purview of part 150, and another measure which 
is a flight procedure that does not have to be acted on within the 180-
day formal review period. An FAA determination on this flight procedure 
is anticipated within about 30 days.
    Some of the approved noise abatement measures include: continued 
informal noise abatement procedures and implementation of additional 
enhanced noise control procedures; completion of ongoing acquisition of 
homes in Kinloch, East Kinloch, Southeast and Southwest Berkley, Ramona 
Hills, Bridgeton, Bridgeton Terrace, McNulty Manor, and Robertson; 
development of a sound insulation and sales (transaction) assistance 
program; and an automated aircraft monitoring system to assist the 
Airport in tracking the progress of the noise control procedures.
    These determinations are set forth in detail in a Record of 
Approval endorsed by the Associate Administrator on January 10, 1997. 
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 Lambert-St Louis Airport Planning and 
Development Office, 4610 N. Lindbergh, Bridgeton, Missouri. Questions 
may be directed to the individual named above under the heading, FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 5, 1997.
George A. Hendon,
Manager, Airports Division.
[FR Doc. 97-4066 Filed 2-18-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M