[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 60 (Friday, March 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14964-14965]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-7938]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review, Fort Smith Regional Airport, Fort Smith, AR

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 the city of 
Fort Smith, AR, for Fort Smith Regional 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

[[Page 14965]]

requirements. The FAA also announces that it is reviewing a proposed 
noise compatibility program that was submitted for Fort Smith Regional 
Airport under Part 150 in conjunction with the noise exposure map, and 
that this program will be approved or disapproved on or before 
September 9, 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 March 13, 1997. The public comment 
period ends May 12, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: DOT/FAA, Attention: Mr. Tim Tandy, 
ASW-630D, Fort Worth, TX 76193-0630 at (817) 222-5635. 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 Fort Smith Regional Airport 
are in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, effective 
March 13, 1997. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise 
compatibility program for that airport which will be approved or 
disapproved on or before September 9, 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 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.
    For Smith Regional Airport submitted to the FAA on February 14, 
1997, noise exposure maps, descriptions and other documentation which 
were produced during development of the Part 150 Program Update from 
October 1994 to 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 under Section 104(b) of the Act.
    The FAA has completed its review of the noise exposure maps and 
related descriptions submitted by the city of Fort Smith, AR. The 
specific maps under consideration are the 1995 Existing Conditions 
Noise Exposure Map (Figure 10.1) and the 2000 Future Conditions Noise 
Exposure Map (Figure 10.2) in the submittal. The FAA has determined 
that these maps for Fort Smith Regional Airport are in compliance with 
applicable requirements. This determination is effective on March 13, 
1997. 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 
Fort Smith Regional Airport also effective on March 13, 1997. 
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 September 9, 
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, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Arkansas/
Louisiana ADO, 6th Floor, Fort Worth, TX 76137-4298;
Mr. Robert Johnson, Manager, Fort Smith Regional Airport, 5600 Airport 
Boulevard, Suite 200, Fort Smith, AR 72903.

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

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 13, 1997.
Naomi L. Saunders,
Manager, Airports Division, Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 97-7938 Filed 3-27-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M