[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 136 (Wednesday, July 16, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38186-38187]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18671]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Approval of the Noise Compatibility Program for Meadows Field, 
Bakersfield, California

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 for Meadows Field (BFL), 
submitted by Kern County, California, under the provisions of Title I 
of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (Pub. L. 96-193) 
(hereinafter referred to as ``the Act'') 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 
14, 1995, the FAA determined that the BFL Noise Exposure Maps, 
submitted by the county under 14 CFR part 150, were in compliance with 
applicable requirements. On June 10, 1997, the Associate Administrator 
for Airports approved the Noise Compatibility Program for Meadows 
Field. Four (4) of the proposed noise abatement and mitigation measures 
were approved, one (1) measure requires no FAA action at the present, 
four (4) other measures were disapproved pending submission of 
additional information, and two (2) measures were disapproved for 
purposes of Part 150.

effective date: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the Noise 
Compatibility Program for Meadows Field is June 10, 1997.

for further information contact: Bahman H. Tash, Airport Planner, AWP-
611.5, Airport Division, Western-Pacific Region, Federal Aviation 
Administration. Mailing address: P.O. Box 92007, Worldway Postal 
Center, Los Angeles, California 90009-2007, Telephone number: (310) 
725-3616. Street Address: 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Room 3012, 
Hawthorne, California 90261. 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 of the Noise Compatibility Program for Meadows 
Field, effective June 10, 1997.
    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 non 
compatible land uses and prevention of additional non compatible 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 Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) part 150 is a local program, 
not a federal program. The FAA does not substitute its judgment for 
that of the airport sponsor 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

[[Page 38187]]

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 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 
navigable airspace and air traffic control 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 implementation 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 under the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982, as amended. 
Where federal funding is sought, requests for project grants must be 
submitted to the FAA Airports Division Office in Hawthorne, California.
    Kern County submitted to the FAA on April 14, 1995, the Notice 
Exposure Maps, descriptions, and other documentation produced during 
the Noise Compatibility Planning study conducted from September 26, 
1989 through November 11, 1996. The Meadows Field Noise Exposure Maps 
were determined by FAA to be in compliance with applicable requirements 
on April 14, 1995. Notice of this determination was published in the 
Fedeal Register on May 9, 1995.
    The Meadows Field study contained 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 or beyond, the year 1999. 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 December 12, 1996 and was required by a provision of the Act 
to approve or disapprove the program within 180 days (other than the 
use of new flight procedures for noise control). The Noise 
Compatibility Program was approved by the FAA on June 10, 1997. Failure 
to approve or disapprove such program within the 180-day period shall 
be deemed an approval of such program.
    The submitted program contained 11 proposed actions for noise 
abatement and mitigation on and off the airport. 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 for Airports 
effective June 10, 1997.
    Outright approval was granted for four (4) of the 11 specific 
program measures. These are: Maintaining nighttime turbojet training 
policies; amending Metropolitan Bakersfield 2010 General Plan to 
reflect noise compatibility plan; continuing complaint response 
program; and develop, adopt and apply Meadows Field Noise Overlay 
Zoning District. One (1) measure required no action at this time: 
Raising the Runway 30L and 30R departure turn minimum altitudes. Four 
(4) measures were disapproved pending submission of additional 
information to make an informed analysis: Balancing general aviation 
aircraft operations on parallel runways; completing acquisition of 
navigation and noise easements in Precision Instrument Runway 
Protection Zone for Runway 30R; developing a program to acquire noise 
impacted residential properties between Norris Road and the airport 
boundary; and conducting periodic aircraft noise measurements. Two (2) 
other measures were disapproved for purposes of FAR part 150: Extension 
of Runway 12R-30L and displacement of Runway 30L landing threshold, and 
complete acquisition of Precision Instrument Runway Protection Zone for 
Runway 12L. Neither the NCP nor the NEM indicate any noise impacts 
within the CNEL 65 dB noise contour, except for may be one residence 
for the 5-year time frame program.
    These determinations are set forth in detail in a Record of 
Approval endorsed by the Associate Administrator for Airports on June 
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 administrative 
offices of Meadows Field, Bakersfield, California.

    Issued in Hawthorne, California on June 26, 1997.
Herman C. Bliss,
Manager, Airports Division, AWP-600, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 97-18671 Filed 7-15-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M