[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]
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