[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 217 (Monday, November 10, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60549-60551]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29580]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Approval of Noise Compatibility Program Sarasota-Bradenton 
International Airport Sarasota, FL

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 Sarasota 
Manatee Airport Authority 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 nonfederal responsibilities in Senate Report 
No. 96-52 (1980). On May 7, 1996 and April 15, 1997, the FAA determined 
that the noise exposure maps submitted by the Sarasota Manatee Airport 
Authority under Part 150 were in compliance with applicable 
requirements. On October 9, 1997, the Administrator approved the 
Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport noise compatibility program. 
All of the program measures were fully approved.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the 
Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport noise compatibility program is 
October 9, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Tommy J. Pickering, P.E., Federal Aviation Administration, Orlando 
Airports District Office, 5950 Hazeltine National Drive, Suite 400, 
Orlando Florida 32822, (407) 812-6331, Extension 29. 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 Sarasota-
Bradenton International Airport, effective October 9, 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 
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 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 proprietor with respect to which measure 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

[[Page 60550]]

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 or classes of 
aeronautical users, 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 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 Orlando, Florida.
    The Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority submitted to the FAA on May 
2, 1996 and April 9, 1997, updated noise exposure maps, descriptions, 
and other documentation produced during the noise compatibility 
planning study conducted from May 1, 1993 through April 7, 1997. the 
Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport noise exposure maps were 
determined by FAA to be in compliance with applicable requirements on 
May 7, 1996 and April 15, 1997. Notice of this determination was 
published in the Federal Register.
    The Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport study 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 2002. It was requested 
that 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 15, 1997, 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). 
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 four (4) 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 Part 150 have been satisfied. The overall program, therefore, 
was approved by the Administrator effective October 9, 1997.
    Outright approval was granted for all four (4) of the specific 
program measures. The approval action was for the following program 
controls:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Noise abatement measure           Description           NCP pages   
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                          OPERATIONAL MEASURES                          
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Departure Path for Runway    Current ATC procedures  Pgs. 4-3 to 4-  
 32.                             by SRQ tower and        11, 6-1 and 6- 
                                 Tampa TRACON instruct   2; Figures 4-1 
                                 all aircraft weighing   to 4-3; Tables 
                                 over 25,000 pounds      4-1 and 6-10;  
                                 and all jet aircraft    and letter from
                                 departing northbound    Mr. Noah Lagos 
                                 on Runway 32 to turn    dated June 17, 
                                 left at 0.9 DME         1997.          
                                 (i.e., the middle                      
                                 marker) to join the                    
                                 295 deg. radial                        
                                 outbound, then                         
                                 proceed on course as                   
                                 instructed by ATC.                     
                                 Southbound jet                         
                                 aircraft departing on                  
                                 Runway 32 are                          
                                 instructed to turn                     
                                 left at the 0.9 DME                    
                                 to a heading of 270                    
                                 deg. for vectors to                    
                                 on course. The                         
                                 airport's Flight                       
                                 Tracking System                        
                                 indicates some                         
                                 aircraft using the                     
                                 northbound procedure                   
                                 fly particularly                       
                                 close to residential                   
                                 areas on the eastern                   
                                 shore of Sarasota                      
                                 Bay. It is                             
                                 recommended that the                   
                                 existing procedure be                  
                                 modified so all                        
                                 aircraft weighing                      
                                 over 25,000 pounds                     
                                 and all jet aircraft                   
                                 departing on Runway                    
                                 32 would be                            
                                 instructed to turn                     
                                 left at 0.9 DME to                     
                                 join the Sarasota 270                  
                                 deg. radial outbound                   
                                 to at least 7 DME,                     
                                 then proceed on                        
                                 course as instructed                   
                                 by ATC. Should, after                  
                                 implementation, the                    
                                 turn at 7 DME result                   
                                 in a splay of                          
                                 aircraft that is                       
                                 further east then                      
                                 anticipated, it is                     
                                 recommended that                       
                                 aircraft proceed                       
                                 outbound on the 270                    
                                 deg. radial to the 8                   
                                 DME, then proceed on                   
                                 course as instructed                   
                                 by ATC. It is further                  
                                 recommended that                       
                                 should approval of                     
                                 the turn to the 270                    
                                 deg. radial be                         
                                 denied, then the                       
                                 current procedure be                   
                                 maintained until such                  
                                 time as the turn to                    
                                 the 270 deg. radial                    
                                 becomes feasible.                      
                                 Implementation of the                  
                                 modified procedure                     
                                 will reduce noise                      
                                 exposure on sensitive                  
                                 areas northwest of                     
                                 the airport and                        
                                 reduce the number of                   
                                 impacted people with                   
                                 the 65 DNL contour by                  
                                 approximately 1,033                    
                                 people. FAA Action:                    
                                 Approved. Any                          
                                 decision to implement                  
                                 this procedure is                      
                                 subject to                             
                                 appropriate                            
                                 environmental review,                  
                                 a flight check, and                    
                                 publication of the                     
                                 SID.                                   
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[[Page 60551]]

                                                                        
                            LAND USE MEASURES                           
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1. Purchase and Resale with     It is recommended that  Pgs. 5-16 to 5- 
 Avigation Easements and Sound   the SMAA offer to       18, 6-13 and 6-
 Insulation.                     purchase fee simple     14; Figures 5-1
                                 interest from           to 5-3, 6-2 and
                                 homeowners who          6-4; Tables 5- 
                                 purchased their         7, 5-9 and 6-  
                                 current home prior to   11; Appendices 
                                 January 1, 1980, and    D, E and F; and
                                 who are located         Letter from Mr.
                                 within the 65+DNL       Noah Lagos     
                                 contour of the 2000     dated June 17, 
                                 NEM in Sarasota and     1997.          
                                 Manatee Counties.                      
                                 Priority ranking                       
                                 based upon length of                   
                                 ownership will be                      
                                 given to homeowners                    
                                 located within the                     
                                 70+DNL contour of the                  
                                 1995 NEM. Homes                        
                                 purchased by the SMAA                  
                                 will be sound                          
                                 insulated only where                   
                                 feasible and cost                      
                                 effective and all                      
                                 homes will be resold                   
                                 with an avigation                      
                                 easement. This                         
                                 alternative will be                    
                                 implemented in                         
                                 accordance with 49                     
                                 CFR Part 24 and other                  
                                 applicable guidance.                   
                                 This will reduce                       
                                 existing                               
                                 noncompatible land                     
                                 uses and provide                       
                                 mitigation for                         
                                 homeowners who                         
                                 purchased prior to                     
                                 January 1, 1980, to                    
                                 comply with existing                   
                                 Florida Development                    
                                 of Regional Impact                     
                                 (DRI) Development                      
                                 Order stipulations.                    
                                 FAA Action: Approved.                  
2. Sound Insulation with        It is recommended that  Pgs. 5-11 to 5- 
 Avigation Easements.            the SMAA offer to       14, 6-11 and 6-
                                 provide sound           12; Figures 5- 
                                 insulation, only        1, 5-3, 6-2 and
                                 where feasible and      6-4; Tables 5- 
                                 cost effective, in      5, 6-7 and 6-  
                                 exchange for an         11; Appendices 
                                 avigation easement to   D, E and F; and
                                 fixed single family     Letter from Mr.
                                 homeowners located      Noah Lagos     
                                 within the 65+DNL       dated June 17, 
                                 contour of the 2000     1997.          
                                 NEM in Sarasota and                    
                                 Manatee Counties, who                  
                                 purchased their                        
                                 current home prior to                  
                                 December 15, 1986,                     
                                 the date of                            
                                 constructive notice.                   
                                 Mobile homes and                       
                                 large institutional                    
                                 buildings are not                      
                                 included in this                       
                                 program. Priority                      
                                 ranking based upon                     
                                 length of ownership                    
                                 will be given to                       
                                 homeowners located                     
                                 within the 70+DNL                      
                                 contour of the 1995                    
                                 NEM. This will reduce                  
                                 existing                               
                                 noncompatible land                     
                                 uses and provide                       
                                 mitigation for                         
                                 homeowners who                         
                                 purchased prior to                     
                                 the date of                            
                                 construction notice.                   
                                 FAA Action: Approved.                  
Purchase of Avigation Easement  It is recommended that  Pgs. 5-14 to 5- 
                                 the SMAA offer to       16 and 6-13;   
                                 purchase avigation      Figures 5-1, 5-
                                 easements from          3, 6-2 and 6-4;
                                 homeowners, including   Tables 5-6, 6-8
                                 mobile homes where      and 6-11;      
                                 owners own their own    Appendices D, E
                                 lots, located within    and F; and     
                                 the 65-DNL contour of   Letter from Mr.
                                 the 2000 NEM in         Noah Lagos     
                                 Sarasota and Manatee    dated June 17, 
                                 Counties, who           1997.          
                                 purchased their                        
                                 current home prior to                  
                                 December 15, 1986,                     
                                 the date of                            
                                 construction notice.                   
                                 Priority rating based                  
                                 upon length of                         
                                 ownership will be                      
                                 given to homeowners                    
                                 located within the                     
                                 70+DNL contour of the                  
                                 1995 NEM. This will                    
                                 reduce existing                        
                                 noncompatible land                     
                                 uses and provide                       
                                 mitigation for                         
                                 homeowners who                         
                                 purchased prior to                     
                                 the date of                            
                                 constructive notice.                   
                                 FAA Action: Approved.                  
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    These determinations are set forth in detail in a Record of 
Approval endorsed by the Administrator on October 9, 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 office of the Sarasota Manatee 
Airport Authority.

    Issued in Orlando, Florida on October 24, 1997.
Gordon H. Shepardson,
Acting Manager, Orlando Airports District Office.
[FR Doc. 97-29580 Filed 11-7-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M