[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 195 (Thursday, October 8, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54181-54182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27036]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Acceptance of Noise Exposure Maps and Request for Review of Noise 
Compatibility Program for Kona International Airport, Kailua-Kona, HI

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 State of 
Hawaii, Department of Transportation, for the Kona International 
Airport, under the provisions of Title I of the Aviation Safety and 
Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (Pub. L. 96-193) and 14 CFR Part 150, are 
in compliance with applicable requirements. The FAA also announces that 
it is reviewing a proposed Noise Compatibility Program that was 
submitted for Kona International Airport under Federal Aviation 
Regulations (FAR) Part 150 in conjunction with the Noise Exposure Map, 
and that the Noise Compatibility Program will be approved or 
disapproved on or before March 24, 1999.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's acceptance of the Noise 
Exposure Maps and of the start of its review of the associated Noise 
Compatibility Program is September 24, 1998. The public comment period 
ends November 16, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David J. Welhouse, Airport Planner, Honolulu Airports District Office, 
Federal Aviation Administration, P.O. Box 50244, Honolulu, Hawaii 
96850, Telephone: (808) 541-1243. Comments on the proposed Noise 
Compatibility Program should be submitted to the above office. The 
Noise Exposure Maps reflecting this FAA action may also be reviewed at 
the same location.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds 
that the Noise Exposure Maps submitted for Kona International Airport 
are in compliance with applicable requirements of Federal Aviation 
Regulations (FAR) Part 150, effective September 24, 1998. Further, FAA 
is reviewing a proposed Noise Compatibility Program for that airport 
which will be approved or disapproved on or before march 24, 1999. This 
notice also announces the availability of this Noise Compatibility 
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 noncompliance 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 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.
    The State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation, submitted to the 
FAA on December 29, 1997 Noise Exposure Maps, descriptions and other 
documentation which were produced during the preparation of the Kona 
International Airport Noise Compatibility Study dated December, 1997. 
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 
Program under Section 104(b) of the Act.
    The FAA has completed its review of the Noise Exposure Maps and 
supporting documentation submitted by the State of Hawaii, Department 
of Transportation. The specific maps under consideration are Figures 4-
1 and 7-1 in the submission. The FAA has determined that these maps for 
Kona International Airport are in compliance with applicable 
requirements. This determination is effective on September 24, 1998. 
FAA's acceptance of 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 
acceptance 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

[[Page 54182]]

are not changed in any way under FAR 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 
Kona International Airport, also effective on September 24, 1998. 
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 March 24, 1999.
    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, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 
617, Washington, DC 20591
Federal Aviation Administration, Western-Pacific Region, Airports 
Division, AWP-600, 15000 Aviation Blvd., Room 3012, Hawthorne, 
California 90261
Federal Aviation Administration, Honolulu Airports District Office, 400 
Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 7-128, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation, Airports Division, 
District Office Manager, Kona International Airport, Kailua-Kona, 
Hawaii 96745
State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation, Airports Division, 
Honolulu International Airport, 400 Rodgers Blvd., Suite 700, Honolulu, 
Hawaii 96819.

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

    Issued in Hawthorne, California on September 24, 1998.
Ellsworth Chan,
Acting Manager, Airports Division, AWP-600, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 98-27036 Filed 10-7-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M