[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 231 (Wednesday, December 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66625-66626]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32133]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility 
Program, Revision and Request for Review, Key West International 
Airport, Key West, Florida

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
determination that the revised current and future noise exposure maps 
submitted by Monroe County, Florida, for Key West 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 Key West International Airport under part 150 in conjunction with 
the noise exposure maps, and that this program will be approved or 
disapproved on or before May 8, 1999.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's determination on the 
revised noise exposure maps and of the start of its review of the 
associated noise compatibility program is November 9, 1998. The public 
comment period ends January 8, 1999.

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 32822-5024, (407) 812-6331, Extension 29. Comments on 
the proposed noise compatibility program should also be submitted to 
the above office.


[[Page 66626]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds 
that the revised noise exposure maps submitted for Key West 
International Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of 
part 150, effective November 9, 1998. Further, FAA is reviewing a 
proposed noise compatibility program for that airport which will be 
approved or disapproved on or before May 8, 1999. 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 to 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.
    Monroe County, Florida, submitted to the FAA on October 26, 1998, 
revised noise exposure maps, descriptions and other documentation which 
were produced during the Key West International Airport FAR part 150 
noise study conducted between October 1, 1996, and October 25, 1998, 
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 revised noise exposure maps 
and related descriptions submitted by Monroe County, Florida. The 
specific maps under consideration are ``1998 Noise Exposure Map'' and 
``2003 Noise Exposure Map'' in the noise compatibility program 
submission. The FAA has determined that these maps for Key West 
International Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements. 
This determination is effective on November 9, 1998. 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 Sec. 150.21 
of FAR part 150, that the statutorily required consultation has been 
accomplished.
    The FAA has formally received the noise compatibility program for 
Key West International Airport, also effective on November 9, 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 revised program. The formal review period, limited 
by law to a maximum of 180 days, will be completed on or before May 8, 
1999.
    The FAA's detailed evaluation will be conducted under the 
provisions of 14 CFR part 150, Sec. 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 revised 
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 revised 
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, Orlando Airports District Office, 5950 
Hazeltine National Drive, Suite 400, Orlando, Florida 32822-5024; and
Division Director of Community Services, Public Services Building, 5100 
College Road West, Wing 4, Room 405, Key West, Florida 33040.

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

    Issued in Orlando, Florida, November 9, 1998.
W. Dean Stringer,
Manager, Orlando Airport District Office.
[FR Doc. 98-32133 Filed 12-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M