[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 24, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9214-9215]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-4525]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice: Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review; Rickenbacker International Airport, Columbus, 
OH

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 
Rickenbacker Port Authority for Rickenbacker 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 Rickenbacker International Airport under Part 150 in conjunction 
with the noise exposure maps, and that this program will be approved or 
disapproved on or before July 21, 1999.

DATES: The effective date of the FAA's determination on the noise 
exposure maps and of the start of its review of the associated noise 
compatibility program is January 22, 1999. The public comment period 
ends March 23, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Jagiello, Program Manager, 
Federal Aviation Administration, Detroit Airports District Office, 
Willow Run Airport, East, 8820 Beck Road, Belleville, Michigan 48111. 
Comments on the proposed noise compatibility program should also be 
submitted to the above office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds 
that the noise exposure maps submitted for Rickenbacker International 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, 
effective January 22, 1999. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise 
compatibility program for that airport which will be approved or 
disapproved on or before July 21, 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 in the local community, government 
agencies, and persons using the airport.
    An airport operator who has submitted noise exposure maps that are 
found by the 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

[[Page 9215]]

prevention of the introduction of additional noncompatible uses.
    The Rickenbacker Port Authority submitted to the FAA on April 17, 
1998, noise exposure maps, descriptions and other documentation which 
were produced during the FAR Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study dated 
February, 1998. 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 
related descriptions submitted by the Rickenbacker Port Authority. The 
specific maps under consideration are Exhibits 1-1 (existing 
conditions) and 1-3 (future conditions) on pages 1-4 and 1-22, 
respectively, in the submission. The FAA has determined that these maps 
for Rickenbacker International Airport are in compliance with 
applicable requirements. This determination is effective on January 22, 
1999. 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 detail 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 statutory required consultation has 
been accomplished.
    The FAA has formally received the noise compatibility program for 
Rickenbacker International Airport, also effective on January 22, 1999. 
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 July 21, 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, Detroit Airports District Office, 
Willow Run Airport, East, 8820 Beck Road, Belleville, Michigan 48111
Rickenbacker Port Authority, Rickenbacker International Airport, 7400 
Alum Creek Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43217-1232

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

    Issued in Belleville, Michigan, on January 22, 1999.
Dean C. Nitz,
Manager, Detroit Airports District Office, FAA Great Lakes Region.
[FR Doc. 99-4525 Filed 2-19-99; 1:55 p.m.]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M