[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 44 (Monday, March 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11080-11081]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5602]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review, Oakland County International Airport, Pontiac, 
MI

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 (NEMs) submitted by Oakland 
County 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 (NCP) that was submitted for Oakland County International 
Airport under Part 150 in conjunction with the NEMs, and that this 
program will be approved or disapproved on or before August 25, 1999.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's determination on the 
NEMs and of the start of its review of the associated NCP is February 
26, 1999. The public comment period ends April 27, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Federal Aviation Administration, 
Great Lakes Region, Detroit Airports District Office, Willow Run 
Airport, East, 8820 Beck Road, Belleville, Michigan 48111, to the 
attention of Mr. Gary Migut, Program Manager, (734) 487-7278. Comments 
on the proposed NCP should also be submitted to the above office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds 
that the NEMs submitted for Oakland County International Airport are in 
compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, effective February 
26, 1999. The FAA is reviewing an NCP for Oakland County International 
Airport, which will be approved or disapproved on or before August 25, 
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 NEMs 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 NEMs 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 an NCP for FAA approval that 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.
    Oakland County International Airport submitted to the FAA on 
February 24, 1999, the NEMs, descriptions, and other documentation, 
which were produced during the proposed Oakland County International 
Airport NCP, dated February 23, 1999. It was requested that the FAA 
review this material as the NEMs, 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 an 
NCP under section 104(b) of the Act.
    The FAA has completed its review of the NEMs and related 
description submitted by the Oakland International Airport. The FAA has 
determined that the NEMs for Oakland County International Airport are 
in compliance with applicable requirements. This determination is 
effective on February

[[Page 11081]]

26, 1999. The FAA's determination on an airport operator's NEMs 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 an NCP 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 the 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 NCP for Oakland County 
International Airport, also effective on February 26, 1999. Preliminary 
review of the submitted material indicates that it conforms to the 
requirements for the submittal of NCPs, 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 August 25, 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 notice 
exposure maps and of the FAA's evaluation of the maps are available for 
examination at the following locations:

Federal Aviation Administration, Great Lakes Region, Airports Division 
Office, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Room 269, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018
Federal Aviation Administration, Detroit Airports District Office, 
Willow Run Airport, East, 8820 Beck Road, Belleville, Michigan 48111
Mr. Karl Randall, Manager of Aviation, Oakland County International 
Airport, 6500 Highland Road, Waterford, Michigan 48327-1649.

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

    Issued in Belleville, Michigan, on February 26, 1999.
Ernest P. Gubry,
Acting Assistant Manager, Detroit Airports District Office FAA Great 
Lakes Region.
[FR Doc. 99-5602 Filed 3-5-99; 8:45 am]
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