[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 189 (Thursday, September 30, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52820-52821]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25455]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Manchester Airport, Manchester, New Hampshire; Noise Exposure Map 
Notice

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 Manchester 
Airport 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 are 
in compliance with applicable requirements.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's determination on the 
noise exposure maps is September 17, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Silva, FAA New England Region, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds 
that the noise exposure maps submitted for Manchester Airport are in 
compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, effective 
September 17, 1999.
    Under section 103 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 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

[[Page 52821]]

taken or proposes for the reduction of existing noncompatible uses and 
for the prevention of the introduction of additional noncompatible 
uses.
    The FAA has completed its review of the noise exposure maps and 
related descriptions submitted by Manchester Airport. The specific maps 
under consideration are Figure 4-4, Existing (1998) DNL Contours, and 
Figure 4-8, Forecast (2003) DNL Contours, each of which is published in 
``Noise Study for Manchester Airport'', dated May, 1999. FAA has 
determined that these maps for Manchester Airport are in compliance 
with applicable requirements. This determination is effective on 
September 17, 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 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.
    Copies of the noise exposure maps and of the FAA's evaluation of 
the maps are available for examination at the following locations:

Federal Aviation Administration, New England Region, Airports Division,
16 New England Executive Park, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803.
Manchester Airport, One Airport Road, Suite 300, Manchester, New 
Hampshire 03103-3395.

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

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, September 17, 1999.
Vincent A. Scarano,
Manager, Airports Division, New England Region.
[FR Doc. 99-25455 Filed 9-29-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M