[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 149 (Wednesday, August 2, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47556-47557]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-19529]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Approval of Noise Compatibility Program Chandler Municipal 
Airport, Chandler, AZ

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
findings on the Noise Compatibility Program submitted by the city of 
Chandler, Arizona, under the provisions of Title I of the Aviation 
Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (Public Law 96-193) and 14 Code 
of Federal Regulations, Part 150 (FAR Part 150). These findings are 
made in recognition of the description of Federal and nonfederal 
responsibilities in Senate Report No. 96-52 (1980). On June 24, 1999 
the FAA determined that the noise exposure maps submitted by the city 
of Chandler, Arizona, under Part 150 were in compliance with applicable 
requirements. On July 10, 2000 the Associate Administrator for Airports 
approved the Chandler Municipal Airport Noise Compatibility Program. 
All sixteen program measures were approved. Three measures were 
approved as voluntary measures and thirteen measures were approved 
outright.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the 
Chandler Municipal Airport noise compatibility program is July 10, 
2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Armstrong, Airport Planner, 
Airports Division, AWP-611.1, Federal Aviation Administration, Western-
Pacific Region. Mailing address: P.O. Box 92007, Worldway Postal 
Center, Los Angeles, California 90009-2007. Telephone: (310) 725-3614. 
Street address: 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Hawthorne, California 90261. 
Documents reflecting this FAA action may be reviewed at this location.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA has given 
its overall approval to the Noise Compatibility Program for the 
Chandler Municipal Airport, effective July 10, 2000.
    Under Section 104(a) of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act 
of 1979 (hereinafter referred to as ``the Act''), an airport operator 
who has previously submitted a Noise Exposure Map, may submit to the 
FAA, a Noise Compatibility Program which sets forth the measures taken 
or proposed by the airport operator for the reduction of existing 
noncompatible land uses and prevention of additional noncompatible land 
uses within the area covered by the Noise Exposure Maps. The Act 
requires such programs to be developed in consultation with interested 
and affected parties including local communities, government agencies, 
airport users, and FAA personnel.
    Each airport Noise Compatibility Program developed in accordance 
with FAR Part 150 is a local program, not a federal program. The FAA 
does not substitute its judgment for that of the airport proprietor 
with respect to which measures should be recommended for action. The 
FAA's approval or disapproval of FAR Part 150 program recommendations 
is measured according to the standards expressed in FAR Part 150 of the 
Act and is limited to the following determinations:
    a. The Noise Compatibility Program was developed in accordance with 
the provisions and procedures of FAR Part 150;
    b. Program measures are reasonably consistent with achieving the 
goals of reducing existing noncompatible land uses around the airport 
and preventing

[[Page 47557]]

the introduction of additional noncompatible land uses;
    c. Program measures would not create an undue burden on interstate 
or foreign commerce, unjustly discriminate against types or classes of 
aeronautical uses, violate the terms of airport grant agreements, or 
intrude into areas preempted by the Federal Government; and
    d. Program measures relating to the use of flight procedures can be 
implemented within the period covered by the program without derogating 
safety, adversely affecting the efficient use and management of the 
navigable airspace and air traffic control systems, or adversely 
affecting other powers and responsibilities of the Administrator 
prescribed by law.
    Specific limitations with respect to FAA's approval of an airport 
Noise Compatibility Program are delineated in FAR Part 150, Section 
150.5. Approval is not a determination concerning the acceptability of 
land uses under Federal, State, or local law. Approval does not by 
itself constitute a FAA implementing action. A request for Federal 
action or approval to implement specific noise compatibility measures 
may be required, and a FAA decision on the request may require an 
environmental assessment of the proposed action. Approval does not 
constitute a commitment by the FAA to financially assist in the 
implementation of the program nor a determination that all measures 
covered by the program are eligible for grant-in-aid funding from the 
FAA. Where Federal funding is sought, requests for project grants must 
be submitted to the FAA Airports Division office in Hawthorne, 
California.
    The City of Chandler, Arizona, submitted the Noise Exposure Maps, 
descriptions, and other documentation produced during the noise 
compatibility planning study conducted from July 1997 through January 
2000 to the FAA on February 19, 1999 and May 28, 1999. The Chandler 
Municipal Airport noise exposure maps were determined by FAA to be in 
compliance with applicable requirements on June 24, 1999. Notice of 
this determination was published in the Federal Register on July 8 , 
1999.
    The Chandler Municipal Airport study contains a proposed Noise 
Compatibility Program comprised of actions designed for implementation 
by airport management and adjacent jurisdictions. It was requested that 
the FAA evaluate and approve this material as a Noise Compatibility 
Program as described in Section 104(b) of the Act. The FAA began its 
review of the program on January 13, 2000 and was required by a 
provision of the Act to approve or disapprove the program within 180 
days (other than the use of new flight procedures for noise control). 
Failure to approve or disapprove such program within the 180-day period 
shall be deemed to be an approval of such program.
    The submitted program contained sixteen proposed actions for noise 
mitigation on and off the airport. The FAA completed its review and 
determined that the procedural and substantive requirements of the Act 
and FAR Part 150 have been satisfied. The Associate Administrator for 
Airports approved the overall program effective July 10, 2000.
    All sixteen of the program elements were approved. The following 
three measures were approved as voluntary measures: Request aircraft 
departing on Runway 22L to fly to runway end before turning left; 
request aircraft departing on Runway 22R to fly to runway end before 
turning right; and, promote use of AOPA Noise Awareness Steps by light 
single and twin engine aircraft. The following thirteen measures were 
approved outright: Relocate heliport to east side of airport; establish 
Airport Influence Area; use combined 2003 and 2020 noise contours as 
basis for noise compatibility planning; set 55 DNL as the threshold for 
promoting airport-compatible development; establish noise compatibility 
guidelines for the review of development projects within the 55 DNL 
contour; amend Airport Impact Overlay Zoning Ordinance; enact Airport 
Impact Overlay Zoning Ordinance (Maricopa County, Town of Gilbert); 
amend subdivision regulations to require recording of fair disclosure 
covenants and granting of avigational easement in Airport Impact 
Overlay District; amend building code to add sound insulation standards 
supporting Airport Impact Overlay zoning requirements; maintain system 
of receiving, analyzing, and responding to noise complaints; review 
Noise Compatibility Plan implementation; Update Noise Exposure Maps and 
Noise Compatibility Program; and, publish pilot guide.
    These determinations are set forth in detail in a Record of 
Approval endorsed by the Associate Administrator for Airports on July 
10, 2000. The Record of Approval, as well as other evaluation materials 
and the documents comprising the submittal are available for review at 
the FAA office listed above and at the administrative offices of the 
city of Chandler, Arizona.

    Issued in Hawthorne, California on July 17, 2000.
Herman C. Bliss,
Manager, Airports Division, AWP-600 Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 00-19529 Filed 8-1-00; 8:45 am]
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