[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 156 (Friday, August 11, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49285-49286]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20454]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
Update and Request for Review, Tampa International Airport, Tampa, 
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 the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority for Tampa 
International 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. The FAA also 
announces that it is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program 
that was submitted for Tampa International Airport under Part 150 in 
conjunction

[[Page 49286]]

with the noise exposure maps, and that this program will be approved or 
disapproved on or before February 1, 2001.

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 August 4, 2000. The public 
comment period ends October 3, 2000.

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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds 
that the revised noise exposure maps submitted for Tampa International 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, 
effective August 4, 2000. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise 
compatibility program for that airport which will be approved or 
disapproved on or before February 1, 2001. 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.
    Hillsborough County Aviation Authority submitted to the FAA on 
August 2, 2000, revised noise exposure maps, descriptions and other 
documentation which were produced during the Tampa International 
Airport FAR Part 150 noise study conducted between July 10, 1997, and 
August 1, 2000, and 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 the Hillsborough County Aviation 
Authority. The specific maps under consideration are ``2000 Existing 
Conditions Noise Exposure Map with Revised Noise Compatibility 
Program'' and ``2005 Five-Year Forecast Conditions Noise Exposure Map 
with Revised Noise Compatibility Program'' in the noise compatibility 
program submission. The FAA has determined that these maps for Tampa 
International Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements. 
This determination is effective on August 4, 2000. FAA's determination 
on the airport oprator'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.
    The FAA has formally received the noise compatibility program for 
Tampa International Airport, also effective on August 4, 2000. 
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 
February 1, 2001.
    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 by 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
Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, Tampa International Airport, 
3rd Floor, Blue Side, Landside Terminal Building, Tampa, Florida 33607

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

    Issued in Orlando, Florida August 4, 2000.
W. Dean Stringer,
Manager, Orlando Airport District Office.
[FR Doc. 00-20454 Filed 8-10-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M