[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 170 (Friday, August 31, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46050-46052]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-22046]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Approval of Noise Compatibility Program, Williams Gateway 
Airport, Mesa, AZ

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
findings on the Noise Compatibility Program submitted by the Williams 
Gateway Airport Authority, Mesa, Arizona, under the provisions of Title 
I of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (Public Law 
96-193) and Title 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 May 2, 2000, the FAA determined that the noise exposure maps 
submitted by the Williams Gateway Airport Authority under FAR part 150 
were in compliance with applicable requirements. On August 17, 2001, 
the Acting Associate Administrator for Airports approved the Williams 
Gateway Airport Noise Compatibility Program. Twenty of the twenty-three 
program measures have been approved. Seven measures were approved as 
voluntary measures, thirteen measures were approved outright, two 
measures were disapproved pending the submission of additional 
information and one measure was disapproved for the purposes of part 
150.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the 
Williams Gateway Airport Noise Compatibility Program is August 17, 
2001.

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, 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 
Williams Gateway Airport, effective August 17, 2001. 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

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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 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 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 Williams Gateway Airport authority submitted the Noise Exposure 
Maps, descriptions, and other documentation produced during the noise 
compatibility planning study conducted from February 1999 through 
December 2000 to the FAA on December 16, 1999. The Williams Gateway 
Airport Noise Exposure Maps were determined by FAA to be in compliance 
with applicable requirements on May 2, 2000. Notice of this 
determination was published in the Federal Register on May 15, 2000.
    The Williams Gateway 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 February 20, 2001 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 twenty-three 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 Acting Associate 
Administrator for Airports approved the overall program effective 
August 17, 2001.
    Twenty of the twenty-three program measures have been approved. The 
following seven measures were approved as voluntary measures: Continue 
Calm Wind Runway 30 L/C/R Use Program; Continue using Runway 12R-30L 
for Light Piston Aircraft and Runways 12C/L-30C/R for Large Turbojet 
Aircraft Operations; Continue to Encourage use of NBAA [National 
Business Aviation Association] Noise Abatement Procedures; Continue to 
Promote use of AOPA [Aircraft Owner and Pilots Association] Noise 
Awareness Steps by light single and twin-engine aircraft; Continue to 
Promote the Departure Procedure for the AANG [Arizona Air National 
Guard] 161st Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Aircraft and Aircraft less than 
12,500 pounds; Develop Helicopter Reporting Points and Arrival and 
Departure Routes; and, Request Aircraft Using Runway 12R-30L Traffic 
Pattern To Remain East of the Southern Pacific Railroad. The following 
thirteen measures were approved outright: Support 161st Air Refueling 
Wing of the Arizona Air National Guard's efforts to re-engine KC-135 
Aircraft; Update General Plans to Reflect the ``Land Use Planning 
Scenario'' noise contours and Airport Planning Area as a basis for 
noise compatibility Planning; Retain compatible land use designations 
for undeveloped land within the Airport Planning Area; Develop a new 
mixed-use category that does not allow residential within the planned 
mixed-use areas inside the planning scenario's 60-DNL boundary and 
immediately north of the airport; Establish noise compatibility 
guidelines for the review of development projects within the ``planning 
scenario'' 60 DNL noise contour; Encourage rezoning areas within the 
``Planning Scenario'' noise contours and Airport Planning Area (APA) to 
Match the Compatible land use designations in the general plans; Amend 
Airport Over flight Zoning Ordinance, reflect planning scenario noise 
contours and Airport Planning Area (APA), require fair disclosure 
covenants and amend sound insulation standards; Amend subdivision 
regulations to require recording of fair disclosure covenants and 
granting of avigation easements in Airport Planning Area; Amend 
building codes to add sound insulation standards supporting the Airport 
Planning Area (APA) over flight zoning requirements; Maintain and 
update the system for receiving, analyzing, and responding to noise 
complaints and community outreach; Acquire noise monitors; Review Noise 
Compatibility Plan implementation; and, Update Noise Exposure Maps and 
Noise Compatibility Program. The following Two measures were 
disapproved pending the submission of additional information: Install 
PAPI-4 Lighting on Runway 12R-30L; and, Encourage Use of AC 91.53A 
Noise Abatement Departure Procedures by Air Carrier Jets. The following 
measure was disapproved for the purposes of Part 150: Relocate 
Instrument Landing System to Runway 30R.
    These determinations are set forth in detail in a Record of 
Approval endorsed by the Acting Associate Administrator for Airports on 
August 17, 2001. The

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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 Williams 
Gateway Airport Authority, Mesa, Arizona.

    Issued in Hawthorne, California, on August 23, 2001.
Herman C. Bliss,
Manager, Airports Division, AWP-600, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 01-22046 Filed 8-30-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M