[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 27, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59298-59299]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-29481]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Acceptance of Noise Exposure Maps for Reno Tahoe International 
Airport, Reno, NV

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 the Airport 
Authority of Washoe County for the Reno/Tahoe International Airport, 
Reno, Nevada under the provisions of Title I of the Aviation Safety and 
Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (Pub. L. 96-193) and Title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 150, are in compliance with applicable 
requirements.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's acceptance of the Noise 
Exposure Maps for the Reno/Tahoe International Airport, Reno, Nevada is 
November 15, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elisha Novak, Airport Planner, 
Airports Division, SFO-611, Federal Aviation Administration, San 
Francisco Airports District Office. Mailing address: 831 Mitten Road, 
Burlingame, California 94010-1303. Telephone (650) 876-2928. Documents 
reflecting this FAA action may be reviewed at this same location.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds 
that the Noise Exposure Maps submitted for the Reno/Tahoe International 
Airport, Reno, Nevada are in compliance with applicable requirements of 
Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 150, effective November 15, 
2001.
    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 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 in introduction of 
additional noncompatible uses.
    The FAA has completed its review of the Noise Exposure Maps and 
supporting documentation submitted by the Airport Authority of Washoe 
County. The specific maps under consideration are Exhibit 1, ``2000 
Noise Exposure Map'' and Exhibit 2, ``2005 Noise Exposure Map'' in the 
submission. The FAA has determined that these maps for the Reno/Tahoe 
International Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements. 
This determination is effective on November 15, 2001. FAA's acceptance 
of 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 acceptance 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.

[[Page 59299]]

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 FAR part 150 or 
through FAA's review of the 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, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 
617, Washington, DC 20591.

Federal Aviation Administration, Western-Pacific Region, Airports 
Division, AWP-600, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Hawthorne, CA 90261.

Airport Authority of Washoe County, Reno/Tahoe International Airport, 
P.O. Box 12490, Reno, NV 89510-2490.

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

    Issued in Hawthorne, California on November 15, 2001.
Herman C. Bliss,
Manager, Airports Division, AWP-600, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 01-29481 Filed 11-26-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M