[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 235 (Thursday, December 6, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63424-63425]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-30281]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Approval of Noise Compatibility Program for Hilo International 
Airport, Hilo, HI

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
findings on the Noise Compatibility Program submitted by the State of 
Hawaii, Department of Transportation 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, 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 
November 28, 2000, the FAA determined that the noise exposure maps 
submitted by the State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation under 
FAR Part 150 were in compliance with applicable requirements. On

[[Page 63425]]

October 24, 2001, the Acting Associate Administrator for Airports 
approved the Hilo International Airport Noise Compatibility Program. 
All eight of the program measures have been approved. Two measures were 
approved as voluntary measures and six measures were approved outright.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the Hilo 
International Airport Noise Compatibility Program is October 24, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David J. Welhouse, Airport Planner, 
Honolulu Airports District Office, Federal Aviation Administration, Box 
50244, Honolulu, Hawaii 96850-0001, Telephone: (808) 541-1243. Street 
Address: 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Room 7-128. Documents reflecting this FAA 
action may be received at this location.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA has given 
its overall approval to the Noise Compatibility Program for the Hilo 
International Airport, effective October 24, 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 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 program 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 measures 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, Sec. 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 an FAA implementing action. A request for Federal action or 
approval to implement specific noise compatibility measures may be 
required, and an 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 District Office in Honolulu, Hawaii.
    The State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation submitted to the 
FAA on December 29, 2000, the noise exposure maps, descriptions, and 
other documentation produced during the noise compatibility planning 
study conducted from April 1998 through December 2000. The Hilo 
International Airport noise exposure maps were determined by FAA to be 
in compliance with applicable requirements on November 28, 2000. Notice 
of this determination was published in the Federal Register on December 
21, 2000.
    This Hilo International Airport study contains a proposed Noise 
Compatibility Program comprised of actions designed for phased 
implementation by airport management and adjacent jurisdictions from 
the date of study completion to the year 2005. 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 April 27, 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 eight 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 
October 24, 2001.
    All eight program measures were approved. The following two 
measures were approved as voluntary measures: Publish an Informal 
Preferential Runway Use Program and request use of certain flight 
procedures; and, Restrictions on Military Training Operations. The 
following six measures were approved outright: Continue to study the 
possible land exchange with Hawaiian Home Lands to locate suitable 
State or private lands which could be exchanged for Keaukaha Tract 1 
and 2 lands within the 60 DNL contour; Sound attenuation barrier; Sound 
attenuation treatment of impacted structures; Continue to monitor 
development proposals in the Hilo International Airport environs and 
disclose Airport Noise Exposure Maps to the community; Disclose the 
Base Year and 5-Year Noise Exposure Maps to the local community by 
providing overlays of the noise contours on a Tax Map; and, Annually 
monitor Hilo International Airport aircraft noise levels and operations 
at Hilo International Airport and conduct public informational meetings 
on the progress of the Part 150 program.
    These determinations are set forth in-detail in a Record of 
Approval endorsed by the Administrator on October 24, 2001. 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 State of Hawaii.

    Issued in Hawthorne, California on November 28, 2001.
Herman C. Bliss,
Manager, Airports Division.
[FR Doc. 01-30281 Filed 12-5-01; 8:45 am]
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