[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 8 (Monday, January 13, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1647-1648]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-653]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, Latrobe, 
Pennsylvania

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (DOT).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
determination that the noise exposure maps (NEM) submitted by the 
Westmoreland County Airport Authority for the Arnold Palmer Regional 
Airport under the provisions of Title I of the Aviation Safety and 
Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (Pub. L. 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 (NCP) that was 
submitted for Arnold Palmer Regional Airport under part 150 in 
conjunction with the noise exposure maps, and that this program will be 
approved or disapproved on or before June 22, 2003.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's determination on the 
noise exposure maps and of the start of its review of the associated 
noise compatibility program is December 24, 2002. The public comment 
period ends February 22, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Byers, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Harrisburg Airports District Office, 3905 Hartzdale 
Drive, Camp Hill, PA 17011. Telephone (717) 730-2833. 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 noise exposure maps submitted for the Arnold Palmer Regional 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of part 150, 
effective December 24, 2002. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise 
compatibility program for that airport which will be approved or 
disapproved on or before June 22, 2003. 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 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 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.
    The Westmoreland County Airport Authority submitted to the FAA on 
December 6, 2002 noise exposure maps, descriptions and other 
documentation which were produced during the Arnold Palmer Regional 
Airport part 150 Noise Compatibility Study conducted between March 1999 
and November 2002. It was 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 noise exposure maps and 
related descriptions submitted by the Westmoreland County Airport 
Authority. The specific maps under consideration are ``1999 Noise 
Exposure Map'' (NEM1) and ``2004 Noise Exposure Map'' (NEM2) with 
``Recommended Noise Compatibility Program'' (NCP) in the submission. 
The documentation that constitutes the ``Noise Exposure Maps'' as 
defined in section 150.7 of part 150 includes: NEM1 and NEM2 contain 
current and forecast condition graphics such as depiction of the 
airport and its boundaries and runway configurations; land uses such as 
hospitals, libraries, churches, historical points, schools, nursing 
homes, commercial and industrial areas, community service areas, and 
residential areas; and the areas within the DNL 60, 65, 70 and 75. 
Estimates of the number of people residing within the DNL 60, 65, 70 
and 75 are found in Table V-1. The locations of noise monitoring sites 
are found in Exhibit IV-6. Flight tracks for the existing condition and 
the five-year forecasted timeframes are found in Exhibits IV-3, IV-4, 
and IV-5. The type

[[Page 1648]]

and frequency of aircraft operations (including nighttime operations) 
are found in Tables IV-6, IV-7, and IV-8. The Westmoreland County 
Airport Authority has determined that single family residential land 
uses in the airport environs are generally incompatible with noise 
levels above DNL 60 dBA. The Authority proposes to work with members of 
the Unity Township Zoning Hearing Board and the Unity Township Board of 
Supervisors to adopt a more stringent designation of noncompatibility 
for Unity Township (see Table III-1 of the NCP) than the federal/FAA 
standards as expressed in Table 1 of FAR part 150.
    Comparability of Conditions: Federal part 150 regulations require 
the preparation of noise exposure contours based on forecast aircraft 
operations at the airport for five years from the date of submission 
and that reasonable assumptions concerning fleet mix, flight patterns, 
and planned airport developments be incorporated. The initial schedule 
of the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport's Part 150 Study indicated that 
the Noise Exposure Maps would be submitted near the end of 1999. 
Therefore, 2004 operating levels were used for the Future NEM/NCP. The 
NEMs were ultimately submitted to the FAA in November 2000 and the NCP 
was submitted in March 2001. Subsequently, at the FAA's request, 
certain pages of the NEM and NCP reports were revised and resubmitted 
in February 2002. To address additional comments received on the NEM 
and NCP from the FAA Environmental and Airspace Divisions, the 
Westmoreland County Airport Authority prepared another revision in June 
2002.
    A comparison of the 2004 and 2008 forecasts was completed (see 
Table II-3 NEM report) and it was found that there would be less than 3 
percent difference between the two conditions (2004 = 48,318 annual 
aircraft operations and 2008 = 49, 524 annual aircraft operations). The 
difference in aircraft operations between the two forecast years is 
1,206 annual aircraft operations or approximately 3 operations per day. 
In addition, there is nothing to indicate that there would be 
significant changes in flight patterns, runway use, or fleet mix 
between 2004 and 2008. Therefore, the 2004 Future NEM/NCP noise 
contours are representative of 2007/2008 conditions as well. This 
determination is effective on December 24, 2002. FAA's determination on 
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 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 
exposures 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 
Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, also effective on December 24, 2002. 
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 program. The formal review period, limited by law to 
a maximum of 180 days, will be completed on or before June 22, 2003.
    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 be 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 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 noise 
exposure maps, the FAA's evaluation of the maps, and the proposed noise 
compatibility program are available for examination at the following 
locations: Westmoreland County Airport Authority, 200 Pleasant Unity 
Road Suite 103, Latrobe, PA 15650 and Federal Aviation Administration, 
Harrisburg Airports District Office, 3905 Suite 506, Hartzdale Drive, 
Camp Hill, PA 17011.
    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, December 24, 2002.
Sharon A. Daboin,
Manager Harrisburg Airports District Office.
[FR Doc. 03-653 Filed 1-10-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M