[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 97 (Tuesday, May 20, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27616-27617]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-12490]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review Greater Rockford Airport Rockford, IL

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 Greater 
Rockford Airport Authority for the Greater Rockford Airport under the 
provisions 49 U.S.C. 47501 et. seq. (Aviation Safety and Noise 
Abatement Act) 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 the Greater Rockford 
Airport under Part 150 in conjunction with the noise exposure maps, and 
that this program will be approved or disapproved on or before November 
4, 2003.

EFFECTIVE DATES: 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 May 8, 2003. The public comment period 
ends July 7, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Prescott C. Snyder, Airports 
Environmental Program Manager, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, 
Illinois 60018. [Telephone Number (847) 294-7538/Fax Number (847) 294-
7046] 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 Greater Rockford Airport 
are in

[[Page 27617]]

compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, effective May 8, 
2003. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program 
for that airport which will be approved or disapproved on or before 
November 4, 2003. This notice also announces the availability of this 
program for public review and comment.
    Under 49 U.S.C., section 47503 (Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement 
Act, 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 the Act, 
may submit a noise compatibility program for FAA approval which sets 
forth the measures the operator has taken or proposes to take to reduce 
existing non-compatible uses and prevent the introduction of additional 
non-compatible uses.
    The Greater Rockford Airport Authority submitted to the FAA on 
April 7, 2003, noise exposure maps, descriptions and other 
documentation, which were produced during the Greater Rockford 
Airport's FAR Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study, April 2003. It was 
requested that the FAA review this material as the noise exposure maps, 
as described in section 47503 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 
47504 of the Act.
    The FAA has completed its review of the noise exposure maps and 
related descriptions submitted by the Greater Rockford Airport 
Authority. The specific documentation determined to constitute the 
noise exposure maps includes information found in Appendix F, Noise 
Modeling Methodology as well as the submittal letter, maps and 
certification found in the beginning of the April 2003 FAR Part 150 
Noise Compatibility Study Update for Greater Rockford Airport. The 
noise exposure maps and certification follow page NCP-6 in the 
submission. They are the 2002 Existing Noise Exposure Map and 2008 
Noise Compatibility Program Noise Exposure Map. The FAA has determined 
that these maps for the Greater Rockford Airport are in compliance with 
applicable requirements. This determination is effective on May 8, 
2003. 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 constitute 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 47503 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 47506 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 detail overlaying of noise 
exposure contours onto the map depicting properties on the surface 
rests exclusively with the airport operator that submitted those maps, 
or with those public agencies and planning agencies with which 
consultation is required under section 47503 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 consolation has 
been accomplished.
    The FAA has formally received the noise compatibility program for 
Greater Rockford Airport, also effective on May 8, 2003. 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 November 4, 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 non-compatible 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 
exposured 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, Chicago Airports District Office, Room 
320, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018.
Greater Rockford Airport Authority, Airport Manager's Office, 60 
Airport Drive, Rockford, Illinois 61109.
Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics, One 
Langhorne Bond Drive, Capital Airport, Springfield, Illinois 62707.

    Copies of the FAR Part 150 Noise Compatibility Program documents 
are also available for public review during normal business hours at 
the following locations:

Rockford City Council Clerk, Rockford City Hall, 425 East State Street, 
Rockford, Illinois 61104.
Rockford Public Library, 215 North Wyman, Rockford, Illinois 61101.
Winnebago County Courthouse, County Clerk's Office, 400 West State 
Street, Rockford, Illinois 61101.

    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Issued in Chicago, Illinois, on May 8, 2003.

Phillip M. Smithmeyer,
Manager, Chicago Airports District Office, FAA Great Lakes Region.
[FR Doc. 03-12490 Filed 5-19-03; 8:45 am]
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