[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 107 (Wednesday, June 4, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33564-33565]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-14073]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Acceptance of Updated Noise Exposure Maps and Request for Review 
of the Noise Compatibility Program for Guam International Airport, Guam

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 A.B. Won Pat 
Guam International Airport Authority for Guam International Airport 
under the provisions of Title I of the Aviation Safety and Noise 
Abatement Act of 1979 (Pub. L. 96-193) (hereinafter referred to as 
``the Act'') and 14, Code of Federal Regulation (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 Guam International Airport under Part 150 in conjunction with the 
Noise Exposure Maps, and that this program will be approved or 
disapproved on or before November 15, 2003.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's acceptance of the Noise 
Exposure Maps and of the start of its review of the associated Noise 
Compatibility Program is May 19, 2003. The Public comment period ends 
on July 18, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gordon Wong, Western-Pacific Region, 
Honolulu Airports District Office, Federal Aviation Administration, Box 
50244, Honolulu, Hawaii 96850-0001, Telephone: 808-541-1232, Street 
Address: 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813. 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 Guam International Airport 
are in compliance with applicable requirements of Federal Aviation 
Regulation (FAR), Part 150, effective May 19, 2003. Further, FAA is 
reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program for that airport, 
which will be approved or disapproved on or before November 15, 2003. 
This notice also announces the availability of this program for public 
review and comment.
    Under Section 103 of Title I of 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 introduction of 
additional non-compatible uses.
    A.B. Won Pat Guam International Airport Authority submitted to the 
FAA on March 18, 2003, noise exposure maps, descriptions and other 
documentation which were produced during Guam International Airport's 
March 2003 noise compatibility study. 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 A.B. Won Pat Guam International 
Airport Authority. The specific maps under consideration are Figure 
5.1, ``Noise Exposure Map--2003'' and Figure 5.2, ``Noise Exposure 
Map--2008,'' in the submission. The FAA has determined that these maps 
for the Guam International Airport are in compliance with applicable 
requirements. This determination is effective on May 19, 2003. 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

[[Page 33565]]

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 FAR Part 150 or through FAA's review of 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.
    The FAA has formally received the Noise Compatibility Program for 
Guam International Airport, effective on May 19, 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 15, 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 non-compatible 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 
Exposure 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, National Headquarters, Community and 
Environmental Needs Division, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 617, 
Washington, DC 20591.
Federal Aviation Administration, Western-Pacific Region, Airports 
Division, AWP-600, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Hawthorne, California 
90261.
Federal Aviation Administration, Honolulu Airports District Office, 300 
Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 7-128, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.
Mr. William R. Thompson, Executive Manager, A.B. Won Pat Guam 
International Airport Authority, 355 Chalan Pasaheru, Tamuning, Guam 
96911.

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

    Issued in Hawthorne, California on May 19, 2003.
Mark McClardy,
Acting Manager, Airports Division, Western-Pacific Region, AWP-600.
[FR Doc. 03-14073 Filed 6-3-03; 8:45 am]
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