[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 231 (Tuesday, December 2, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67503-67504]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30019]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Revised Noise Exposure Map Notice: Receipt of Noise Compatibility 
Program and Request for Review for Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, WY

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This revised notice, the restart of the Part 150 acceptance/
approval process and associated dates is necessary because of the 
Federal Aviation Administration's need to acquire additional 
information from the Jackson Hole Airport Board. the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA) announces its determination that the noise 
exposure maps (NEM) submitted by the Jackson Hole Airport Board for 
Jackson Hole Airport under the provisions of 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 Jackson Hole Airport under part 150 in conjunction with the noise 
exposure map, and that this program will be approved or disapproved on 
or before May 17, 2004.

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 November 19, 2003. The public comment 
period ends January 18, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis Ossenkop, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Airports Division, 1601 Lind Ave., SW., Renton, WA 
98055-4056, telephone (425) 227-2611. 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 Jackson Hole Airport are in 
compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, effective November 
19, 2003. Further, the FAA is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility 
program for that airport which will be approved or disapproved on or 
before May 17, 2004. This notice also announces the availability of 
this program for public review and comment.
    Under 49 U.S.C., section 47503 (the 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 non-compatible 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 the 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 Jackson Hole Airport Board submitted to the FAA on July 2, 
2003, noise exposure maps, descriptions and other documentation that 
were produced during Jackson Hole Airport FAR Part 150 Study Update, 
dated July 1, 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 Jackson Hole Airport Board. The 
specific documentation determined to constitute the Noise Exposure Maps 
includes the following from the May 2003, Jackson Hole Airport FAR part 
150 Study Update:
    Figure B1 at page B.5, Existing Noise Exposure Map, 2002;
    Figure E1 at page E.8 Future Noise Exposure Map, 2008;

[[Page 67504]]

    Figure D4 at page D.11 Flight Track/Noise Monitoring Sites;
    Table A2 at page A.2 Revised Summary of Aviation Forecasts 2002-
2008 and additional aviation activity data;
    Table C4 at page C.5 Existing Land Use Within Existing Noise 
Contours presents estimates of the number of persons residing with the 
DNL 55, 60, and 65 noise contours;
    Table E2 at page E.4 Future Noise Exposure Map with Existing Land 
Use, 2008, presents estimates of the number of persons residing with 
the DNL 55, 60, and 65 noise contours;
    Appendix F presents Revised Consultation.
    The year of submission (2003) airport operations data (shown in 
Table A1 at page A.2 as 35,779 operations) is equivalent to the 
submitted existing condition;
    Noise Exposure Map (2002) operations data (also shown in Table A1 
as 35,036) and the five-year forecast Noise Exposure Map is still 
reasonable.
    The Jackson Hole Airport Board has stated, in a separate letter 
dated November 13, 2003, that there are no properties on or eligible 
for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.
    The FAA has determined that these maps for Jackson Hole Airport are 
in compliance with applicable requirements. This determination is 
effective on November 19, 2003. The 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 the FAA's review of noise exposure maps. 
Therefore, the responsibility for the detailed overlaying of noise 
exposure controls 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 consultation has 
been accomplished.
    The FAA has formally received the noise compatibility program for 
Jackson Hole Airport, also effective on November 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 May 17, 2004.
    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. The FAA will consider all 
comments, other than those properly addressed to local land use 
authorities, 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, Airports Division, 1601 Lind Avenue, 
SW., Suite 315, Renton, Washington.
Denver Airports District Office, 26805 E. 68th Ave., Suite 224, Denver, 
Colorado.
Jackson Hole Airport, 1250 East Airport Road, Jackson, Wyoming.

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

    Issued in Renton, Washington, November 19, 2003.
Lowell H. Johnson,
Manager, Airports Division, Northwest Mountain Region.
[FR Doc. 03-30019 Filed 12-01-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M