[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 240 (Monday, December 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69760-69761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30911]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
Update and Request for Review, Louisville International Airport, 
Louisville, KY

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 Regional 
Airport Authority of Louisville and Jefferson County, Kentucky for 
Louisville International 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 Louisville International Airport under part 150 
in conjunction with the noise exposure map, and that this program will 
be approved or disapproved on or before May 16, 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 18, 2003. The public comment 
period ends February 3, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry O. Bowers, Airports District 
Office, 2862 Airport Business Park Drive, Bldg. G, Memphis, Tennessee 
38118; 901-322-8184. 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 Louisville International 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of part 150, 
effective November 18, 2003. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise 
compatibility program for that airport which will be approved or 
disapproved on or before May 16, 2004. This notice also announces the 
availability of this program for public review and comment.
    Under 49 U.S.C. 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 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 Regional Airport Authority of Louisville and Jefferson County, 
Kentucky, submitted to the FAA on February 12, 2003, noise exposure 
maps, descriptions and other documentation that were produced during 
the FAR part 150 Noise Study Update, dated January 30, 2003. It was 
requested that the FA 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 nose exposure maps and 
related descriptions submitted by the Regional Airport Authority of 
Louisville and Jefferson County, Kentucky. The specific documentation 
determined to constitute the noise exposure maps includes:
    Existing Noise Exposure Map, 2003, Figure 10-1;
    Future Noise Exposure Map, 2008, Figure 10-2;
    Noise Monitoring Sites, appendix E, part 2 of volume 2 and 
accompanying Figure 6;
    Flight Tracks for the existing condition, 2003, and 5-year, 2008 
are depicted in Figures 6-3 through 6-6 and Figures 10-1 and 10-2;
    Table 6-1 provides the Aviation Forecast and appendices D and G

[[Page 69761]]

updates and justifies the forecast, the forecast is consistent and 
reasonable;
    Existing Land Use depicted by Figures 5-1; Future Land Use depicted 
by Figures 5-2 and 5-2, Noise Exposure Map 2003 Impacts are tabulated 
in Table 10-3 and Noise Exposure Map 2008 Impacts are tabulated in 
Table 10-5;
    Consultation Methodology and Program are presented in appendix A.
    National Register of Historic Places described, section 5.3 at 
pages 5-7 through 5-9, Figure 5-4, Table 5-1 and appendix C.
    The FAA has determined that these maps for Louisville International 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements. This 
determination is effective on November 18, 2003. FAA's determination on 
an airport opertor'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 properites 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 detailed 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 consultation has 
been accomplished.
    The FAA has formally received the noise compatiblity program for 
Louisville International Airport, also effective on November 18, 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 16, 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 of 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 these 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, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 
621, Washington, DC 20591.
    Federal Aviation Administration, Airports District Office, 2862 
Business Park, Bldg G, Memphis, Tennessee 38118-1555.
    Regional Airport Authority of Louisville and Jefferson County, P.O. 
Box 9129, Louisville, Kentucky 40209-0129.
    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Memphis Airports District Office, Memphis, Tennessee, 
November 18, 2003.
LaVerne F. Reid,
Manager, Memphis Airports District Office.
[FR Doc. 03-30911 Filed 12-12-03; 8:45 am]
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