[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 22 (Tuesday, February 3, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5237-5238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-2202]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice

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 Snohomish 
County for Paine Field/Snohomish County 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.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's determination on the 
noise exposure maps is January 8, 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 Paine Field/Snohomish County 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of part 150, 
effective January 8, 2004. Under 49 U.S.C. section 47503 of 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 FAA has completed its review of the noise exposure maps and 
accompanying documentation submitted by Snohomish County for Paine 
Field/Snohomish County Airport. The documentation that constitutes the 
``noise exposure maps'' as defined in section 150.7 of part 150 
includes the following from the September 2003, Paine Field FAR Part 
150 Noise Exposure Maps Update:
     Figure 7 at page 19, Existing Noise Exposure 
Map, 2002/2003;
     Figure 8 at page 20 Future Noise Exposure Map, 
2008;
     Figure 6 at page 12 Flight Tracks;
     Figure 5 at page 11 Noise Monitoring Sites;
     Table 1 at page 9 Summary of Aviation Forecasts 
2002-2008'
     Tables 2 through 5 at pages 14-18 present flight 
track utilizations by runway and aircraft type;
     Figure 7 at page 18, Existing 2002 Noise 
Exposure Map, presents estimates of the number of persons residing with 
the DNL 55, 60, and 65 noise contours;
     Figure 8 at page 20, Future 2008 Noise Exposure 
Map, presents estimates of the number of persons residing with the DNL 
55, 60, and 65 noise contours;
     Pages 20 through 24 and the Appendix present 
consultation details.
     The year of submission (2003) airport operations 
data is equivalent to the submitted existing condition Noise Exposure 
Map (2002) operations data and the five-year forecast Noise Exposure 
Map is reasonable.
     There are no properties on or eligible for 
inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places within the DNL 65 
contour.
    The FAA has determined that these noise exposure maps and 
accompanying documentation are in compliance with applicable 
requirements. This determination is effective on January 8, 2004.
    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 47503 of the Act, it should be

[[Page 5238]]

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 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.
    Copies of the full noise exposure map documentation and of the 
FAA's evaluation of the maps are available for examination at the 
following locations:
    Federal Aviation Administration, Airports Division, Suite 315, 1601 
Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington;
    Federal Aviation Administration, Seattle Airports District Office, 
1601 Lind Ave. SW., Suite 250, Renton, Washington;
    Snohomish County Airport, Office of the Airport Director, 3220 
100th Street, SW., Everett, WA.
    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, January 8, 2004.
Lowell H. Johnson,
Manager, Airports Division, Northwest Mountain Region.
[FR Doc. 04-2202 Filed 2-2-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M