[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 56 (Tuesday, March 23, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13614-13615]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6386]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; Westover Metropolitan Airport; 
Chicopee, MA

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 for Westover Metropolitan 
Airport, as submitted by the Westover Metropolitan Development 
Corporation under the provisions of Title I of the Aviation Safety and 
Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (Pub. L. 96-193) 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 March 4, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John C. Silva, Federal Aviation 
Administration, New England Region, Airports Division, ANE-600, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds 
that the noise exposure maps submitted for Westover Metropolitan 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of part 150, 
effective March 4, 2004.
    Under section 103 of Title I of the Aviation Safety and Noise 
Abatement Act of 1979 (hereinafter referred to as ``the Act''), an 
airport operator may submit to the FAA noise exposure maps that meet 
applicable regulations and that 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 such noise exposure maps that 
are found by FAA to be in compliance with the requirements of Federal 
Aviation Regulation (FAR) part 150, promulgated pursuant to Title I of 
the Act, may submit a noise compatibility program for FAA approval that 
sets forth the measures the operator has taken, or proposes, for the 
introduction of additional non-compatible uses.
    The FAA has completed its review of the noise exposure map and 
related descriptions submitted by the Westover Metropolitan Development 
Corporation. The specific maps under consideration were Figure 4-1, 
``2003 Noise Exposure Map'', and Figure 4-2, ``2008 Noise Exposure 
Map'' in the submission. The FAA has determined that these maps for 
Westover Metropolitan Airport are in compliance with applicable 
requirements. This determination is effective on March 4, 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 103 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 1077 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 a noise exposure map. 
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 the map

[[Page 13615]]

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 Sec.  150.21 
of FAR part 150, that the statutorily required consultation has been 
accomplished.
    Copies of the noise exposure maps and of the FAA's evaluation of 
the maps are available for examination at the following locations:

Westover Metropolitan Development Corporation, Westover Metropolitan 
Airport, 255 Padgette Street, Chicopee, Massachusetts 01022.
Federal Aviation Administration, New England Region, Airports Division, 
ANE-600, 16 New England Executive Park, Burlington, Massachusetts 
01803.

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

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on March 4, 2004.
Vincent A. Scarano,
Manager, Airports Division.
[FR Doc. 04-6386 Filed 3-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M