[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 78 (Thursday, April 22, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21880-21881]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-8925]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
determination that the noise exposure maps submitted by the 
Pennsylvania State University for the University Park 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 April 15, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Stanco, New York Airports 
District Office, 600 Old Country Road, Suite 440, Garden City, New 
York, 11530 (516-227-3808).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds 
that the noise exposure maps submitted for the University Park Airport 
are in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, effective 
April 15, 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 the FAA to be in 
compliance with the requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) 
Part 150,

[[Page 21881]]

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 the Pennsylvania State 
University. The documentation that constitutes the ``noise exposure 
maps'' as defined in section 150.7 of Part 150 includes: 2000 Noise 
Exposure Map (Exhibit 4-4), 2005 Noise Exposure Map (Exhibit 4-5) and 
documentation in Chapter 4 of the Noise Exposure Maps Report for the 
University Park Airport; type and frequency of aircraft (Tables 4-1, 4-
2) and documentation in section 4.2; airport layout and flight patterns 
(Exhibits 4-1, 4-2, Table 4-4) and documentation in sections 4.1, 4.4; 
and nighttime operations Table 4.4. The FAA has determined that these 
noise exposure maps and accompanying documentation are in compliance 
with the applicable requirements. This determination is effective on 
April 15, 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 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 47503 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 which submitted these 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, which under Sec.  
150.21 of FAR part 150, that the statutorily required consultation has 
been accomplished.
    Copies of the full noise exposure maps documentation and of the 
FAA's evaluation of the maps are available at the following locations:

    Federal Aviation Administration, New York Airports District Office, 
600 Old Country Road, Suite 440, Garden City, NY 11530, and

    Bryan Rodgers, University Park Airport, 2535 Fox Hill Road, State 
College, PA.

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

    Issued in Jamaica, Queens, April 15th, 2004.
William J. Flanagan,
Eastern Region Airports Manager.
[FR Doc. 04-8925 Filed 4-21-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M