[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 104 (Friday, May 28, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30740-30741]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-12179]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
Update And Request for Review; LeHigh Valley International Airport, 
Allentown, PA

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 LeHigh-
Northampton Airport Authority (LNAA) for LeHigh Valley International 
Airport (ABE) 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.

DATES: Effective Date: The effective date of the FAA's determination on 
the noise exposure maps is May 14, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Harrisburg Airports District Office, 
3905 Hartzdale Drive, Suite 508, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania 17011 (717) 
730-2833.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds 
that the noise exposure maps submitted for ABE are in compliance with 
applicable requirements of Part 150, effective May 14, 2004. Under 49 
U.S.C. 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 LNAA. The documentation that 
constitutes the ``noise exposure maps''as defined in section 150.7 of 
part 150 includes: The NEM graphics (Figure 31, depicting noise 
contours for the year 2003 ``existing conditions'' and Figure 32, 
depicting noise contours for the 2008 forecast conditions) and 
supporting documentation required by sections 150.21 and A150.101. The 
supporting documentation includes:
    (1) Runway locations, airport boundaries, noise contours, locations 
of noise-sensitive structures and properties on or eligible for the 
National Register of Historic Places (Figures 31 and 32, and section 
5.1),
    (2) Flight tracks (Figures 36 through 45),
    (3) Estimates of number of people within the noise contours 
(section 5.5),
    (4) Location of noise monitoring sites (Figure 11 and section 3.2),
    (5) Operational assumptions, including fleet mix (section 5.6),
    (6) Planned airport development, jurisdictional boundaries, runway 
end numbers, (Figures 34 and 35, and NEM graphics Figures 31 and 32),
    (7) Evidence of consultation required by the regulation (section 6 
and Appendix B).
    The FAA has determined that these noise exposure maps and 
accompanying documentation are in compliance with applicable 
requirements. This determination is effective on May 14, 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 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, Harrisburg 
Airports District Office, 3905 Hartzdale Drive, Suite 508, Camp Hill,

[[Page 30741]]

Pennsylvania, and Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority, 3311 Airport 
Road, Allentown, Pennsylvania. Questions may be directed to the 
location above under the heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Eastern Region, Harrisburg ADO, May 14, 2004.
Wayne Heibeck,
Manager, Harrisburg Airports District Office.
[FR Doc. 04-12179 Filed 5-27-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M