[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 12, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2206-2207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-555]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice: Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review for King County International Airport, Seattle, 
WA

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 (NEM) submitted by the 
airport director for King County 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 King County 
International Airport under part 150 in conjunction with the noise 
exposure map, and that this program will be approved or disapproved on 
or before June 21, 2005.

DATES: 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 December 23, 2004. The public comment period 
ends February 21, 2005.

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 King County International 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of part 150, 
effective December 23, 2004. Further, the FAA is reviewing a proposed 
noise compatibility program for that airport which will be approved or 
disapproved on or before June 21, 2005. This notice also announces the 
availability of this program for public review and comment.
    Under 49 U.S.C., section 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 the 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 director of the King County International Airport submitted to 
the FAA on November 2, 2004, noise exposure maps, descriptions and 
other documentation that were produced during the King County 
International Airport FAR Part 150 Study dated March 2002 and a 
Supplemental Report dated July 2004. It was requested that the FAA 
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 noise exposure maps and 
related descriptions submitted by the director of the King County 
International Airport. The specific documentation determined to 
constitute the noise exposure maps includes the following from the King 
County International Airport FAR Part 150 Study of 2004 and 
Supplemental Report of July 2004:
     Figure S1 at page S.6, Revised Existing Noise Exposure 
Map, 2003;
     Figure S3 at page S11 Revised Future Noise Exposure Map, 
2008;
     Table S1 at page S.2 Summary of Airport Planning Forecasts 
2003-2023 and additional aviation activity data, Table S2 at page S.3;
     Table S4 at page S.5 Existing Noise Exposure Map with 
Existing Land Use 2003 presents estimates of the number of persons 
residing with the DNL 55 through 75 noise contours;
     Figures C12 through C15 at pages C.37 through C.40 present 
Flight Tracks;
     Figures C10 and C11 at pages C.28 and C.29 present Noise 
Measurement Locations;
     Table S6 at page S.10 Future Noise Exposure Map with 
Existing Land Use, 2008, presents estimates of the number of persons 
residing with the DNL 55 through 75 noise contours;
     Pages S.37 through S.47 present the Consultation Process 
during the study; Appendix F presents Revised Consultation; and
     The potential exists for numerous properties to be 
eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. 
Consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office has indicated 
that it is not necessary to perform a detailed evaluation of potential 
eligible properties at this stage of planning. Detailed evaluation will 
occur during the preparation of environmental documents required prior 
to implementation of the program.
    The FAA has determined that these maps for King County 
International Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements. 
This determination is effective on December 23, 2004. The 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 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 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 the 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

[[Page 2207]]

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 compatibility program for 
King County International Airport, also effective on December 23, 2004. 
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 June 21, 2005.
    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 
measure may reduce the level of aviation safety, create an undue burden 
on 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. The FAA will consider all 
comments, other than those properly addressed to local land use 
authorities, to the extent practicable. Copies of the 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, Airports Division, 1601 Lind Avenue, 
SW., Suite 315, Renton, Washington;
Seattle Airports District Office, 1601 Lind Ave., SW., Suite 250, 
Seattle, Washington;
King County International Airport, 7233 Perimeter Road South, Seattle, 
Washington.

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

    Issued in Renton, Washington, December 23, 2004.
Lowell H. Johnson,
Manager, Airports Division, Northwest Mountain Region.
[FR Doc. 05-555 Filed 1-11-05; 8:45 am]
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