[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 52 (Friday, March 18, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13224-13225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5341]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice: Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review

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 Capital Region 
Airport Authority for Capital City 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 Capital City Airport under Part 150 in 
conjunction with the noise exposure map, and that this program will be 
approved or disapproved on or before August 5, 2005.

DATES: Effective Date: 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 February 7, 2005. The public 
comment period ends April 8, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Katherine S. Jones, Federal 
Aviation Administration, Detroit Airports District Office, 11677 South 
Wayne Road, Suite 107, Romulus, Michigan, phone number (734) 229-2958. 
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 Capital City Airport are in 
compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, effective February 
7, 2005. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility 
program for that airport which will be approved or disapproved on or 
before August 5, 2005. This notice also announces the availability of 
this program for public review and comment.
    Under 49 U.S.C. 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 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.
    Capital Region Airport Authority submitted to the FAA on February 
1, 2005 noise exposure maps, descriptions and other documentation that 
were produced during the Capital City Airport FAR Part 150 Noise 
Compatibility Study Update, January 2005. 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 Capital Region Airport Authority. The 
specific documentation determined to constitute the noise exposure maps 
includes: Noise Exposure Map Existing Conditions (2003), Noise Exposure 
Map Future (2008) with Runway Extension, FAR Part 150 Noise 
Compatibility Study Update Volume I contains the required information 
for Section 47503 and section A150.101 including the following specific 
references: Current and forecast operations in Table II-9;

[[Page 13225]]

fleet mix and nighttime operations in Tables IV-2, IV-3, IV-4, and IV-
5; flight patterns in Exhibits IV-3, IV-4, Iv-5, IV-6, IV-7, IV-8, IV-
9, IV-10, and land use in Exhibits III-2 and III-3. The FAA has 
determined that these maps for Capital City Airport are in compliance 
with applicable requirements. This determination is effective on 
February 7, 2005. FAA's determinations on an airport operator's noise 
exposure maps is limited to a finding that the maps are 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 find 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.
    The FAA has formally received the noise compatibility program for 
Capital Region Airport Authority, also effective on February 7, 2005. 
Preliminary review of the submitted material indicates that in 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 August 6, 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 
measures may reduce the level of aviation safety, create an undue 
burden on interstate or foreign commerce, or by 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. All comments, other than 
those properly addressed to local land use authorities, will be 
considered by the FAA 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 Detroit Airports District Office, 11677 
South Wayne Road, Suite 107, Romulus, Michigan 48174
Capital Region Airport Authority, Capital City Airport, 4100 Capital 
City Boulevard, Lansing, Michigan 48906

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

    Issued in Romulus, Michigan, on February 7, 2005.
Irene R. Porter,
Manager, Detroit Airports District Office, Great Lakes Region.
[FR Doc. 05-5341 Filed 3-17-05; 8:45 am]
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