[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 23, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 14745]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5648]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice

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 the 
Metropolitan Airports Commission for Minneapolis-St. Paul 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.

DATES: The effective date of the FAA's determination on the noise 
exposure maps is March 3, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Glen Orcutt, Minneapolis Airports 
District Office, 6020 28th Avenue South, Room 102, Minneapolis, 
Minnesota 55450, telephone number (612) 713-4354.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds 
that the noise exposure maps submitted for Minneapolis-St. Paul 
International airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of 
part 150, effective March 3, 2005.
    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 FAA to be in compliance with the requirements of Federal 
Aviation Administration (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 the Metropolitan Airports 
Commission. The documentation that constitutes the ``noise exposure 
maps'' as defined in section 150.7 of part 150 includes: Volume I of 
the November 2004 14 CFR part 150 Update; Year 2002 Existing Condition 
Noise Exposure Map, Figure 6-1; and Year 2007 Unmitigated Noise 
Exposure Map, Figure 6-2; respectively. The part 150 Update contains 
the required information for Section 47503 and section A150.101 
including the following specific references: current and forecast 
operations in Table 3.19; fleet mix, nighttime and type of aircraft 
operations in Tables 3.3, 3.8. 3.9, and 3.10; flight patterns in 
Figures 4-6 through 4-15; location of noise monitoring sites, Figure 4-
19; land uses maps, Figures 5-2 and 5-3; and number of people residing 
within Contours, Table 5.5 and 5.8. The FAA has determined that these 
noise exposure maps and accompanying documentation are in compliance 
with applicable requirements. This determination is effective on March 
3, 2005. 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 regards 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 Minneapolis 
Airports District Office, 6020 28th Avenue South, Room 102, 
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55450; Chad Leqve, Metropolitan Airports 
Commission, 6040 28th Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55450.
    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Minneapolis, Minnesota on March 3, 2005.
Nancy Nistler,
Manager, Minneapolis Airports District Office, Great Lakes Region.
[FR Doc. 05-5648 Filed 3-22-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M