[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 20, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20615-20616]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-7826]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice

SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
determination that the noise exposure maps submitted by Metropolitan 
Nashville Airport Authority for Nashville 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 April 12, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peggy S. Keeley, FAA, Memphis Airports 
District Office, 2862 Business Park Drive, Building G, Memphis, 
Tennessee 38118-1555 Telephone (901) 322-8186.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds 
that the noise exposure maps submitted for Nashville International 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of part 150, 
effective April 12, 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

[[Page 20616]]

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 metropolitan Nashville Airport 
Board. The documentation, ``Nashville International Airport Noise 
Exposure Map Update'', that constitutes the ``noise exposure maps'' as 
defined in section 150.7 of part 150 includes: Existing (2004) Noise 
Exposure Map, Exhibit NEM-1; Future (2009) Noise Exposure Map, Exhibit 
NEB-2; Consolidated Jet Aircraft Flight Tracks, Exhibit 2; Consolidated 
Propeller Aircraft Flight Tracks, Exhibit 3; Tables 1-5 Existing 
Conditions and Tables 8-12 Future Conditions. The document also 
contains narrative concerning the development of the maps. The FAA has 
determined that these noise exposure maps and accompanying 
documentation are in compliance with applicable requirements. This 
determination is effective on April 12, 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 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, Memphis Airports 
District Office, 2862 Business Park Drive, Memphis, Tennessee 38118-
1555 and Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, One Terminal Drive, 
Suite 501, Nashville, Tennessee 37214-4114. Questions may be directed 
to the individuals named above under the heading FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Memphis, Tennessee, April 12, 2005.
LaVerne F. Reid,
Manager, Memphis Airports District Office.
[FR Doc. 05-7826 Filed 4-19-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M