[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 22, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36227-36229]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-12376]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Compatibility Program Notice; Georgetown Municipal Airport, 
Georgetown, TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
findings on the noise compatibility program submitted by the city of 
Georgetown under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. (the Aviation Safety and 
Noise Abatement Act, hereinafter referred to as ``the Act'') and 14 CFR 
Part 150. These findings are made in recognition of the description of 
Federal and nonfederal responsibilities in Senate Report No. 96-52 
(1980). On January 26,

[[Page 36228]]

2004, the FAA determined that the noise exposure maps submitted by the 
city of Georgetown under Part 150 were in compliance with applicable 
requirements. On May 27, 2005, the FAA approved the Georgetown 
Municipal Airport noise compatibility program. Most of the 
recommendations of the program were approved.

DATES: Effective Date: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the 
Georgetown Municipal Airport noise compatibility program is May 27, 
2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Paul Blackford, Environmental 
Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, Texas Airports Development 
Office, ASW-650, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0650. 
Telephone (817) 222-5607. Documents reflecting this FAA action may be 
reviewed at this same location.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA has given 
its overall approval to the noise compatibility program for the 
Georgetown Municipal Airport, effective May 27, 2005.
    Under section 47504 of the Act, an airport operator who has 
previously submitted a noise exposure map may submit to the FAA a noise 
compatibility program which sets forth the measures taken or proposed 
by the airport operator for the reduction of existing non-compatible 
land uses and prevention of additional non-compatible land uses within 
the area covered by the noise exposure maps. The Act requires such 
programs to be developed in consultation with interested and affected 
parties including local communities, government agencies, airport 
users, and FAA personnel.
    Each airport noise compatibility program developed in accordance 
with Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 150 is a local program, 
not a Federal program. The FAA does not substitute its judgment for 
that of the airport proprietor with respect to which measures should be 
recommended for action. The FAA's approval or disapproval of FAR Part 
150 program recommendations is measured according to the standards 
expressed in Part 150 and the Act and is limited to the following 
determinations:
    a. The noise compatibility program was developed in accordance with 
the provisions and procedures of FAR Part 150;
    b. Program measures are reasonably consistent with achieving the 
goals of reducing existing non-compatible land uses around the airport 
and preventing the introduction of additional non-compatible land uses;
    c. Program measures would not create an undue burden on interstate 
or foreign commerce, unjustly discriminate against types or classes of 
aeronautical uses, violate the terms of airport grant agreements, or 
intrude into areas preempted by the Federal Government; and
    d. Program measures relating to the use of flight procedures can be 
implemented within the period covered by the program without derogating 
safety, adversely affecting the efficient use an management of the 
navigable airspace and air traffic control system, or adversely 
affecting other powers and responsibilities of the Administrator 
prescribed by law.
    Specific limitations with respect to FAA's approval of an airport 
noise compatibility program are delineated in FAR Part 150, section 
150.5. Approval is not a determination concerning the acceptability of 
land uses under Federal, State, or local law. Approval does not by 
itself constitute an FAA implementing action. A request for Federal 
action or approval to implement specific noise compatibility measures 
may be required, and an FAA decision on the request may require an 
environmental assessment of the proposed action. Approval does not 
constitute a commitment by the FAA to financially assist in the 
implementation of the program nor a determination that all measures 
covered by the program are eligible for grant-in-aid funding from the 
FAA. Where Federal funding is sought, requests for project grants must 
be submitted to the FAA regional office in Fort Worth, Texas.
    The city of Georgetown submitted to FAA on December 19, 2003, the 
noise exposure maps, descriptions, and other documentation produced 
during the noise compatibility planning study conducted from May 30, 
2001, through June 3, 2004. The Georgetown Municipal Airport noise 
exposure maps were determined by FAA to be in compliance with 
applicable requirements on January 26, 2004. Notice of this 
determination was published in the Federal Register on February 19, 
2004.
    The Georgetown Municipal Airport study contains a proposed noise 
compatibility program comprised of actions designed for phased 
implementation by airport management and adjacent jurisdictions from 
June 3, 2004, to the year 2013. It was requested that the FAA evaluate 
and approve this material as a noise compatibility program as described 
in section 47504 of the Act. The FAA began its review of the program on 
November 20, 2004, and was required by a provision of the Act to 
approve or disapprove the program within 180 days (other than the use 
of new or modified flight procedures for noise control). Failure to 
approve or disapprove such program within the 180-day period shall be 
deemed to be an approval of such program.
    This submitted program contained twenty (20) proposed actions for 
noise mitigation on and off the airport. The FAA completed its review 
and determined that the procedural and substantive requirements of the 
Act and FAR Part 150 have been satisfied. The overall program, 
therefore, was approved by the FAA, effective May 27, 2005.
    Outright approval was granted for twelve (12) of the specific 
program elements. Six (6) elements were disapproved, one (1) element 
was partially approved and one (1) required no action. Disapproved 
elements included: Encourage Departing Aircraft To Use Best Rate of 
Climb; Encourage Aircraft to Begin Departure From the Runway; Avoid 
Prolonged Run-Ups and Perform As Near the Center of The Airport As 
Possible; Continue Use of NBAA Standard Noise Abatement Departure 
Procedures; and, Maintain Right-hand Traffic Pattern on Runway 36.
    Analysis did not demonstrate the preceding measures noise benefits 
and thus were disapproved for purposes of Part 150. Disapproval does 
not prohibit the airport sponsor from continuing the actions or 
alternatively resubmission of the measures with supplemental 
information for FAA approval. Additionally, the measure to Designate 
Runway 11 as the Preferential Nighttime Runway for Departures was 
disapproved because it was inconsistent with efforts to reduce runway 
incursions and did not satisfy approval criteria under 14 CFR Part 150. 
Approved measures included sound insulation of twenty-seven (27) homes 
within the 2008 65 DNL Noise contour as well as those measures 
contained in the Land Use Planning Element (four (4) measures, one (1) 
approved in part) and the Program Management Element (four (4) 
measures).
    These determinations are set forth-in detail in a Record of 
Approval signed by the Associate Administrator for Airports, ARP-1, on 
May 27, 2005. The Record of Approval, as well as other evaluation 
materials and the documents comprising the submittal, are available for 
review at the FAA office listed above and at the administrative offices 
of the Georgetown Municipal Airport. The Record of Approval also will 
be available on-line at: http://www.faa.gov/

[[Page 36229]]

arp/environmental/14cfr150/index14.cfm.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, June 14, 2005.
Kelvin L. Solco,
Manager, Airports Division.
[FR Doc. 05-12376 Filed 6-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M