[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 23, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49360-49361]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16737]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice: Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review for Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field, Boise, ID

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's) submitted by the 
airport director for the Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field 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 the Boise Air 
Terminal/Gowen Field under part 150 in conjunction with the NEM's and 
this program will be approved or disapproved on or before February 13, 
2006.

DATES: The effective date of the FAA's determination on the NEM's and 
the start of its review of the associated noise compatibility program 
is August 12, 2005. The public comment period ends October 12, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cayla Morgan, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Seattle Airports District Office, 1601 Lind Ave., SW., 
Suite 250, Renton, WA 98055-4056, telephone (425) 227-2653. 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 NEM's submitted for the Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field are in 
compliance with applicable requirements of part 150, effective August 
12, 2005. Further, the FAA is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility 
program for that airport which will be approved or disapproved on or 
before February 13, 2006. 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 NEM's 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 NEM's 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

[[Page 49361]]

proposes to take, to reduce existing non-compatible uses and prevent 
the introduction of additional non-compatible uses.
    The director of the Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field submitted to the 
FAA on September 9, 2004, NEM's, descriptions and other documentation 
that were produced during the Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field FAR Part 
150 Study dated July 2004. It was requested that the FAA review this 
material as the NEM's, 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 NEM's and related 
descriptions submitted by the director of the Boise Air Terminal/Gowen 
Field. The specific documentation determined to constitute the NEM's 
includes the following from the Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field FAR Part 
150 Study of July 2004:
     Figure 5-1, Existing Noise Exposure Map, 2004
     Figure 5-2, Future Noise Exposure Map, 2009
     Tables(s) 2.17 and 2.18, Summary of Annual Activity for 
2003 and 2008
     Table 5.1 at page 5.2, Existing and Future Noise Exposure 
Map with Existing and Future Land Use, presents estimates of the number 
of persons residing within the day/night noise level 60 through 75 
noise contours
     Figures 3-1 and 3-2 present Flight Tracks
     Pages 9-1 through 9-3 present the Record of Consultation 
during the study
     Appendix F presents Revised Consultation
    The FAA has determined that these maps for the Boise Air Terminal/
Gowen Field are in compliance with applicable requirements. This 
determination is effective on August 12, 2005. The FAA's determination 
on an airport operator's NEM's 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 funds the implementation of 
that program.
    If questions arise concerning the precise relationship of specific 
properties to noise exposure contours depicted on a NEM's 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 interpreting 
the NEM's 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 NEM's. 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 
who 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 Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field, also 
effective on August 12, 2005. 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 February 13, 2006.
    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 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.
Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field, 3201 Airport Way, Boise, Idaho.

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

    Issued in Renton, Washington, August 12, 2005.
Lowell H. Johnson,
Manager, Airports Division, Northwest Mountain Region.
[FR Doc. 05-16737 Filed 8-22-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M