[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 218 (Monday, November 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69200-69201]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-22522]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review; Collin County Regional Airport, McKinney, TX

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 city of 
McKinney, Texas for Collin County Regional 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 Collin County Regional Airport under 
Part 150 in conjunction with the noise exposure map, and that this 
program will be approved or disapproved on or before April 30, 2006.

DATES: The effective date of the FAA's determination on the noise 
exposure maps and start of its review of the associated noise 
compatibility program is November 1, 2005. The public comment period 
ends December 31, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Blackford, Texas Airports 
Development Office, Federal Aviation Administration, 2601 Meachum 
Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137-4298, (817) 222-5607. 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 Collin County Regional 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, 
effective November 1, 2005. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise 
compatibility program for that airport which will be approved or 
disapproved on or before April 30, 2006. 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.
    City of McKinney, Texas submitted to the FAA on October 3, 2005, 
noise exposure maps, descriptions and other documentation that were 
produced during the Collin County Regional Airport, 14 CFR Part 150 
Study, April, 2003 to October, 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 the city of McKinney, Texas. The 
specific documentation determined to constitute the noise exposure maps 
includes: Map A-2005 Noise Exposure Map, Map B-2011 Noise Exposure Map, 
Map C-2005 and 2011 North Flow Centerline of Flight Corridors, Map D-
2005 and 2011 South Flow Centerline of Flight Corridors, Section 5-
Airport Operational Data, and Section 6--Noise Exposure. The FAA has 
determined that these maps for Collin County Regional Airport are in 
compliance with applicable requirements. This determination is 
effective on November 1, 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 constitute 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

[[Page 69201]]

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 
Collin County Regional Airport, also effective on November 1, 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 April 30, 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. 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, Texas Airports Development Office, 
2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137. Collin County Regional 
Airport, 1500 E. Industrial Blvd., Suite 118, McKinney, Texas 75069.
    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, November 1, 2005.
Kelvin L. Solco,
Manager, Airports Division.
[FR Doc. 05-22522 Filed 11-10-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M