[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 31, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5101-5102]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-858]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review for Harrisburg International Airport, 
Middletown, PA

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 Susquehanna 
Area Regional Airport Authority for the Harrisburg International 
Airport under the provisions of Title I of the Aviation Safety and 
Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (Pub. L. 96-193) 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 Harrisburg International Airport under part 150 in conjunction 
with the noise exposure map, and that this program will be approved or 
disapproved on or before July 12, 2006.

DATES: The effective date of the FAA's determination on the noise 
exposure maps and of the start of its review of the associated noise 
compatibility program is January 13, 2006. The public comment period 
ends March 14, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward S. Gabsewics, CEP, 
Environmental Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, Harrisburg 
Airports District Office, 3905 Hartzdale Drive, Suite 508, Camp Hill, 
PA 17011, Telephone 717-730-2832. 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 the Harrisburg International 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of part 150, 
effective January 13, 2006. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise 
compatibility program for that airport which will be approved or 
disapproved on or before July 12, 2006. This notice also announces the 
availability of this proposed noise compatibility program for public 
review and comment.
    Under section 103 of Title I of the Aviation Safety and Noise 
Abatement Act of 1979 (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, 
governmental 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 Title I of 
the Act, may submit a noise compatibility program for FAA approval 
which sets forth the measures the operator has taken or proposes for 
the reduction of existing non-compatible uses and for the prevention of 
the introduction of additional non-compatible uses.
    The Susquehanna Area Regional Authority submitted to the FAA on 
December 16, 2005 noise exposure maps, descriptions and other 
documentation which were produced during the development of the Final 
Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study dated May 2005 and the Addendum 1 to 
that study dated December 2005. It was requested that the FAA review 
this material as the noise exposure maps, as described in section 
103(a)(1) 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 104(b) of the 
Act.
    The FAA has completed its review of the noise exposure maps and 
related descriptions submitted by the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport 
Authority. The specific maps under consideration are the Existing 
(2004) Noise Exposure Map (NEM) for the existing conditions and the 
Future (2010) NEM with Noise Compatibility Program (NCP) 
Implementation. The FAA has determined that these maps for the 
Harrisburg International Airport are in compliance with applicable 
requirements. This determination is effective on January 13, 2006. 
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 103 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 107 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, which submitted those 
maps, or with those public agencies and planning agencies with which 
consultation is required under section 103 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 
the Harrisburg International Airport, also effective January 13, 2006. 
Preliminary review of the submitted material indicates that it conforms 
to the requirements for the submittal or 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 July 12, 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

[[Page 5102]]

preventing the introduction of additional non-compatible land use.
    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 for the Harrisburg International Airport are 
available for examination at the following locations:
    Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority, Harrisburg 
International Airport, One Terminal Drive, Suite 300, Middletown, PA 
17057.
    Federal Aviation Administration, Harrisburg Airports District 
Office, 3905 Hartzdale Drive, Suite 508, Camp Hill, PA 17011.
    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, January 13, 2006.
Wayne T. Heibeck,
Manager, Harrisburg Airports District Office.
[FR Doc. 06-858 Filed 1-30-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M