[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 41 (Thursday, March 2, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10750-10751]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-1946]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Approval of Noise Compatibility Program; Boise Air Terminal/Gowen 
Field, Boise, ID

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
findings on the noise compatibility program submitted by the Boise Air 
Terminal/Gowen Field under the provisions of Title 49 of the United 
States Code (49 U.S.C.), the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, 
hereinafter referred to as ``the Act,'' and Title 14 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations, Part 150. These findings are made in recognition 
of the description of federal and nonfederal responsibilities in Senate 
Report No. 96-52 (1980). On August 23, 2005, the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA) determined that the noise exposure maps submitted 
by the Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field under Part 150 were in compliance 
with applicable requirements. On February 8, 2006, the FAA approved the 
Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field noise compatibility program. Thirty of 
thirty-two recommendations of the program were approved.

DATES: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the Boise Air 
Terminal/Gowen Field Noise Compatibility Program is February 8, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cayla Morgan, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Seattle Airports District Office, 1601 Lind Ave. SW., 
Renton, WA 98055-4056, telephone 425-227-2653. 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 Boise Air 
Terminal/Gowen Field, effective February 8, 2006.
    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 
of 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.
    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

[[Page 10751]]

use and management of the navigable airspace and air traffic control 
systems, or adversely affecting other powers and responsibilities of 
the Administrator, as 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 Seattle Airports District Office in Renton, 
Washington. Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field submitted to the FAA on 
September 9, 2004, the noise exposure maps, descriptions, and other 
documentation produced during the noise compatibility planning study 
conducted from 2002 through 2004. The Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field 
noise exposure maps were determined by FAA to be in compliance with 
applicable requirements on August 12, 2005. Notice of this 
determination was published in the Federal Register on August 23, 2005 
(FR Volume 70, Number 162, pages 49360-49361).
    The Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field study contains a proposed noise 
compatibility program comprised of actions designed for phased 
implementation by airport management and adjacent jurisdictions from 
2004 through 2009. 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 August 12, 
2005, 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.
    The submitted program contained 32 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 FAA, therefore, approved the 
overall program, effective February 8, 2006.
    Outright approval was granted for 30 program elements. Noise 
Abatement Measure 6--Downwind Arrival Flight Tracks was disapproved. 
The measure was disapproved because no demonstrable noise benefit would 
accrue if this measure were implemented on a voluntary basis. Vectoring 
aircraft to south downwind would create operational issues. The 
aircraft would have to be blended with south traffic and have to be 
kept clear of departing traffic. The new result would be increased 
workload, risk of error, and increased flying time and cost for users. 
Noise Abatement Measure 7--Flight Management System (FMS)/Global 
Positioning System (GPS) Flight Procedures for 1-84 was also 
disapproved. The NCP did not demonstrate noise benefits for this 
measure, even assuming 100 percent compliance. Many aircraft presently 
are not equipped to carry out FMS/GPS procedures, so the compliance 
rate is unrealistic. Also, the FAA still would need to develop airport-
specific procedures, which would take some time to study and determine 
their feasibility. This recommendation is more appropriate to pursue 
outside of the Part 150 process to determine local feasibility and 
possible inclusion in future updates.
    These determinations are set forth in detail in a Record of 
Approval signed by the Associate Administrator of Airports on February 
8, 2006. 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 
Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field. The Record of Approval also will be 
available online at http://www.faa.gov/arp/environmental/14cfr150/index14.cfm.
* * * * *

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 23, 2006.
Lowell H. Johnson,
Manager, Airports Division, Northwest Mountain Region.
[FR Doc. 06-1946 Filed 3-1-06; 8:45 am]
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