[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 73 (Monday, April 17, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19782-19783]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-3624]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Revised Noise Exposure Maps Baltimore/Washington International 
Thurgood Marshall Airport

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
determination that the revised noise exposure maps submitted by the 
Maryland Aviation Administration for Baltimore/Washington International 
Thurgood Marshall Airport under the provisions of Title I of the 
Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (Pub. L. 96-193) and 
CFR part 150 are in compliance with applicable requirements.

[[Page 19783]]


DATES: Effective Date: The effective date of the FAA's determination on 
the noise exposure maps is April 3, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Brooks, Federal Aviation 
Administration Eastern Region Office, 1 Aviation Plaza, Jamaica, NY 
11434, (718) 553-3356.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds 
that the noise exposure maps submitted for Baltimore/Washington 
International Thurgood Marshall Airport are in compliance with 
applicable requirements of part 150, effective April 3, 2006.
    Under section 103 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, 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 Title I of 
the Act, may submit a noise compatibility program for FAA approval 
which sets for 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 FAA has completed its review of the noise exposure maps and 
related descriptions submitted by the Maryland Aviation Administration. 
The specific maps under consideration are the noise exposure maps 
identified as Figure 16 (Basecase 2003 DNL Contours) and Figure 17 
(Forecast 2010 DNL Contours) in the submission. The FAA has determined 
that these maps for Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood 
Marshall Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements. This 
determination is effective on April 3, 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 find 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 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.
    Copies of the noise exposure maps and of the FAA's evaluation of 
the maps are available for examination at the following locations: 
Federal Aviation Administration, Washington Airports District Office, 
23723 Air Freight Lane, Suite 210, Dulles, VA 20166. Maryland Aviation 
Administration, Noise and Land Use Compatibility Planning, 991 
Corporate Boulevard, Linthicum, MD 21090.
    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued on April 3, 2006 in Jamaica, NY.
William J. Flanagan,
Manager, Airports Division, Eastern Region.
[FR Doc. 06-3624 Filed 4-14-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M