[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 141 (Monday, July 24, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41858-41859]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-6424]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Approval of Noise Compatibility Program 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 
findings on the noise compatibility program submitted by the 
Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority (SARAA) under the 
provisions of Title I of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, 
as amended, (Public Law 96-193) (hereinafter referred to as ``the 
Act'') and 14 CFR Part 150. These findings are made in recognition of 
the description of Federal and nonfederal responsibilities in Senate 
Report No. 96-52 (1980). On January 13, 2006, the FAA determined that 
the noise exposure maps submitted by the SARAA under part 150 were in 
compliance with applicable requirements.

EFFECTIVE DATES: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the Noise 
Compatibility Program is July 7, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward S. Gabsewics, CEP, 
Environmental Protection Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, 
Harrisburg Airports District Office, 3905 Hartzdale Drive, Suite 508, 
Camp Hill, PA 17011, Telephone 717-730-2932. 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 the 
Harrisburg International Airport, effective July 7, 2006. Under section 
104(a) of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979, as 
amended (herein after referred in as the ``Act'') [recodified as 49 USC 
Section 47504], 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 
or 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; and
    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 use and management of the 
navigable airspace and air traffic control systems, or adversely 
affecting other powers and responsibilities of the Administrator 
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 under the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982, as amended. 
Where Federal funding is sought, requests for project grants must be 
submitted to the FAA Airports District Office in Camp Hill, 
Pennsylvania.
    The SARAA submitted to the FAA on December 16, 2005, the Noise 
Exposure Maps, descriptions, and other documentation produced during 
the noise compatibility planning study conducted from mid-2003 to 
December 2005.
    The Harrisburg International Airport's Noise Exposure Maps were 
determined by FAA to be in compliance with applicable requirements on 
January 13, 2006. Notice of this determination was published in the 
Federal Register on January 31, 2006.
    The Harrisburg International Airport study contains a proposed 
noise compatibility program comprised of actions designed for phased 
implementation by airport management and adjacent jurisdictions from 
2004 to beyond 2010. It was requested that the FAA evaluate and approve 
this material as a Noise Compatibility Program as described in 49 
U.S.C. Section 47504 (formerly Section 104(b) of the Act). The FAA 
began its review of the program on January 13, 2006 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 ten proposed actions for noise 
mitigation (one more abatement measure, six land use measures, and 
three program

[[Page 41859]]

management measures). The FAA completed its review and determined that 
the procedural and substantive requirements of the Act and FAR Part 150 
have been satisfied. The overall program was approved by the FAA 
effective July 7, 2006.
    Approval was granted for all ten of the ten specific program 
measures. The approved measures include: Encourage noise-attenuating 
standards in airport development; Amend local comprehensive plans by 
adopting the Part 150 Noise Compatibility Plan as their noise 
compatibility elements; Adopt guidelines for discretionary review of 
development projects; Adopt noise overlay zoning to prohibit 
development of selected noise-sensitive land uses within the Future 
(2010) NEM 65+ DNL noise contour; Encourage local jurisdictions not to 
allow an increase in residential density in the residential or 
agricultural zoning districts within the Future (2010) NEM 65+ DNL 
noise contour; Develop and implement a voluntary residential 
acquisition program within the Future (2010) NEM 65+ noise contour; 
Initiate a formal study (study only) to evaluate the noise levels at 
various churches located within the Future (2010) NEM/NCP 65+ DNL noise 
contour for eligibility for sound insulation (eligibility based on FAA 
funding criteria); Establish a Noise Abatement Advisory Committee; 
Establish a pilot/community awareness program; and Update the Noise 
Exposure Maps and Noise Compatibility Program.
    These determinations are set forth in detail in a Record of 
Approval signed by the Acting Associate Administrator for Airports on 
July 7, 2006. The Record of Approval, as well as other evaluation 
materials and the documents comprising the submittal, are available for 
review at the following offices:
    Federal Aviation Administration Harrisburg Airports District 
Office, 3905 Hartzdale Drive, Suite 508, Camp Hill, PA 17011 and
    Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority, Harrisburg 
International Airport, One Terminal Drive, Suite 300, Middletown, PA 
17057.
    The Record of Approval also will be available online at http://www.faa.gov/arp/environmental/14cft150/index14.cfm.

    Issued in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, July 11, 2006.
Wayne T. Heibeck,
Manager, Harrisburg Airports District Office.
[FR Doc. 06-6424 Filed 7-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M