[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 37 (Monday, February 26, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8412-8413]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-861]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise-Exposure Map Notice: Receipt of Noise-Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review for Great Falls International Airport, Great 
Falls, MT

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
determination that the noise-exposure maps (NEM) submitted by the 
Director of Aviation for Great Falls International 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, submitted for Great Falls International 
Airport under Part 150, in conjunction with the noise-exposure map. 
This program will be approved or disapproved on or before August 9, 
2007.

DATES: Effective Dates: The effective data of the FAA's determination 
on the noise-exposure maps and of the start of its review of the 
associated noise-compatibility program is February 13, 2007. The public 
comment period ends April 13, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Gates, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Helena Airports District Office, 2725 Skyway Drive, 
Suite 2, Helena MT 59602, telephone 406-449-5271. Comments on the 
proposed noise-compatibility program also should be submitted to the 
above office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces the FAA's finding that 
the noise-exposure maps submitted for Great Falls International Airport 
are in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, effective 
February 13, 2007. Further, the FAA is reviewing that airport's 
proposed noise-compatibility program, which will be approved or 
disapproved on or before August 13, 2007. 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 that meet applicable regulations 
and 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 the FAA to be in compliance with the requirements of Federal 
Aviation Regulations (FAR), Part 150, promulgated pursuant to the Act, 
may submit to the FAA for approval a noise-compatibility program that 
sets forth measures the operator has taken or proposes to take to 
reduce existing non-compatible uses and prevent the introduction of 
additional non-compatible uses.
    The Director of Aviation for the Great Falls International Airport 
submitted to the FAA on February 2, 2007, noise-exposure maps, 
descriptions and other documentation, produced during the Great Falls 
International Airport FAR Part 150 Study, dated September 2006. 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 Director of Aviation for the 
Great Falls International Airport. The specific documentation 
determined to constitute the noise-exposure maps includes the following 
from the Great Falls International Airport Part 150 Noise-compatibility 
Study Update:
     Supplemental Chapter (pages xxi-xxv) describes updates to 
Forecasts of Aviation Activity.
     B Section describes prior forecasts of Aviation Activity.
     Section C describes the input data used to develop the 
existing and future contours.
     Section D describes Land Use Analysis.
     Section F describes the noise abatement alternative 
evaluation.
     Page F.16 includes revisions to Land Use and Noise Contour 
Map Analysis.
     Figure F.7, page F.19--Existing (2005) Existing Noise-
exposure Map.
     Figure G-1, page G.3--Future (2016) Noise-exposure Map.
     Section G summarizes Actions and Recommendations.
     Section H--Public and Airport User Consultation Summary.
     Appendix 2--Public Hearing Comments and Responses.
     Appendix 5--Comments Outside the Public Hearing Comment 
Period.
    The FAA has determined that these maps for Great Falls 
International Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements. 
This determination is effective on February 13, 2007. The 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

[[Page 8413]]

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 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 the 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 
Great Falls International Airport, also effective on February 13, 2007. 
Preliminary review of the submitted material indicates that it conforms 
to the requirements for the submittal of noise-compatibility programs, 
but requires further review 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 August 13, 2007.
    The FAA's detailed evaluation will be conducted under the 
provisions of 14 CFR Part 150, Sec.  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. The FAA will consider, to the 
extent practicable, all comments, other than those properly addressed 
to local land-use authorities. 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, Airports Division, 1601 Lind Avenue, 
SW.; Suite 315, Renton, Washington 98057-3356.

Federal Aviation Administration, Helena Airports District Office, 2725 
Skyway Drive, Suite 2, Helena, MT 59602.

Great Falls International Airport, 2800 Terminal Drive, Great Falls, MT 
59404.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 13, 2007.
Donna P. Taylor,
Manager, Airports Division, Northwest Mountain Region.
[FR Doc. 07-861 Filed 2-23-07; 8:45 am]
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