[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 77 (Monday, April 23, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20159-20160]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-1992]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review; Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International 
Airport, Atlanta, GA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
determination that the Noise Exposure Maps submitted by the City of 
Atlanta for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta 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 that was submitted for Hartsfield-Jackson 
Atlanta International Airport under Part 150 in conjunction with the 
Noise Exposure Map, and that this program will be approved or 
disapproved on or before October 7, 2007.

DATES: Effective Date: 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 April 10, 2007. The public 
comment period ends June 11, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bonnie Baskin, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Atlanta Airports District Office, 1701 Columbia Avenue, 
Campus Building, Suite 2-260, College Park, Georgia 30337, 404-305-
7152. 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 Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta 
International Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of 
Part 150, effective April 10, 2007. Further, FAA is reviewing a 
proposed Noise Compatibility Program for that Airport which will be 
approved or disapproved on or before October 7, 2007. This notice also 
announces the availability of this Program for public review and 
comment.
    Under 49 U.S.C., Section 47503 of the Aviation Safety and Noise 
Abatement Act, (the Act), and 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 Part 150, 
promulgated pursuant to the Act, may submit a Noise Compatibility 
Program for FAA approval which sets forth the 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 City of Atlanta submitted to the FAA on March 29, 2007 Noise 
Exposure Maps, descriptions and other documentation that were produced 
during the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport FAR Part 
150 Study Noise Exposure Maps Report conducted between October 9, 2006 
and April 6, 2007. 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 City of Atlanta. The specific 
documentation determined to constitute the Noise Exposure Maps 
includes: Map A--Noise Exposure Map: 2007; Map B--Noise Exposure Map: 
2012; Table 3.1, Average Daily Operations--2007; Table 3.2, Aircraft 
Fleet Mix--2007; Table 3.3, Percent Runway Utilization by Time of 
Day7--2007; Table 3.4, Departure Headings--2007; Figure 3-2, NOMS 
Data--East Flow Tracks; Figure 3-3, NOMS Data--West Flow Tracks; Figure 
3-4, 2007 East Flow Corridors; Figure 3-5, 2007 West Flow Corridors; 
Table 3.5, Departure Stage Length: Air Carrier Aircraft--2007; Table 
3.6, Nighttime Operations--2007; Table 3.8, Noise

[[Page 20160]]

Contours: Estimated Population--2007; Table 3.10, Noise Levels at Noise 
Sensitive Sites (other than residential)--2007; Table 4.1, Average 
Daily Operations--Future 2012; Table 4.2, Aircraft Fleet Mix--2012; 
Table 4.3, Percent Runway Utilization by Time of Day--2012; Table 4.5, 
Noise Exposure Contours: Population--2012; and Appendix D, Runway 
Utilizations. The FAA has determined that these maps for Hartsfield-
Jackson Atlanta International Airport are in compliance with applicable 
requirements. This determination is effective on April 10, 2007. FAA's 
determination on the 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 airport operator'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 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 exposure 
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 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 part 150, that the statutorily required 
consultation has been accomplished.
    The FAA has formally received the Noise Compatibility Program for 
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, also effective on 
April 10, 2007. Preliminary review of the submitted material indicates 
that it conforms to the requirements for the submittal of 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 
October 7, 2007.
    The FAA's detailed evaluation will be conducted under the 
provisions of Part 150, Section 150.33. The primary considerations in 
the valuation 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. 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 are available for examination at the following 
location: Federal Aviation Administration, Atlanta Airports District 
Office, 1701 Columbia Avenue, Campus Building, Suite 2-260, College 
Park, Georgia 30337.
    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Atlanta, Georgia April 10, 2007.
Scott L. Seritt,
Manager, Atlanta Airports District Office.
[FR Doc. 07-1992 Filed 4-20-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M