[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 151 (Tuesday, August 7, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44216-44217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-3846]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review; Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport; Baton Rouge, 
LA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
determination that the noise exposure maps submitted by the Greater 
Baton Rouge Airport District for Baton Rouge Metropolitan 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 Baton Rouge 
Metropolitan Airport under Part 150 in conjunction with the noise 
exposure map, and that this program will be approved or disapproved on 
or before January 25, 2008.

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 July 30, 2007. The public comment period 
ends September 27, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Lance Key, Federal Aviation 
Administration. ASW-615, 2601 Meacham Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76137-4298; 
telephone number 817-222-5681. 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 Baton Rouge Metropolitan 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, 
effective July 30, 2007. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise 
compatibility program for that airport which will be approved or 
disapproved on or before January 25, 2008. 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 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 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 Greater Baton Rouge Airport District submitted to the FAA on 
May 14, 2007, noise exposure maps, descriptions and other documentation 
that were produced during the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport's Part 
150 Study, May 2005-May 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 Greater Baton Rouge Airport 
District. The specific documentation determined to constitute the noise 
exposure maps includes the following from the May 2007 14 CFR Part 150 
Noise Study: Figure A, 2006 Noise Exposure Map (Existing); Figure B, 
2011 Noise Exposure Map (Future); Figure 1-3, Existing and Planned 
Airport Facilities; Table 1-2, Actual and Forecast Aircraft Operations; 
Figure 1-4, Generalized Existing Land Use Map; Figure 1-5, Generalized 
Existing Zoning Map; Table 2-2, Average Daily Aircraft Operations by 
Type, Time of Day, and Stage Length (2006); Table 2-3, Average Daily 
Aircraft Operations by Type, Time of Day, and Stage Length (2011); 
Table 2-4, Runway Utilization by Aircraft Type; Figure 2-1, Generalized 
Flight Tracks; Table 2-5, Flight Track Utilization by Aircraft Category 
(2006 and 2011); Table 2-6, Noise Exposure Impacts (1991, 2006, 2011); 
Figure 3-1, Single Arrival/Departure Noise Contours, Figure 3-2, 
Potential Noise Abatement Departure Turns, Appendix E, Coordination, 
Consultation and Public Involvement and Appendix F, Public Hearing. The 
FAA has determined that these maps for Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport 
are in compliance with applicable requirements. This determination is 
effective on July 30, 2007. 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 constitute a commitment 
to approve a noise compatibility program 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

[[Page 44217]]

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 FAR Part 150, that the 
statutorily required consultation has been accomplished.
    The FAA has formerly received the noise compatibility program for 
Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, also effective on July 30, 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 January 25, 2008.
    The FAA's detailed evaluation will be conducted under the 
provisions of 14 CFR part 150, section 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. 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 
locations:
    Federal Aviation Administration, Planning and Programming Branch, 
Room 697, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Forth Worth, TX 76137-4298 and Mr. 
Anthony Marino, 9430 Jackie Cochran Dr., Suite 300, Baton Rouge, LA 
70807.
    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

Kelvin L. Solco,
Manager, Airports Division.
[FR Doc. 07-3846 Filed 8-6-07; 8:45 am]
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