[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 153 (Thursday, August 9, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44914-44915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-3884]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION


Noise Exposure Map Notice: Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
Amendment and Request for Review

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 (NEMs) submitted by City of 
Springfield for the Springfield-Beckley Municipal 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 
notice compatibility program amendment that was submitted for 
Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport under 14 CFR Part 150 in 
conjunction with the NEMs, and that this program will be approved or 
disapproved on or before December 21, 2007.

DATES: Effective Date: The effective date of the FAA's determination on 
the NEMs and of the start of its review of the associated noise 
compatibility program amendment is June 25, 2007. The pubic comment 
period ends August 23, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Brad N. Davidson, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Detroit Airports District Office, 11677 South Wayne 
Road, Suite 107, Romulus, Michigan, phone number (734) 229-2900. 
Comments on the proposed notice compatibility program amendment should 
also be submitted to the above office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds 
that the NEMs submitted for Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport are 
in compliance with applicable requirements of 14 CFR Part 150, 
effective June 25, 2007. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed notice 
compatibility program update for that airport which will approved or 
disapproved on or before December 21, 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 NEMs which meet applicable requirements 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 NEMs that are found by FAA to 
be in compliance with the requirements of FAR, 14 CFR Part 150, 
promulgated pursuant to the Act, may submit a noise compatibility 
program for FAA approval which sets forth for 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 Springfield submitted to the FAA on January 3, 2007 
NEMs, descriptions and other documentation that were produced during 
the Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport FAR, 14 CFR Part 150 NEMS 
Update and Noise Compatibility Program Amendment, November 2006. It was 
requested that the FAA review this material as the NEMs, as described 
in Sec.  47503 of the Act, and that the noise mitigation measures, to 
be implemented jointly by the airport and surrounding communications, 
be approved as a noise compatibility program under Sec.  47504 of the 
Act.
    The FAA has completed its review of the NEMs and related 
descriptions submitted by the City of Springfield. The specific 
documentation determined to constitute the NEMs includes: Existing 
(2006) NEM and Future (2011) NEM as presented in the NEM Update report 
dated November 2006. The FAR, 14 CFR Part 150 Noise Compatibility 
Program Amendment contains the required information for Sec.  47503 and 
section A150.101 including the following specific references: Current 
and forecast operations in Section 5.1; fleet mix and nighttime 
operations in Section 5.1; flight patterns in Exhibits 4.3-1, 4.3-2, 
4.3-3, 4.3-4, and 4.3-5; and land use in Section 3.2 and Exhibit 3.2-1. 
The FAA has determined that these maps for Springfield-Beckley 
Municipal Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements. This 
determination is effective on June 25, 2007. FAA's determination on an 
airport operator's NEMs is limited to a finding that the maps were 
developed in accordance with the procedures contained in appendix A of 
FAR, 14 CFR 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 or to fund the 
implementation of that program.
    If questions arise concerning the precise relationship of specific 
properties to noise exposure contours

[[Page 44915]]

depicted on a noise exposure map submitted under Sec.  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 NEMs to resolve 
questions concerning, for example, which properties should be covered 
by the provisions of Sec.  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 14 CFR Part 150 or through FAA's review of 
NEMs. 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 Sec.  47503 of the Act. The FAA 
has relied on the certification by the airport operator, under 14 CFR 
150.21, that the statutorily required consultation has been 
accomplished.
    The FAA has formally received the noise compatibility program 
amendment for Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport, also effective on 
June 25, 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 amendment. The formal review 
period, limited by law to a maximum of 180 days, will be completed on 
or before December 21, 2007.
    The FAA's detailed evaluation will be conducted under the 
provisions of 14 CFR 150.33. The primary considerations in the 
evaluation process are whether the proposed amendment 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 NEMs, 
the FAA's evaluation of the maps, and the proposed noise compatibility 
program amendments are available for examination at the following 
locations:

Federal Aviation Administration Detroit Airports District Office, 11677 
South Wayne Road, Suite 107, Romulus, Michigan 48174.
City of Springfield, Office of the City Manager, 76 E. High Street, 
Springfield, Ohio 45502.

    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Romulus, Michigan: June 25, 2007.
Jack Delaney,
Acting Manager, Detroit Airports District Office, Great Lakes Region.
[FR Doc. 07-3884 Filed 8-8-07; 8:45 am]
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