[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 155 (Monday, August 13, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45294-45295]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-3920]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Maps--Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

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 Metropolitan 
Washington Airport Authority (MWAA) for Ronald Reagan Washington 
National 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 compatibiity program that was submitted 
for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport under Part 150 in 
conjunction with the noise exposure map, and that this program will be 
approved or disapproved on or before February 2, 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 August 6, 2007. The public comment 
period ends October 5, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Mendelsohn, Eastern Region, 
Washington Airports District Office, Federal Aviation Administration, 
23723 Air Freight Lane, Suite 210, Dulles, Virginia 20166, Telephone: 
703-661-1362. 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 Ronald Reagan Washington 
National Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 
150, effective August 6, 2007. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed 
noise compatibility program for that airport which will be approved or 
disapproved on or before February 2, 2008. This notice also announces 
the availability of this program for public review and comment.
    Under 49 U.S.C., section 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.
    MWAA submitted to the FAA on August 2, 2007 noise exposure maps, 
descriptions and other documentation that were produced during Ronald 
Reagan Washington National Airport's November 2004 noise compatibility 
study. 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 MWAA. The specific documentation 
determined to constitute the noise exposure maps includes: Exhibit V-1, 
``Noise Exposure Map--Existing Condition: and Exhibit VI-1, ``Noise 
Exposure Map: 2009 with FAA TAF General Aviation Operations and 
Advanced Navigational Procedure.'' The FAA has determined that these 
maps for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport are in compliance 
with applicable requirements. This determination is effective on August 
6, 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 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

[[Page 45295]]

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 FAR Part 150, that the statutorily required 
consultation has been accomplished.
    The FAA has formally received the noise compatibility program for 
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, also effective on August 6, 
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 February 2, 
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, Eastern Region--Airports Division, 1 
Aviation Plaza, Jamaica, New York 11434
Federal Aviation Administration, Washington Airports District Office, 
23723 Air Freights Lane, Suite 210, Dulles, Virginia 20166
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, 1 Aviation Circle, 
Washington, DC 20001

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

    Issued in Dulles, Virginia, on August 6, 2007.
Terry J. Page,
Manager, Washington Airports District Office.
[FR Doc. 07-3920 Filed 8-10-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M