[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 164 (Friday, August 24, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48724-48725]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-4153]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of FAA Approval of the Noise Compatibility Program at 
Great Falls International Airport, Great Falls, MT

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of FAA Approval of Noise Compatibility Program 14 CFR 
Part 150, Great Falls International Airport, Great Falls, Montanta.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
findings on the noise compatibility program submitted by the Great 
Falls International Airport under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. (the 
Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, hereinafter referred to as 
``the Act'') and 14 CFT Part 150. These findings are made in 
recognition of the description of Federal and nonfederal 
responsibilities in Senate Report No. 96-52 (1980). On February 13, 
2007, the FAA determined that the noise exposure maps submitted by the 
Great Falls International Airport under Part 150 were in compliance 
with applicable requirements. On August 8, 2007, the FAA approved the 
Great Falls International Airport noise compatibility program. All of 
the recommendations of the program, approved by the Airport, were 
approved in whole or in part by FAA.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the Great 
Falls International Airport noise compatibility program is August 8, 
2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Gates, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Helena Airports District Office, 2725 Skyway Drive, 
Suite 2, Helena, MT, telephone 406-449-5271, e-mail [email protected]. 
Documents reflecting this FAA action may be reviewed at this same 
location.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA has given 
its overall approval to the noise compatibility program for Great Falls 
International Airport, effective August 8, 2007.
    Under section 47504 of the Act, an airport operator who has 
previously submitted a noise exposure map may submit to the FAA a noise 
compatibility program which sets forth the measures taken or proposed 
by the airport operator for the reduction of existing non-compatible 
land uses and prevention of additional non-compatible land uses within 
the area covered by the noise exposure maps. The Act requires such 
programs to be developed in consultation with interested and affected 
parties including local communities, government agencies, airport 
users, and FAA personnel.
    Each airport noise compatibility program developed in accordance 
with Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 150 is a local program, 
not a Federal program. The FAA does not substitute its judgement for 
that of the airport proprietor with respect to which measures should be 
recommended for action. The FAA's approval or disapproval of FAR Part 
150 program recommendations is measured according to the standards 
expressed in Part 150 and the Act and is limited to the following 
determinations:
    a. The noise compatibility program was developed in accordance with 
the provisions and procedures of FAR Part 150;
    b. Program measures are reasonably consistent with achieving the 
goals of reducing existing non-compatible land

[[Page 48725]]

uses around the airport and preventing the introduction of additional 
non-compatible land uses;
    c. Program measures would not create an undue burden on interstate 
or foreign commerce, unjustly discriminate against types or classes of 
aeronautical uses, violate the terms of airport grant agreements, or 
intrude into areas preempted by the Federal Government; and
    d. Program measures relating to the use of flight procedures can be 
implemented within the period covered by the program without derogating 
safety, adversely affecting the efficient use and management of the 
navigable airspace and air traffic control systems, or adversely 
affecting other powers and responsibilities of the Administrator 
prescribed by law.
    Specific limitations with respect to FAA's approval of an airport 
noise compatibility program are delineated in FAR Part 150, section 
150.5. Approval is not a determination concerning the acceptability of 
land uses under Federal, state, or local law. Approval does not by 
itself constitute an FAA implementing action. A request for Federal 
action or approval to implement specific noise compatibility measures 
may be required, and an FAA decision on the request may require an 
environmental assessment of the proposed action. Approval does not 
constitute a commitment by the FAA to financially assist in the 
implementation of the program nor a determination that all measures 
covered by the program are eligible for grant-in-aid funding from the 
FAA. Where federal funding is sought, requests for project grants must 
be submitted to the FAA Helena Airports District Office in Helena, 
Montana. Great Falls International Airport submitted to the FAA on 
February 2, 2007, the noise exposure maps, descriptions, and other 
documentation produced during the noise compatibility planning study. 
The Great Falls International Airport noise exposure maps were 
determined to FAA to be in compliance with applicable requirements on 
February 13, 2007. Notice of this determination was published in the 
Federal Register on February 26, 2007 (FR Volume 72, Number 37, pages 
8412 and 8413).
    The Great Falls International Airport study contains a proposed 
noise compatibility program comprised of actions designed for phased 
implementation by airport management and adjacent jurisdictions from 
2005 through 2016. It was requested that the FAA evaluate and approve 
this material as a noise compatibility program as described in section 
47504 of the Act. The FAA began its review of the program on February 
13, 2007, and was required by a provision of the Act to approve or 
disapprove the program within 180 days (other than the use of new or 
modified flight procedures for noise control). Failure to approve or 
disapprove such program within the 180-day period shall be deemed to be 
an approval of such program.
    The submitted program contained ten proposed actions for noise 
mitigation on and off the airport. Eight of these were approved by the 
Airport requiring an FAA determination. The FAA completed its review 
and determined that the procedural and substantive requirements of the 
Act and FAR Part 150 have been satisfied. The overall program, 
therefore, was approved by the FAA effective August 8, 2007.
    The program elements were approved as follows and as further 
described in the Record of Approval.
    Recommendation one--Amend Local Zoning Ordinances to Minimize New 
Non-compatible Land Uses was approved except for clarified FAA 
involvement regarding height restrictions. This element will be 
addressed on a case-by-case basis under project specific 14 CFR Part 77 
evaluations.
    Recommendation two: Create Fair Disclosure Agreements within the 
Airport Influence Area;
    Recommendation three: Amend Existing Building Codes;
    Recommendation four: Prohibit Noise Sensitive Land Use with the 65 
DNL;
    Recommendation five: Prohibit Residential Densities Greater than 2-
4 units/acre;
    Recommendation seven: Sound Attenuation and Undeveloped Land 
Purchase;
    Recommendation nine: Periodic Review of Aeronautical Operations and 
Part 150 Updates;
    Recommendation ten: Establish Local Committee to Monitor 150 
Program;
    Recommendation six and eight were not approved by the Airport 
Authority and required no action by FAA.
    These determinations are set forth in detail in a Record of 
Approval signed by the Airports Division Manager, Northwest Mountain 
Region on August 8, 2007. The Record of Approval, as well as other 
evaluation materials and the documents comprising the submittal, are 
available for review at the FAA office listed above and at the 
administrative offices of the Great Falls International Airport. The 
Record of Approval also will be available on-line at http://www.faa.gov/arp/environmental/14cfr150/index14.cfm.

    Issued in Renton, Washington August 8, 2007.
Donna P. Taylor,
Manager, Airports Division, Northwest Mountain Region.
[FR Doc. 07-4153 Filed 8-23-07; 8:45 am]
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