[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 200 (Wednesday, October 17, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58925-58926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-5102]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International 
Airport, Covington, KY

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 Kenton 
County Airport Board for Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky 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 
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport under Part 150 in 
conjunction with the Noise Exposure Map, and that this program will be 
approved or disapproved on or before April 7, 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 October 9, 2007. The public comment 
period ends December 8, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peggy S. Kelley, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 2862 Business Park Drive, Building G, Memphis, 
Tennessee 38118-1555, telephone 901-322-8186. 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 Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky 
International Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of 
Part 150, effective October 9, 2007. Further, FAA is reviewing a 
proposed Noise Compatibility Program for that Airport which will be 
approved or disapproved on or before April 7, 2008. This notice also 
announces the availability for this Program for public review and 
comment.
    Under 49 U.S.C. 47503 (the Aviation and Noise Abatement Act, (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 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 Kenton County Airport Board submitted to the FAA on February 
21, 2007, Noise Exposure Maps, descriptions and other documentation 
that were produced during the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky 
International Airport FAR Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study conducted 
between December 2003 and December 2006. 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

[[Page 58926]]

descriptions submitted by Kenton County Airport Board. The specific 
documentation determined to constitute the Noise Exposure Maps 
includes: NEM-1 Existing (2006) Noise Exposure Map and Exhibit NEM-2 
Future (2011) Noise Exposure Map/Noise Compatibility Program; Exhibit 
2-1, Airport Environs; Exhibit 2-3, Generalized Existing Land Use; 
Exhibit 2-4 Existing Noise Sensitive Public Facilities; Exhibit 3-1 
Existing (2006) Baseline Noise Exposure Contour; Exhibit 3-2 Future 
2011 Baseline Noise Exposure Contour; Exhibit 3-3 Comparison of 
Existing (2006) Baseline and Future (2011) Baseline Noise Exposure 
Contours; Exhibit 4-1, Existing and Recommended Departure Corridors; 
Exhibit 4-2 Existing and Recommended Runup Locations; Exhibit 4-3, 36R 
Proposed Departure; Exhibit 4-6 2011 NEM/NCP Noise Exposure Contour 
compared to Future (2011) Baseline Noise Exposure contour; Table 4-2, 
Comparison of Baseline and NCP Housing, Population and Noise-Sensitive 
Public Facility Incompatibilities; Exhibit 4-7 Future (2006) NCP Noise 
Exposure Contour with 60 DNL; and Exhibit 4-8, Future (2011) NCP Noise 
Exposure Contour with 60 DNL description. The FAA has determined that 
these maps for Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport are 
in compliance with applicable requirements. This determination is 
effective on October 9, 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 changes 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 
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, also effective on 
October 9, 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 
April 7, 2008.
    The FAA's detailed evaluation will be conducted under the 
provisions of 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, Memphis Airports District 
Office, 2862 Business Park Drive, Building G, Memphis, Tennessee 38118-
1555; Kenton County Airport Board, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky 
Airport, Second Floor, Terminal One, Hebron, Kentucky.
    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Memphis, Tennessee, October 9, 2007.
Phillip J. Braden,
Manager, Memphis Airports District Office.
[FR Doc. 07-5102 Filed 10-16-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M