[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 23 (Monday, February 4, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6548-6549]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 08-464]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Approval of Noise Compatibility Program; Hartsfield-Jackson 
Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, GA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
findings on the Noise Compatibility Program submitted by the City of 
Atlanta under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. (the Aviation Safety and 
Noise Abatement Act, hereinafter referred to as ``the Act'') and 14 CFR 
part 150. These findings are made in recognition of the description of 
Federal and nonfederal responsibilities in Senate Report No. 96-52 
(1980). On April 10, 2007, the FAA determined that the noise exposure 
maps submitted by the City of Atlanta under Part 150 were in compliance 
with applicable requirements. On January 24, 2008, the FAA approved the 
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Noise Compatibility 
Program. All of the recommendations of the program were approved. No 
program elements relating to new or revised flight procedures for noise 
abatement were proposed by the airport operator.

DATES: Effective Dates: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the 
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Noise Compatibility 
Program is January 24, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott L. Seritt, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Atlanta Airports District Office, 1701 Columbia Avenue 
Campus Building, Suite 2-260, College Park, Georgia 30337, phone 
number: 404-305-7150. 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 Hartsfield-
Jackson Atlanta International Airport, effective January 24, 2008.
    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 with 
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 14 CFR part 150 is a local program, not a Federal Program. The FAA 
does not substitute its judgment for that of the airport operator with 
respect to which measure should be recommended for action. The FAA's 
approval or disapproval of 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 14 CFR part 150;
    b. Program measures are reasonably consistent with achieving the 
goals of reducing existing non-compatible land 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 of 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 14 CFR part 150, Sec.  
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

[[Page 6549]]

commitment by the FAA to financially assist 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 Airports District Office in College Park, Georgia.
    The City of Atlanta submitted to the FAA on March 29, 2007, the 
Noise Exposure Maps, descriptions, and other documentation produced 
during the noise compatibility planning study conducted from February 
6, 2003, through September 5, 2007. The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta 
International Airport Noise Exposure Maps were determined by FAA to be 
in compliance with applicable requirements on April 10, 2007. Notice of 
this determination was published in the Federal Register on April 10, 
2007.
    The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport study contains 
a proposed Noise Compatibility Program comprised of actions designed 
for phased implementation by airport management and adjacent 
jurisdictions from September 5, 2007 beyond the year 2012. It was 
requested that FAA evaluate and approve this material as a Noise 
Compatibility Program as described in section 47504 of the Act. The FAA 
began is review of the Program on September 7, 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 seven (7) proposed actions for 
noise mitigation on and off the airport. The FAA completed its review 
and determined that the procedural and substantive requirements of the 
Act and 14 CFR part 150 have been satisfied. The overall program, 
therefore, was approved by the FAA effective January 24, 2008.
    Outright approval was granted for all of the specific program 
elements. These determinations are set forth in detail in a Record of 
Approval signed by the FAA on January 24, 2008. 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 office of the City of Atlanta. The Record of 
Approval also will be available on-line at: http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/airports/environmental/airport_noise/part_150/states/.

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on January 25, 2008.
Scott L. Seritt,
Manager, Atlanta Airports District Office.
[FR Doc. 08-464 Filed 2-1-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M