[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 36 (Friday, February 22, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9847-9849]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 08-788]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice: Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review for Centennial Airport, Englewood, CO

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:  Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
determination that the noise-exposure maps (NEM's) submitted for 
Centennial Airport, Englewood, CO, 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. In conjunction 
with the NEM's, the FAA also announces that it is reviewing a proposed 
noise compatibility program (NCP) submitted for Centennial Airport, per 
14 CFR Part 150. This program will be approved or disapproved on or 
before August 12, 2008.

DATES: Effective Date: The effective date of the FAA's determination on 
the NEM's and the start of the FAA's review

[[Page 9848]]

of the associated NCP is February 14, 2008.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 22, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Bruce, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Denver Airports District Office, 26805 E. 68th Avenue, 
Suite 224, Denver, CO 80249, telephone: 303-342-1264, e-mail: 
[email protected]. Comments on the proposed noise compatibility 
program also should be submitted to the above office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces the FAA's finding that 
NEM's submitted for Centennial Airport are in compliance with 
applicable requirements of 14 CFR Part 150, effective February 14, 
2008. Further, the FAA is reviewing that airport's proposed NCP, which 
will be approved or disapproved on or before August 12, 2008. This 
notice also announces the availability of this proposed 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 NEM's that meet applicable regulations 
and 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 NEM's that are found by the 
FAA to be in compliance with the requirements of Title 14 Code of 
Federal Regulations, Part 150, Airport Noise Compatibility Planning (14 
CFR Part 150), promulgated pursuant to the Act, may submit to the FAA 
for approval a NCP that 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 Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority owns and operates 
Centennial Airport, located in the Denver suburb of Englewood, CO. In 
April 2002, the Executive Director of the Arapahoe County Public 
Airport Authority requested the FAA to review the NCP and NEM's for 
Centennial Airport, contained in the Centennial Airport FAR Part 150 
Noise Exposure and Land Use Compatibility Study Program. The FAA 
requested corrections be made to the NCP, and worked with the airport 
authority to revise the study. Subsequently, the airport authority 
submitted to FAA a revised version of the compatibility study program 
in August 2003. Due to unrelated issues, FAA action on the study was 
delayed until June 2006, when the FAA issued a grant to the Arapahoe 
County Public Airport Authority to update Centennial Airport's noise 
exposure maps. This update was completed in November 2007.
    On December 1, 2007, the Executive Director of the Arapahoe County 
Public Airport Authority submitted to the FAA NEM's, descriptions, and 
other documentation developed as part of an update to the Centennial 
Airport FAR Part 150 Noise Exposure and Land Use Compatibility Study 
Program. The authority requested the FAA to review this material and 
the NEM's, as described in section 47503 of the Act; and approve the 
noise mitigation measures, to be implemented jointly by the airport and 
surrounding communities, as a NCP under section 47504 of the Act.
    These updated NEM's reference in this notice are the maps that FAA 
has determined are in compliance with application requirements. 
Further, the NCP submitted in conjunction with these updated NEM's and 
referenced in this notice, is the final version of the Centennial 
Airport FAR Part 150 Noise Exposure and Land Use Compatibility Study 
Program, dated August 2003.
    The FAA has completed its review of the NEM's and related 
descriptions submitted for Centennial Airport. The specific 
documentation determined to constitute the NEM's includes the following 
from the Centennial Airport FAR Part 150 Noise Exposure and Land Use 
Compatibility Study Program and Centennial Airport Noise Contour Map 
Update:
     Supplemental chapter, titled Centennial Airport Noise 
Contour Map Update: Noise Contour and Population Analysis, provides--

--Updates to Forecasts of Aviation Activity (see pages 1-4)
--Figure 4, Revised 2006 Existing Noise Exposure Map (page 13)
--Figure 5, Revised Future 2012 Noise Exposure Map (page 15)

     Section B describes prior forecasts of aviation activity.
     Section C describes noise analysis used to develop the 
existing and future contours.
     Section D describes land use analysis.
     Section F describes the noise abatement alternative 
evaluation, including prior existing Noise Exposure Map (Figure F.17).
     Section G summarizes actions and recommendations, 
including prior Future Noise Exposure Map (Figure G.4).
     Section H--Public and Airport User Consultation Summary.
     Appendix--Public Hearing Comments and Responses and Public 
Involvement Plan.
    The FAA has determined that these maps for Centennial Airport are 
in compliance with applicable requirements. This determination is 
effective on February 14, 2008. The FAA's determination on an airport 
operator's NEM's is limited to a finding that the maps were developed 
in accordance with the procedures contained in appendix A of 14 CFR 
part 150. Such determination does not constitute approval of the 
applicant's data, information or plans, or a commitment to approve a 
NCP 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 NEM 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 NEM's 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 changed in any way under 14 CFR Part 150 or 
through the FAA's review of NEM's. Therefore, the responsibility for 
the detailed overlaying of noise exposure contours onto the map 
depicting properties on the surface rests exclusively with the airport 
sponsor 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 sponsor, under 14 CFR Part 150.21, that the statutorily 
required consultation has been accomplished.
    The FAA has formally received the NCP for Centennial Airport, also 
effective on February 14, 2008. Preliminary review of the submitted 
material indicates that it conforms to the requirements for the 
submittal of a NCP, but requires further review 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 August 12, 2008.
    The FAA's detailed evaluation will be conducted under the 
provisions of 14

[[Page 9849]]

CFR Part 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 or 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. The FAA will consider, to the 
extent practicable, all comments, other than those properly addressed 
to local land use authorities. Electronic versions of the noise 
exposure map update and the proposed noise compatibility program are 
available at the following Internet sites:
    1. http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/airports/regional_guidance/northwest mountain/environmental/.
    2. www.centennialairport.com.

ADDRESSES: Paper copies of these documents are available for 
examination at the following locations:
    1. Federal Aviation Administration, Airports Division, 1601 Lind 
Avenue, SW., Suite 315, Renton, Washington 98057-3356, (425) 227-2611.
    2. Federal Aviation Administration, Denver Airports District 
Office, 26805 E. 68th Avenue, Suite 224, Denver, CO 80249-6361, (303) 
342-1264.
    3. Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority, 7800 South Peoria 
Street, Englewood, CO 80112, (303) 790-0598.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on February 14, 2008.
Donna P. Taylor,
Manager, Airports Division, Northwest Mountain Region.
[FR Doc. 08-788 Filed 2-21-08: 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M