[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 226 (Friday, November 21, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70691-70692]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27546]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Approval of Noise Compatibility Program Piedmont Triad 
International Airport, Greensboro, NC

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 Piedmont 
Triad Airport Authority (PTAA) 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 June 10, 2008, 
the FAA determined that the noise exposure maps submitted by the 
Piedmont Triad Airport Authority (PTAA) under Part 150 were in 
compliance with applicable requirements. On November 7, 2008, the FAA 
approved the Piedmont Triad International Airport noise compatibility 
program. All of the recommendations of the program were approved.

DATES: Effective Date: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the 
Piedmont Triad International Airport Noise Compatibility Program is 
November 7, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dana Perkins, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Atlanta Airports District Office, 1701 Columbia Avenue, 
College Park, Georgia 30337-2747, phone number: (404) 305-7152. 
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 Piedmont 
Triad International Airport, effective November 7, 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 noncompatible 
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

[[Page 70692]]

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 judgment for 
that of the airport operator with respect to which measure 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 FAR 
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 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 Airports District Office in College Park, 
Georgia.
    Piedmont Triad International Airport submitted to the FAA on May 7, 
2008 the Noise Exposure Maps, descriptions, and other documentation 
produced during the noise compatibility planning study conducted from 
March 2003, through April 2008. The Piedmont Triad International 
Airport Noise Exposure Maps were determined by FAA to be in compliance 
with applicable requirements on June 10, 2008. Notice of this 
determination was published in the Federal Register on June 10, 2008.
    The Piedmont Triad International Airport study contains a proposed 
Noise Compatibility Program comprised of actions designed for phased 
implementation by airport management and adjacent jurisdictions from 
2008 to 2014 and beyond, as applicable. 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 its review of 
theProgram on June 10, 2008 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 20 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 FAR Part 150 have been satisfied. The overall program, therefore, 
was approved by the FAA effective November 7, 2008.
    Outright approval, with clarification in some cases, was granted 
for all of the specific program elements. The 20 measures proposed and 
approved follow: NA1--Evaluate Noise barriers at Sites of Future 
Airport Facilities; NA-2--Preferred Night Runway Use; NA-3--Night 
Runway Use Assignments; NA-4--Night Southbound Departure Corridor from 
Runway 23L; NA-5--Night Departure Procedures from Runway 23R; NA-6--
Night Northbound Departure Corridor form Runway 23L; NA-8--Departures 
from Runway 5L; NA-9--Departures from Runway 5R; NA-10--Restrictions on 
Use of Auxiliary Power Units (APUs); NA-11--Noise Abatement Departure 
Profiles; NA-12--Noise Abatement Approach Procedures; NA-13--Altitude 
for Downwind Legs; LU-1 Acquire Noise-Sensitive Properties where DNL 
Exceeds 70 dB; LU-2--Sound Insulation for Noise-Sensitive Structures 
where DNL Exceeds 65 dB; LU-3--Optional Acquisition of Avigation 
Easements for Noise Sensitive Structures where DNL Exceeds 65dB; LU-4--
Other Assistance for Owners of Residential Property where DNL exceeds 
65 dB; LU-5--Pursue Compatible Use Zoning where DNL Exceeds 65 dB; NM-
i--Establish a Noise Monitoring Function at PTIA; NM-2--Publish DNL 
Contours for DNL 60 and Above; and NM-3 Install and Operate an Aircraft 
Noise and Operations Monitoring System.
    Operational Measure NA-1 and Land Use Measure LU-4 were approved 
for study only because the benefits of implementation, as required by 
Part 150, cannot be determined until study and/or analysis is complete. 
Operational Measures NA-2, NA-3, NA-4, NA-5, NA-6, NA-8, NA-9, NA-11, 
NA-12, and NA-13 are approved as voluntary measures because their 
implementation is subject to traffic, weather, and airspace safety and 
efficiency. Additionally, while approved, clarification was added to 
the approval statements for several Land Use Measures.
    These determinations are set forth in detail in a Record of 
Approval signed by the FAA on November 7, 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 Piedmont Triad Airport Authority 
(PTAA). 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 November 8, 2008.
Scott L. Seritt,
Manager, Atlanta Airports District Office.
 [FR Doc. E8-27546 Filed 11-20-08; 8:45 am]
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