[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 16 (Tuesday, January 27, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4827-4828]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-1531]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review; Destin-Ft. Walton Beach Airport Destin, FL

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
determination that the Noise Exposure Maps submitted by Okaloosa County 
for Destin-Ft. Walton Beach 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 Destin-Ft. Walton Beach under Part 150 in 
conjunction with the Noise Exposure Map, and that this program will be 
approved or disapproved on or before July 13, 2009.

DATES: Effective Date:
    The effective date of the FAAs determination on the Noise Exposure 
Maps and of the start of its review of the associated Noise 
Compatibility Program is January 14, 2009. The public comment period 
ends March 15, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Lindy McDowell, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Orlando Airports District Office, 5950 Hazeltine 
National Drive, Suite 400, Orlando, Florida 32822, 407-812-6331. 
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 Destin-Ft. Walton Beach 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, 
effective January 14, 2009. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed Noise 
Compatibility Program for that Airport which will be approved or 
disapproved on or before July 13, 2009. This notice also announces the 
availability of this Program for public review and comment.
    Under 49 U.S.C., Section 47503 (the Aviation Safety 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.
    Okaloosa County submitted to the FAA on September 5, 2008, Noise 
Exposure Maps, descriptions and other documentation that were produced 
during the Destin-Ft. Walton Beach Airport Destin/Ft. Walton Beach 
Airport, FAR Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study conducted between June 
2004 and July 2008. It was

[[Page 4828]]

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 descriptions submitted by Okaloosa County. The specific 
documentation determined to constitute the Noise Exposure Maps 
includes: Table 3-4, 2008 FAR Part 150 Forecasts; Table 4-3, 
Operational Fleet Mix; Table 4-4, 2008 Average Daily Operations; Table 
4-5, 2013 Average Daily Operations; Table 4-6, Flight Track 
Utilization; Figure 4-2, 2008/2013 Flight Tracks Runway 14; 2008/2013 
Flight Tracks Runway 32; 2008/2013 Flight Tracks Touch-and-Go; Figure 
4-5, 2008 Official Noise Exposure Map; Figure 4-6, 2013 Official Noise 
Exposure Map; Table 4-9, 2008 Noise Exposure in the Airport Environs; 
Figure 4-7, 2008 Incompatible Land Uses; Table 4-10, 2013 Noise 
Exposure in the Airport Environs; and, Figure 4-8, 2013 Incompatible 
Land Uses. The FAA has determined that these maps for Destin-Ft. Walton 
Beach Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements. This 
determination is effective on January 14, 2009. 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 14 CFR 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 changed 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 
Destin-Ft. Walton Beach Airport, also effective on January 14, 2009. 
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 July 13, 2009.
    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, Orlando Airports District 
Office, 5950 Hazeltine National Drive, Suite 400, Orlando, Florida 
32822.
    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Orlando, Florida, January 14, 2009.
W. Dean Stringer,
Manager, Orlando Airports District Office.
 [FR Doc. E9-1531 Filed 1-26-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M