[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 8, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54695-54696]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-22240]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; Brownsville South Padre Island 
International Airport, Brownsville, TX

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 City of 
Brownsville, Texas for Brownsville South Padre Island 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.

DATES: Effective Date: The effective date of the FAA's determination on 
the noise exposure maps is August 30, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lance E. Key, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76137, (817) 
222-5681.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds 
that the noise exposure maps submitted for Brownsville South Padre 
Island International Airport are in compliance with applicable 
requirements of part 150, effective August 30, 2010. Under 49 U.S.C. 
section 47503 of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act 
(hereinafter referred to as ``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 
Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) 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 FAA has completed its review of the noise exposure maps and 
accompanying documentation submitted by the City of Brownsville, Texas. 
The documentation that constitutes the ``noise exposure maps'' as 
defined in section 150.7 of part 150 includes: Tables 5.1 through 5.13 
and Figures 5.1 through 5.5 for year 2009 existing conditions and 
Tables 6.1 through 6.10 and Figures 6.1 through 6.5 for year 2015 
future conditions at Brownsville South Padre Island International 
Airport. The FAA has determined that these noise exposure maps and 
accompanying documentation are in compliance with applicable 
requirements. This determination is effective on August 30, 2010.
    FAA's determination on an 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 applicant'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 contours, or in 
interpreting the noise exposure maps to resolve questions concerning, 
for example, which properties should be covered by the provisions of 
section

[[Page 54696]]

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 FAR part 150, that the 
statutorily required consultation has been accomplished.
    Copies of the full noise exposure map documentation and of the 
FAA's evaluation of the maps are available for examination at the 
following locations: Federal Aviation Administration, 2601 Meacham 
Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas, and with Mr. Larry A. Brown, Director of 
Aviation, 700 South Minnesota Avenue, Brownsville, Texas 78521-5721. 
Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, August 30, 2010.
D. Cameron Bryan,
Acting Manager, Airports Division.
[FR Doc. 2010-22240 Filed 9-7-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M