[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 172 (Tuesday, September 6, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55158-55159]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22607]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Approval of Noise Compatibility Program for Lambert-St. Louis 
International Airport, St. Louis, MO

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 St. Louis 
Airport Authority under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et seq. 
(formerly the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, hereinafter 
referred to as ``the Act'') and 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 
part 150 (hereinafter referred to as ``Part 150''). On April 5, 2011, 
the FAA determined that the noise exposure maps submitted by the St. 
Louis Airport Authority under Part 150 were in compliance with 
applicable requirements. On August 26, 2011, the FAA approved the 
Lambert-St. Louis 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 Date: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the 
Noise Compatibility Program for Lambert-St. Louis International Airport 
is August 26, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FAA, Todd Madison, ACE-611B, 901 
Locust, Kansas City, Missouri, 64106-2325, [email protected], 816-
329-2640. 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 Lambert-St. 
Louis International Airport, effective August 26, 2011.
    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 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 communities, government agencies, airport 
users, and FAA personnel.
    Each airport noise compatibility program developed in accordance 
with Part 150 is a local program, not a Federal program. The FAA does 
not substitute its judgment for that of the airport proprietor with 
respect to which measures 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 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 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. Prior to a FAA decision on a request to implement the action, 
an environmental review of the proposed action may be required. 
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 under applicable law contained in Title 49 U.S.C. 
Where Federal funding is sought, requests for project grants must be 
submitted to the FAA Airports Regional Office in Kansas City, Missouri.
    The Lambert-St. Louis International Airport study contains a 
proposed noise compatibility program comprised of actions designed for 
phased implementation by airport management and adjacent jurisdictions 
from November 29, 2010, beyond the year 2015. It was requested that the 
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 
the program on April 5, 2011, 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 twenty-three proposed actions for 
noise abatement, land use planning and program management on and off 
the airport. The FAA completed its review and determined that the 
procedural and substantive requirements of the Act and Part 150 have 
been satisfied. The overall program was approved by the FAA, effective 
August 26, 2011.
    Outright approval was granted for twenty-three specific program 
measures. The noise compatibility program recommended ten measures for 
noise abatement, ten measures for land use planning policies and land 
use management, and three measures for oversight and implementation of 
the abatement and land use measures. Of the noise abatement measures, 
one previously approved measure was withdrawn, and nine previously 
approved measures will continue. Of the land use management measures, 
five new measures are approved, and five previously approved measures 
will continue. Of the program management measures, three previously 
approved measures will continue and were updated for the current 
administrative and management conditions at Lambert-St. Louis 
International Airport. Each measure is described in the following 
summary.
    Noise Abatement Measure NA-1 will continue, as previously approved, 
the daytime use of Runway 6-24 between

[[Page 55159]]

the hours of 6 a.m. and 11 p.m., as needed to prevent air traffic 
delays.
    Noise Abatement Measure NA-2 approves daytime departure corridors 
between the hours of 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. for commercial airline and 
military jets.
    Noise Abatement Measure NA-3 will continue, as previously approved, 
to prohibit nighttime full-power aircraft engine run-ups between the 
hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. without prior authorization from the 
Airport Operations/Communications Center.
    Noise Abatement Measure NA-4 will continue, as previously approved, 
to prohibit nighttime use of Runway 6-24 between the hours of 11 p.m. 
and 6 a.m. by commercial airline or military jet operations except 
under unusual or extraordinary circumstances.
    Noise Abatement Measure NA-5 approves nighttime departure corridors 
between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. for commercial airline and 
military jets.
    Noise Abatement Measure NA-6 will continue, as previously approved, 
the use of distant noise abatement departure procedures by commercial 
airline jets as outlined in FAA Advisory Circular 91-53A.
    Noise Abatement Measure NA-7 will continue, as previously approved, 
quiet push-back procedures by commercial airline jets using aircraft 
tractors because power backs using aircraft engines are not permitted.
    Noise Abatement Measure NA-8 will continue, as previously approved, 
to limit commercial jet aircraft from intercepting the final approach 
no closer than four (4) nautical miles from the arrival runway end.
    Noise Abatement Measure NA-9 will continue, as previously approved, 
for the St. Louis Airport Authority to notify the airlines concerning 
the existing practices for full power maintenance run-ups and terminal 
push-backs by the air carriers with scheduled service at Lambert-St. 
Louis International Airport, and the St. Louis Airport Authority will 
also encourage the use of the distant noise abatement departure 
procedure.
    Noise Abatement Measure NA-10 approves the withdrawal of the 
measure to maximize west flow operations.
    Land Use Management Measure LU-5 will continue, as previously 
approved, the voluntary use of comprehensive planning, and the St. 
Louis Airport Authority will assist, as appropriate, the local 
jurisdictions to pursue the development and adoption of comprehensive 
planning policies.
    Land Use Management Measure LU-6 will continue, as previously 
approved, the voluntary discretionary review between the St. Louis 
Airport Authority and local jurisdictions to ensure that optimal 
development can occur in a manner that is compatible with the airport 
and aircraft operations.
    Land Use Management Measure LU-7 will continue, as previously 
approved, the St. Louis Airport Authority to assist local jurisdictions 
in the development and adoption of voluntary general purpose/compatible 
use zoning.
    Land Use Management Measure LU-8 will continue, as previously 
approved, the implementation of voluntary noise overlay zoning between 
the St. Louis Airport Authority and local jurisdictions, as 
appropriate.
    Land Use Management Measure LU-9 will continue, as previously 
approved, the adoption of voluntary building codes between the St. 
Louis Airport Authority and local jurisdictions for noise 
compatibility, as appropriate.
    Land Use Management Measure LU-10 will continue, as previously 
approved, voluntary advanced land acquisition by the St. Louis Airport 
Authority working cooperatively with the local jurisdictions to 
identify parcels zoned residential where incompatible development is 
being proposed.
    Land Use Management Measure LU-11 approves noise disclosure for use 
by the St. Louis Airport Authority to cooperatively engage in a 
dialogue with area realtors and local jurisdictions to jointly develop 
a regulatory process to provide full disclosure of airport noise.
    Land Use Management Measure LU-12 approves subdivision regulations 
to amend, as necessary, the local subdivision regulations to ensure 
that land is platted and developed to minimize noise impacts or reduce 
noise-sensitivity of new development.
    Land Use Management Measurement LU-13 approves the transfer of 
development rights for the local jurisdictions to encourage the use of 
Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) where appropriate to benefit land 
use compatibility.
    Land Use Management Measure LU-14 approves capital improvement 
programming for local jurisdictions to consider the compatibility 
between airport noise and potential development of new land uses when 
sizing and locating future infrastructure improvements within a capital 
improvements planning process in order to avoid the development of 
services that could lead to the development of incompatible uses.
    Program Management Measure PM-1 approves the implementation of an 
aircraft monitoring system upgrade for the Lambert-St. Louis 
International Airport's aircraft monitoring system, so airport staff 
can obtain flight tracking data and prepare reports in response to 
community questions. In addition, selected permanent noise monitors 
should be relocated to sites that are closer to the existing 65 DNL 
noise exposure contour.
    Program Management Measure PM-2 approves the St. Louis Airport 
Authority to reinitiate a community outreach program through a 
Community Forum.
    Program Management Measure PM-3 approves the St. Louis Airport 
Authority to update the Noise Exposure Maps (NEMs) or prepare an update 
to the Noise Compatibility Program (NCP) when appropriate.
    These determinations are described in detail and as set forth in 
the Record of Approval signed by Jim A. Johnson, Manager, Central 
Region Airports Division, on August 26, 2011. 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 offices of the St. Louis Airport Authority, 
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, Airport Planning & 
Development, 11495 Navaid Road, Bridgeton, Missouri 63044. The Record 
of Approval also will be available on-line at: http://www.faa.gov/airports/environmental/airport_noise/part_150/states/.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, August 26, 2011.
Jim A. Johnson,
Manager, Central Region Airports Division.
[FR Doc. 2011-22607 Filed 9-2-11; 8:45 am]
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