[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 4 (Friday, January 6, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 834-835]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Docket No. 4910-13]


Noise Exposure Map Update for Albany International Airport, 
Albany, NY

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
determination that the updated noise exposure maps submitted by the 
Albany County Airport Authority (ACAA), for Albany 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 December 19, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Suki Gill, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, New York 
Airports District Office, 600 Old Country Road, Suite 446, Garden City, 
NY 11530, Telephone (516) 227-3815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds 
that the updated noise exposure maps submitted for Albany International 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of 14 Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) part 150 (hereinafter referred to as ``part 
150''), effective December 19, 2011. 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

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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.
    The FAA has completed its review of the noise exposure maps and 
accompanying documentation submitted by the NFTA. The documentation 
that constitutes the ``Noise Exposure Maps'' as defined in section 
150.7 of part 150 includes: Figure NEM-1 ``Existing (2009) Noise 
Exposure Map'' and Exhibit NEM-2 ``Future (2014) Noise Exposure Map''. 
The FAA has determined that these noise exposure maps and accompanying 
documentation are in compliance with applicable requirements. This 
determination is effective on December 19, 2011.
    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 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 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.
    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, New York Airports District Office, 600 
Old Country Road, Suite 446, Garden City, NY 11530, Monday-Friday--9 
a.m.-4 p.m.
Albany County Airport Authority, Administration Building, Suite 200, 
Albany International Airport, 737 Albany-Shaker Road, Albany, NY 12211, 
(518) 242-2222, Available upon request, www.albanyairport.com.

    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Jamaica, New York, December 19, 2011.
Tom Felix,
Manager, Planning & Programming, AEA-610, Eastern Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-26 Filed 1-5-12; 8:45 am]
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