[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 117 (Monday, June 18, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36331-36332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14817]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION


Noise Exposure Maps; Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, 
Cleveland, OH

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 
Cleveland for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport under the 
provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et. seq (Aviation Safety and Noise 
Abatement Act, herein after referred to as ``the Act'') and 14 Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 150 (hereinafter referred to as ``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 Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport under 
Part 150 in conjunction with the noise exposure map, and that this 
program will be approved or disapproved on or before December 2, 2012.

DATES: Effective Date: The effective date of the FAA's determination on 
the noise exposure maps and of the start of its review of the 
associated noise compatibility program is June 6, 2012. The public 
comment period ends August 4, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katherine S. Delaney, Detroit Airports 
District Office, 11677 S. Wayne Road, Romulus, MI 48174, 
[email protected], and (734) 229-2900. Comments on the 
proposed noise compatibility program should also be submitted to the 
above office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces the FAA finds that the 
noise exposure maps submitted for Cleveland Hopkins International 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, 
effective June 6, 2012. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise 
compatibility program for that airport which will be approved or 
disapproved on or before December 2, 2012. This notice also announces 
the availability of this program for public review and comment.

[[Page 36332]]

    Under 49 U.S.C., section 47503 of 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 submits noise exposure maps (NEMs) in 
compliance with the requirements of Part 150, may also submit a noise 
compatibility program (NCP) for FAA review and approval. The NCP sets 
forth the measures the operator has taken or proposes to take to reduce 
existing non-compatible uses, prevent the introduction of additional 
non-compatible uses, and/or mitigate to reduce impacts on non-
compatible uses.
    The City of Cleveland submitted to the FAA on April 19, 2011 noise 
exposure maps, descriptions and other documentation that were produced 
during Cleveland Hopkins International Airport 14 CFR part 150 Noise 
Exposure Map Update, April 2011 and the Cleveland Hopkins International 
Airport 14 CFR part 150 Noise Compatibility Program Update, May 2011. 
It was 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 the City of Cleveland. The specific 
documentation determined to constitute the noise exposure maps 
includes: Figure ES-1, 2011 Noise Exposure Map; Figure ES-2, 2017 Noise 
Exposure Map. Additional NEM graphics for flight tracks are presented 
in Figure 2, Jet Aircraft Radar and Model Tracks for Arrivals and 
Departures (North Flow); Figure 3, Propeller Aircraft Radar and Model 
Tracks for Arrivals and Departures (North Flow); Figure 4, Jet Aircraft 
Radar and Model Tracks for Arrivals and Departures (South Flow); Figure 
5, Propeller Aircraft Radar and Model Tracks for Arrivals and 
Departures (South Flow). Narrative discussion of the flight tracks is 
in Chapter 2, Development of Noise Contours, inclusive of airport 
operations, existing and forecasted fleet mix, and nighttime 
operations. Appendix B, Master Plan Update: Chapter 2, Aviation 
Activity Forecasts, provides additional detail on aircraft operations 
and fleet mix. Noise measurements are detailed in Section 3.3, Noise 
Measurement Site Selection, Table 9, Summary of Portable Noise 
Measurement Sites, and Figure 6, Locations of Permanent and Portable 
Noise Monitoring Sites and Recommendations for New Sites. Existing Land 
Use in the vicinity of the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is 
detailed in Chapter 4, Land Use supported by Figure 7, Preliminary Land 
Use Area Map of Surrounding Areas and Figure 8 Zoning Map of 
Surrounding Areas. The FAA has determined that these maps for Cleveland 
Hopkins International Airport are in compliance with applicable 
requirements. This determination is effective on June 6, 2012. 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 constitute 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.
    The FAA has formally received the noise compatibility program for 
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, also effective on June 6, 
2012. 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 December 2, 
2012.
    The FAA's detailed evaluation will be conducted under the 
provisions of section 150.33 of Part 150. 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 relevant 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, Detroit Airports District Office, 
11677 South Wayne Road, Suite 107, Romulus, MI 48174, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 
p.m.
Traci Clark, Deputy Chief Planning and Engineering, Department of Port 
Control, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, 19501 Five Points 
Drive, Building 206, Cleveland, OH 44135, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

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

    Issued in Romulus, MI, June 6, 2012.
John L. Mayfield, Jr.,
Manager, Detroit Airports District Office.
[FR Doc. 2012-14817 Filed 6-15-12; 8:45 am]
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