[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 84 (Wednesday, May 1, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 25523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-10282]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Acceptance of Noise Exposure Map Notice for Oakland County 
International Airport, Pontiac, Michigan

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The FAA announces its determination that the noise exposure 
maps submitted by Oakland County, for the Oakland County International 
Airport 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 CFR Part 150 (hereinafter referred to as ``Part 
150'') are in compliance with applicable requirements.

DATES: This notice is effective [insert date upon publication in 
Federal Register], and is applicable beginning April 24, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Katherine S. Delaney, Federal 
Aviation Administration, Detroit Airports District Office, 11677 South 
Wayne Road, Romulus, MI 48174; Phone--(734) 229-2900; or Email_
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces the FAA finds the 
noise exposure maps submitted for Oakland County International Airport 
are in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, effective 
April 23, 2013. Under 49 U.S.C. 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 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.
    The FAA has completed its review of the noise exposure maps and 
accompanying documentation submitted by Oakland County. The 
documentation that constitutes the ``Noise Exposure Maps'' as defined 
in section 150.7 of Part 150 includes: The existing NEM is located in 
Figure D5, Existing Noise Exposure Map, 2010 and the future NEM is 
located in Figure D6 Future Noise Exposure Map, 2021. The information 
gathered and analyzed to generate the NEMs is located in various 
sections of the report. Figure A2, Existing Airport Layout with a 
narrative description on Page A.3 applies to both the existing and 
future NEM. The following references were used to develop Figure D5, 
Existing Noise Exposure Map, 2010: Chapter B, Forecast of Aviation 
Activity, including a summary table of aircraft operations in Table B1, 
Summary of Annual Aircraft Operations Forecast (TAF plus Nighttime 
Operations); Aircraft categories and fleet mix as detailed in Table B3, 
Summary of Operations by Aircraft Category, Recent Historic and 
Forecast; Chapter D, Existing and Future Baseline Noise Conditions, 
with detail described in Table D2, Aircraft Fleet Mix Assumptions for 
Existing Conditions, 2010; Table D3, Summary of Hours of Nighttime 
Operations by Category, Year 2010; Table D4, Percentage Runway 
Utilization, Table D5, Runway Utilization By Category of Aircraft; 
Figure D3, INM Flight Tracks, West Flow, Figure D4, INM Flight Tracks, 
East Flow.
    The Future NEM is located in Figure D6, Future Noise Exposure Map, 
2021. The following references were used to develop Figure D6, Future 
Noise Exposure Map, 2021: Table D6, Operations by Aircraft Category--
2021 Baseline Period and Table D7, Aircraft Fleet Mix Assumptions for 
Future Conditions, 2021. The Flight Tracks depicted in Figure D3, INM 
Flight Tracks, West Flow and Figure D4, INM Flight Tracks, East Flow 
were used for both existing and future baseline conditions. The FAA has 
determined that these noise exposure maps and accompanying 
documentation are in compliance with applicable requirements. This 
determination is effective on April 24, 2013.
    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. Prior arrangements are required to visit the 
Detroit Airports District Office.
    Detroit Airports District Office, 11677 South Wayne Road, Suite 
107, Romulus, MI 48174, 8:00-4:30 p.m.
    Oakland County International Airport, 6500 Highland Road, 
Waterford, MI 48327-1649, 8:30-5:00 p.m.
    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Romulus, Michigan, on April 24, 2013.
John L. Mayfield, Jr.,
Manager, Detroit Airports District Office.
[FR Doc. 2013-10282 Filed 4-30-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P