[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 246 (Monday, December 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77548-77549]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30484]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Seattle, 
Washington

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
determination that the Noise Exposure Maps submitted by the Port of 
Seattle for the Seattle-Tacoma 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. The FAA also announces that it is reviewing a proposed 
Noise Compatibility Program that was submitted for Seattle-Tacoma 
International Airport under Part 150 in conjunction with the Noise 
Exposure Map, and that this program will be approved or disapproved on 
or before June 10, 2014.

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 December 13, 2013. The public 
comment period ends February 11, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cayla Morgan, Federal Aviation 
Administration Seattle Airports District Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 
Renton, Washington, 98057, (425) 227-2653. Comments on the proposed 
Noise Compatibility Program should also be submitted to the above 
office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Notice announces that the FAA finds 
that the Noise Exposure Maps submitted for Seattle-Tacoma International 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of part 150, 
effective December 13, 2013. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed Noise 
Compatibility Program for that Airport which will be approved or 
disapproved on or before June 10, 2014. This notice also announces the 
availability of this Program for public review and comment.
    Under 49 U.S.C., Section 47503 (the Aviation Safety and Noise 
Abatement Act, (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 Port of Seattle submitted to the FAA on October 24, 2013 Noise 
Exposure Maps, descriptions and other documentation that were produced 
during the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport part 150 Noise 
Compatibility Study Update conducted between November 6, 2009 and 
October 24, 2013 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.

[[Page 77549]]

    The FAA has completed its review of the Noise Exposure Maps and 
related descriptions submitted by the Port of Seattle. The specific 
documentation determined to constitute the Noise Exposure Maps 
includes: Existing (2013) Noise Exposure Map (Exhibit NEM-1), (Exhibit 
3-14) and the Future (2018) Noise Exposure Map (Exhibit NEM-2), 
(Exhibit 3-15) and Future (2018) Noise Exposure Map/Noise Compatibility 
Program (Exhibit 6-2). The FAA has determined that these maps for 
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport are in compliance with applicable 
requirements. This determination is effective on December 13, 2013. 
FAA's determination on the 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 14 CFR part 150. Such 
determination does not constitute approval of the airport operator'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 exposure 
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 
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also effective on December 13, 
2013. 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 June 10, 2014.
    The FAA's detailed evaluation will be conducted under the 
provisions of part 150, Section 150.33. 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 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 and the proposed Noise Compatibility Program are 
available for examination at the following locations:
Federal Aviation Administration, Airports District Office, 1601 Lind 
Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057.
Port of Seattle, Airport Noise Office, Seattle-Tacoma International 
Airport, Seattle, Washington 68727.
    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Renton, Washington: December 13, 2013.
Stanley C. Allison,
Acting Division Manager, Airports, Northwest Mountain Region.
[FR Doc. 2013-30484 Filed 12-20-13; 8:45 am]
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