[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 147 (Friday, July 31, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45699-45700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18822]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review, Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and 
Lake Hood Seaplane Base, Anchorage, Alaska

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 Alaska 
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities for Ted Stevens 
Anchorage International Airport and Lake Hood Seaplane Base under the 
provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et. seq. (Aviation Safety and Noise 
Abatement Act) are in compliance with applicable requirements. The FAA 
also announces that it is reviewing a proposed Noise Compatibility 
Program that was submitted for Ted Stevens Anchorage International 
Airport and Lake Hood Seaplane Base and that this program will be 
approved or disapproved on or before January 23, 2016.

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 July 27, 2015. The public 
comment period ends September 25, 2015.

ADDRESSES: 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, the FAA's evaluation of 
the maps, and the proposed Noise Compatibility Program are available 
for examination by appointment at the following locations:

Federal Aviation Administration, Alaskan Region, Airports Division, 222 
W. 7th Avenue, Annex Building, Rm. A36, Anchorage, Alaska 99513.
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, 5000 W. International 
Airport Rd. Suite C3820, Anchorage, Alaska 99502.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leslie Grey, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Anchorage, AK,

[[Page 45700]]

Alaskan Region Airports Division, 222 W. 7th Avenue, Box #14, 
Anchorage, Alaska 99513, 907-271-5453. 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 Ted Stevens Anchorage 
International Airport and Lake Hood Seaplane Base are in compliance 
with applicable requirements of 14 CFR part 150, effective July 27, 
2015. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed Noise Compatibility Program 
under Part 150 in conjunction with the Noise Exposure Map which will be 
approved or disapproved on or before January 23, 2016. 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 Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities 
submitted to the FAA on December 19, 2014 Noise Exposure Maps, 
descriptions and other documentation that were produced during the 
conducted between November 17, 2011 and December 19, 2014. 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 airports 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 
accompanying documentation submitted by the Alaska Department of 
Transportation & Public Facilities. The documentation that constitutes 
the ``Noise Exposure Maps'' as defined in Section 150.7 of Part 150 
include: Figure D31 Exisitng Noise Exposure Map--2009 and Figure I1 
Future Noise Exposre Map--2020 and the accompanying documentation are 
in compliance with applicable requirements. This determination is 
effective on July 27, 2015. 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 
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and Lake Hood Seaplane 
Base, also effective on July 27, 2015. 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 January 23, 2016.
    The FAA's approval or disapproval of each specific measure proposed 
by an airport sponsor in a Noise Compatibility Plan is determined by 
applying approval criteria prescribed in 14 CFR 150.35(b). Only 
measures that meet the approval criteria can be approved and considered 
for Federal funding eligibility. Note that FAA approval or disapproval 
of a measure only indicates whether that measure would, if implemented, 
be consistent with the purposes of 14 CFR part 150. When an ROA measure 
is disapproved by the FAA, airport sponsors are not precluded from and 
are encouraged to work with the FAA and their communities outside of 
the rigors of the Part 150 process to implement initiatives that 
provide noise benefits for the surrounding community. Approval of a 
measure does not constitute a FAA funding commitment or decision to 
implement that measure.
    Interested persons are invited to comment on the proposed program 
with specific reference to these factors. To maximize the effectiveness 
of comments and the FAAs understanding of them, comments should be as 
specific as possible identifying the concern(s) as well as suggested or 
desired resolution to the concern(s). When possible, quote text and 
cite details such as page and section numbers, NCP measure number, etc. 
to which the comment(s) pertain(s). This commenting procedure is 
intended to ensure that substantive comments and concerns are made 
available to the FAA in a timely manner so that the FAA has an 
opportunity to address them in its Record of Approval. Please note, all 
comments in their entirety become part of the public record, including 
any personal information provided in the comment including name, 
address, phone number, etc.
    To arrange an appointment to review the documents and any questions 
may be directed to the individual named above under the heading, FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Anchorage, Alaska, July 27, 2015.
Byron K. Huffman,
Manager, Alaskan Region Airports Division.
[FR Doc. 2015-18822 Filed 7-30-15; 8:45 am]
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