[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 10, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28933-28934]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10981]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review Boise Air Terminal (Gowen Field) Boise, ID

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Noise Exposure Map notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
determination that the noise exposure maps submitted by the City of 
Boise, ID for the Boise Air Terminal (Gowen Field), Boise, Idaho under 
the provisions of 40 U.S.C 47501 et seq. (Aviation Safety and Noise 
Abatement Act) and 14 CFR 150 are in compliance with applicable 
requirements. The FAA also announces that it is reviewing a proposed 
noise compatibility program that was submitted for Boise Air Terminal 
(Gowen Field) under Part 150 in conjunction with the Noise Exposure 
Map, and that this program will be approved or disapproved on or before 
October 29, 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 May 2, 2016. The public 
comment period ends July 1, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Scott Eaton at the Federal 
Aviation Administration, FAA Building, Ste. 2, 2725 Skyway Drive, 
Helena, Montana 59602-1213, Telephone 406-449-5291.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Notice announces that the FAA finds 
that the Noise Exposure Maps submitted for Great Falls International 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of Title 14 Code 
of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 150, effective May 2, 2016. 
Furthermore, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program 
for that Airport which will be approved or disapproved on or before 
October 29, 2016. This notice also announces the availability of this 
Program for public review and comment.
    Under 49 U.S.C., Section 47503, 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 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 City of Boise, ID submitted to the FAA on December 21, 2015 
Noise Exposure Maps, descriptions and other documentation that were 
produced during the Boise Air Terminal (Gowen Field) Airport Part 150 
Study conducted between September 16, 2014 and December 21, 2015. 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 
accompanying documentation submitted by the City of Boise, ID. The 
documentation that constitutes the ``noise exposure maps'' as defined 
in CFR part 150 Section 150.7 includes: Boise Airport 14 CFR part 150 
Study Update, Updated Noise Exposure Maps, Figure 2-1 Existing 
Condition Operations by Aircraft Category, Figure 2-2 Future Condition 
Operations by Aircraft Category, Figure 3-1 Airport Layout, Figure 3-2 
Modeled Flight Tracks for Runways 9, 10L and 10R, Figure 3-3 Modeled 
Flight Tracks for Runways 27, 28L and 28R, Figure 4-1 Airport Influence 
Area, Figure 4-2 Existing Land Use, Figure 4-3 Future Land Use, Figure 
4-4 Zoning in the Vicinity of the Airport, Figure 5-1 2015 Noise 
Exposure Map on Existing Land Use, Figure 5-2 2020 Noise Exposure Map 
on Existing Land Use, and Figure 5-3 2020 Noise Exposure Map on Future 
Land Use. The FAA has determined that these noise exposure maps and 
accompanying documentation are in compliance with applicable 
requirements. This determination is effective on May 2, 2016.
    The 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 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 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

[[Page 28934]]

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 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 
Boise Air Terminal (Gowen Field) Airport, also effective on May 2, 
2016. 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 October 29, 
2016.
    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 full Noise Exposure Map documentation and the 
proposed Noise Compatibility Program are available for examination at 
the following locations:
    Scott Eaton, Community Planner, Federal Aviation Administration, 
Helena Airports District Office, FAA Building, Ste. 2, 2725 Skyway 
Drive, Helena, MT 59602, 406-449-5291.
    Boise Air Terminal (Gowen Field), 3201 Airport Way, Boise, ID 
83705.
    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 2, 2016.
Randall S. Fiertz,
Manager, Airports Division, Northwest Mountain Region.
[FR Doc. 2016-10981 Filed 5-9-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P