[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 6, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 88000-88001]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29145]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice for Lehigh Valley International 
Airport, Allentown, Pennsylvania

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 Lehigh-
Northampton Airport Authority for Lehigh Valley 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.

DATES: Effective Date: The effective date of the FAA's determination on 
the noise exposure maps is November 28, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Harrisburg Airports District Office 
(HAR ADO), Susan L. McDonald, Environmental Protection Specialist, 
Federal Aviation Administration, HAR ADO, 3905 Hartzdale Drive, Suite 
508, Camp Hill, PA 17011, Telephone: (717) 730-2830.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds 
that the noise exposure maps submitted for Lehigh Valley International 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of 14 CFR 150 
(part 150), effective January 13, 2004. Under 49 U.S.C. Section 47503 
of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act (hereinafter referred to 
as ``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 estimated aircraft operations during a forecast period 
that is at least five (5) years in the future; 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, planning authorities, and persons 
using the airport. An airport operator that has submitted noise 
exposure maps that are found by FAA to be in compliance with the 
requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) 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 Lehigh-Northampton Airport 
Authority. The documentation that constitutes the ``Noise Exposure 
Maps'' (NEM) as defined in Section 150.7 of Part 150 includes 2015 Base 
Year NEM, Figure 4-5; and 2020 Future Year NEM, Figure 5-1. The Noise 
Exposure Maps contain current and forecast information, including the 
depiction of the airport and its

[[Page 88001]]

boundaries; the runway configurations; land uses such as residential, 
open space, commercial/retail, community facilities, libraries, 
churches, and warehouses; and those areas within the Day Night Average 
Sound Level (DNL) 65, 70 and 75 noise contours. Estimates for the area 
within these contours for the 2015 Base Year are shown in Table 4-8 and 
Table 4-9, and in Chapter 4 of the NEM. Estimates of the residential 
population within the 2020 Future Year noise contours are shown in 
Table 5-5, and in Chapter 5 of the NEM. Figure 3-1, in Chapter 3, 
displays the location of noise monitoring sites. Flight tracks are 
found in Chapter 4, and detailed in Appedix C. The type and frequency 
of aircraft operations (including nighttime operations) are found in 
Chapter 4, Tables 4-5 and 4-6. The FAA has determined that these noise 
exposure maps and accompanying documentation are in compliance with 
applicable requirements. This determination is effective on November 
28, 2016.
    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 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 the 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 FAR 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:

Federal Aviation Administration, Eastern Region, Airports Division, 
AEA-600, 1 Aviation Plaza, Jamaica, New York 11434.
Federal Aviation Administration, Harrisburg Airports District Office, 
3905 Hartzdale Drive, Suite 508, Camp Hill, PA 17011.
Charles R. Everett, Executive Director, Lehigh Valley International 
Airport, Lehigh Northamption Aiport Authority, 3311 Airport Road, 
Allentown, PA 18109-3040.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Harrisburg Airports District Office 
(HAR ADO), Susan L. McDonald, Environmental Protection Specialist, 
Federal Aviation Administration, HAR ADO, 3905 Hartzdale Drive, Suite 
508, Camp Hill, PA 17011, Telephone: (717) 730-2830.

    Issued in Camp Hill, PA on November 21, 2016.
Lori K. Pagnanelli,
Manager, Harrisburg Airports District Office, Eastern Region.
[FR Doc. 2016-29145 Filed 12-5-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P