[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 62 (Monday, April 3, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16272-16273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06506]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program and Request for Review 
Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport, Westfield, Massachusetts

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces that it is 
reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program that was submitted for 
Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport under the the Aviation Safety and 
Noise Abatement Act (hereinafter referred to as ``the Act'') and 
federal regulations by the City of Westfield. This program was 
submitted subsequent to a determination by FAA that associated noise 
exposure maps submitted under 14 CFR part 150 for Westfield-Barnes 
Regional Airport were in compliance with applicable requirements, 
effective December 22, 2015. The proposed noise compatibility program 
will be approved or disapproved on or before September 9, 2017.

DATES: The effective date of the start of FAA's review of the noise 
compatibility

[[Page 16273]]

program is March 13, 2017. The public comment period ends May 12, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Doucette, Federal Aviation 
Administration, New England Region Airports Division, 1200 District 
Ave., Burlington, MA 01803. Comments on the proposed noise 
compatibility program should also be submitted to the above office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA is 
reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program for Westfield-Barnes 
Regional Airport which will be approved or disapproved on or before 
September 9, 2017. This notice also announces the availability of this 
program for public review and comment. An airport operator who 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 (49 U.S.C. 47504 et. seq), may submit a 
noise compatibility program for FAA approval which sets forth the 
measures the operator has taken or proposes to reduce existing non-
compatible uses and prevent the introduction of additional non-
compatible uses.
    The FAA has formally received the noise compatibility program for 
Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport, effective on March 13, 2017. The 
airport operator has requested that the FAA review this material 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. Preliminary 
review of the submitted material indicates that it conforms to FAR Part 
150 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 September 9, 2017.
    The FAA's detailed evaluation will be conducted under the 
provisions of 14 CFR part 150, section 150.33. The primary 
considerations in the evaluation process are whether the proposed 
measures may reduce the level of aviation safety or create an undue 
burden on interstate or foreign commerce, and whether they are 
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 relating to 
these factors, 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:

 FAA New England Region Airports Division, 1200 District Ave., 
Burlington, Massachusetts 01803
 Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport, 110 Airport Road, 
Westfield, Massachusetts 01085

    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, March 13, 2017.
Mary T. Walsh,
Airports Division Manager.
[FR Doc. 2017-06506 Filed 3-31-17; 8:45 am]
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