[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 11, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32046-32047]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14522]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


FAA Approval of Noise Compatibility Program; Westfield-Barnes 
Regional Airport, Westfield, Massachusetts

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
findings on the Noise Compatibility Program submitted by the City of 
Westfield under the provisions of Title I of the Aviation Safety and 
Noise Abatement Act of 1979. On June 14, 2017 the New England Region 
Airports Division Manager approved the Noise Compatibility Program 
under Part 150. On December 22, 2015, the FAA had determined the noise 
exposure maps submitted by the City of Westfield were in compliance 
with applicable requirements of Part 150.

DATES: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the Westfield-Barnes 
Regional Airport noise compatibility program is June 14, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Doucette, Federal Aviation 
Administration, New England Region, Airports Division, ANE-600, 1200

[[Page 32047]]

District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803, telephone (781) 238-7613.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 47501-47510; 14 CFR part 150.

    This notice announces that the FAA has given its overall approval 
to Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport noise compatibility program, 
effective June 14, 2017.
    Under Section 104(a) of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act 
of 1979 (hereinafter the Act), an airport operator who has previously 
submitted a noise exposure map may submit to the FAA a noise 
compatibility program which sets forth the measures taken or proposed 
by the airport operator for the reduction of existing non-compatible 
land uses and prevention of additional non-compatible land uses within 
the area covered by the noise exposure maps.
    The Act requires such programs to be developed in consultation with 
interested and affected parties including local communities, government 
agencies, airport users, and FAA personnel.
    Each airport noise compatibility program developed in accordance 
with Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR), Part 150 is a local program, 
not a federal program. The FAA does not substitute its judgment for 
that of the airport proprietor with respect to which measures should be 
recommended for action. The FAA's approval or disapproval of FAR Part 
150 program recommendations is measured according to the standards 
expressed in Part 150 and the Act, and is limited to the following 
determinations:
    (a) The noise compatibility program was developed in accordance 
with the provisions and procedures of FAR Part 150;
    (b) Program measures are reasonably consistent with achieving the 
goals of reducing existing non-compatible land uses around the airport 
and preventing the introduction of additional non-compatible land uses;
    (c) Program measures would not create an undue burden on interstate 
or foreign commerce, unjustly discriminate against types or classes of 
aeronautical uses, violate the terms of airport grant agreements, or 
intrude into areas preempted by the federal government; and
    (d) Program measures relating to the use of flight procedures can 
be implemented within the period covered by the program without 
derogating safety, adversely affecting the efficient use and management 
of the navigable airspace and air traffic control systems, or adversely 
affecting other powers and responsibilities of the Administrator as 
prescribed by law.
    Specific limitations with respect to FAA's approval of an airport 
noise compatibility program are delineated in FAR Part 150, Section 
150.5. Approval is not a determination concerning the acceptability of 
land uses under Federal, state, or local law. Approval does not by 
itself constitute a FAA implementing action. A request for Federal 
action or approval to implement specific noise compatibility measures 
may be required, and an FAA decision on the request may require an 
environmental assessment of the proposed action.
    Approval does not constitute a commitment by the FAA to financially 
assist in the implementation of the program nor a determination that 
all measures covered by the program are eligible for grant-in-aid 
funding from the FAA under the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 
1982. Where Federal funding is sought, requests for project grants must 
be submitted to the FAA Regional Office in Burlington, Massachusetts.
    The City of Westfield previously submitted to the FAA noise 
exposure maps and associated documentation produced during the noise 
compatibility planning study. The Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport 
noise exposure maps were determined by FAA to be in compliance with 
applicable requirements on December 22, 2015. Notice of this 
determination was published in the Federal Register on January 11, 
2016.
    The Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport study contains a proposed 
noise compatibility program comprised of actions designed for 
implementation by airport. The City of Westfield requested that the FAA 
evaluate and approve this material as a noise compatibility program as 
described in Section 104(b) of the Act. The FAA began its review of the 
program on March 13, 2017, and was required by a provision of the Act 
to approve or disapprove the program within 180 days (other than the 
use of new flight procedures for noise control). Failure to approve or 
disapprove such a program within the 180-day period shall be deemed to 
be an approval of such a program.
    The submitted program contained several changes to noise mitigation 
measures in the Noise Compatibility Program. Four measures were not 
recommended for approval and the FAA concurred. Three measures were 
recommended but the FAA disapproved those measures. One substantive 
change was recommended and approved by the FAA. This change allows for 
voluntary acquisition of residential properties located in the 65DNL 
noise contour. The FAA completed its review and determined that the 
procedural and substantive requirements of the Act and FAR Part 150 
have been satisfied. The New England Region Airports Division Manager 
therefore approved the overall program on June 14, 2017. The Record of 
Approval, as well as other evaluation materials and the documents 
comprising the submittal, are available for review at the FAA office 
listed above and at the administrative offices of Westfield-Barnes 
Regional Airport.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on June 14, 2017.
Mary T. Walsh,
Manager, Airports Division, FAA New England Region.
[FR Doc. 2017-14522 Filed 7-10-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P