[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7284-7285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03425]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


FAA Approval of Noise Compatibility Program for Hawthorne 
Municipal Airport, Hawthorne, California

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 
Hawthorne, California. On April 11, 2014, the FAA determined that the 
noise exposure maps submitted by the City of Hawthorne were in 
compliance with applicable requirements. On December 18, 2017, the FAA 
approved the Hawthorne Municipal Airport Noise Compatibility Program. 
All 11 of the recommendations of the program were approved. No program 
elements relating to new or revised flight procedures for noise 
abatement were proposed by the airport operator.

DATES: The applicability date of the FAA's approval of the Hawthorne 
Municipal Airport noise compatibility program is December 18, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Victor Globa, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, Los Angeles Airports 
District Office, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, California 90261. 
Telephone: 310-725-3637. Documents reflecting this FAA action may be 
reviewed at this same location.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA has given 
its overall approval to the noise compatibility program for Hawthorne 
Municipal Airport, applicable December 18, 2017.

[[Page 7285]]

    Under section 47504 of 49, United States Code (U.S.C.) (the 
Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, hereinafter referred to as 
``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 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 150 (hereinafter 
referred to as ``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 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 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 
prescribed by law.
    Specific limitations with respect to FAA's approval of an airport 
noise compatibility program are delineated in part 150, Sec.  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 an FAA implementing action. A request for Federal action or 
approval to implement specific noise compatibility measures may be 
required. Prior to an FAA decision on a request to implement the 
action, an environmental review of the proposed action may be required. 
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. Where Federal funding is sought, requests for 
project grants must be submitted to the FAA Los Angeles Airports 
District Office in the Western-Pacific Region.
    The City of Hawthorne submitted their noise compatibility program 
to the FAA on June 20, 2017, including the noise exposure maps, 
descriptions and other documentation produced during the noise 
compatibility planning study conducted from September 7, 2011 through 
June 20, 2017. The Hawthorne Municipal Airport noise exposure maps were 
determined by FAA to be in compliance with applicable requirements on 
April 11, 2014. Notice of this determination was published in the 
Federal Register (79 FR 24489) on April 30, 2014.
    The noise exposure maps are based on operational data that is now 
over five years old. FAA received certification, in accordance with 14 
CFR 150.21, that the noise exposure maps are representative of 
conditions at the airport for the existing and forecast timeframe as of 
the date of March 2014. Due to the aircraft operational and fleet mix 
changes since 2014, at the airport, FAA recommends the City of 
Hawthorne review, revise, and update, as appropriate the future noise 
exposure maps under 14 CFR 150.21 at the earliest opportunity.
    The Hawthorne Municipal Airport study contains a proposed noise 
compatibility program comprised of actions designed for phased 
implementation by airport management and adjacent jurisdictions through 
the year 2017. It was requested that the FAA evaluate and approve this 
material as a noise compatibility program as described in section 47504 
of the Act. The FAA began its review of the program on June 23, 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 or modified flight 
procedures for noise control). Failure to approve or disapprove such 
program within the 180-day period shall be deemed to be an approval of 
such program.
    The submitted program contained 11 proposed actions for noise 
abatement, noise mitigation, land use planning and program management 
measures on and off the airport. The FAA completed its review and 
determined that the procedural and substantive requirements of the Act 
and part 150 have been satisfied. The overall program was approved by 
the FAA on December 18, 2017.
    Outright approval was granted for all 11 specific program measures. 
The approved measures include: Continue to implement Hawthorne 
Municipal Airport Fly Quietly pilot and public education program; 
Continue to use the existing ground run[hyphen]up area on the south 
side of the airport; Support the land use compatibility guidelines for 
project review found in the City of Hawthorne and Inglewood Noise 
Elements of the General Plan; The City of Hawthorne should amend its 
Noise Element to include monitoring and updating the part 150 Noise 
Compatibility Study; Incorporate the Hawthorne Municipal Airport 65 
Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL) noise contour into the City of 
Hawthorne General Plan Map; The City of Hawthorne should adopt formal 
project review guidelines addressing noise compatibility issues; The 
City of Hawthorne should establish an Airport Overlay Zone; Establish a 
voluntary residential property acquisition and redevelopment program to 
remove noise[hyphen]sensitive land uses within the 2017 65 CNEL noise 
contour; Continue Use of Airport's Noise Complaint Handling System; 
Update Noise Exposure Maps and Noise Compatibility Program; and Monitor 
Implementation of updated part 150 Noise Compatibility Program.
    These determinations are set forth in detail in a Record of 
Approval signed by the Director, Office of Airports, Western-Pacific 
Region on December 18, 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 the City of Hawthorne.
    The Record of Approval also will be available on-line at: http://www.faa.gov/airports/environmental/airport_noise/part_150/states/.

    Issued in Hawthorne, California, on February 9, 2018.
Mark A. McClardy,
Director, Office of Airports, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2018-03425 Filed 2-16-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P