[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 38 (Friday, February 25, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10894-10895]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04035]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Noise Exposure Map Update

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
determination that the Noise Exposure Maps submitted by City of Chicago 
Department of Aviation for Chicago Midway International Airport seq 
(Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act) are in compliance with 
applicable requirements.

APPLICABLE DATE:  The effective date of the FAA's determination on the 
noise exposure maps is February 18, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Hanson, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, Chicago Airports District 
Office, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, IL 60018, Phone: 847-294-
7354.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds 
that the noise exposure maps submitted for Chicago Midway International 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, 
effective February 18, 2022. Under 49 U.S.C. 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 
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 and affected 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 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 City of Chicago Department of 
Aviation. The documentation that constitutes the ``noise exposure 
maps'' as defined in section 150.7 of Part 150 includes: Exhibit 3-1 
and Exhibit 4-1 of the Part 150 study document. The FAA has determined 
that these noise exposure maps and accompanying documentation are in 
compliance with applicable requirements. This determination is 
effective on February 18, 2022.
    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 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.
    The full noise exposure map documentation and of the FAA's 
evaluation of the maps is available for examination at the https://www.flychicago.com/community/mdwnoise.
    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.


[[Page 10895]]


    Issued in Des Plaines, IL, February 22, 2022.
Debra L. Bartell,
Manager, Chicago Airports District Office.
[FR Doc. 2022-04035 Filed 2-24-22; 8:45 am]
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