[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 238 (Monday, December 15, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58077-58078]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-22810]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Compatibility Program for John Glenn Columbus International 
Airport, Columbus, Ohio

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt and request for review of the noise 
compatibility program and acceptance of noise exposure maps.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
determination the noise exposure maps submitted by Columbus Regional 
Airport Authority for John Glenn Columbus International Airport comply 
with the applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. This notice 
also announces the start of the FAA review of the noise compatibility 
program submitted for John Glenn Columbus International Airport and the 
availability of this program for public review and comment. The John 
Glenn Columbus International Airport noise compatibility program will 
be approved or disapproved on or before April 12, 2026.

DATES: The effective date of the FAA acceptance of the noise exposure 
maps and of the start of its review of the associated noise 
compatibility program is October 14, 2025. The public comment period 
ends December 13, 2025.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gordon Bowdell, Detroit Airports 
District Office, 11677 S Wayne Road, Ste. 107, Romulus, Michigan 48174-
1412, Tel: 734-229-2900. Comments on the proposed noise compatibility 
program should be submitted to the above office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with title 49, United States 
Code (U.S.C.) section 47503 of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement 
Act, an airport operator may submit to the FAA, noise exposure maps 
(NEMs) depicting non-compatible uses and other information as of the 
date the map was submitted. In addition, and in accordance with 49 
U.S.C. 47504, an airport operator that submits an NEM the FAA 
determined complied with statutory and regulatory requirements, may 
submit for FAA approval, a noise compatibility program (NCP) 
identifying measures the airport operator has taken or proposes to take 
to reduce existing non-compatible land uses and prevents the 
introduction of additional non-compatible uses.
    On June 23rd, 2025, Columbus Regional Airport Authority submitted 
noise exposure maps (NEMs), descriptions and other supporting 
documentation for John Glenn Columbus International Airport for FAA's 
review and acceptance. The NEMs must include a description of estimated 
aircraft operations during a forecast period that is at least five 
years in the future and how those operations will affect the map. The 
specific documentation determined to constitute the NEMs; Letter of 
Transmittal; Sponsor's Certificate; Exhibit NEM-1 Existing (2024) Noise 
Exposure Map; Exhibit NEM-2 Future (2029) Noise Exposure Map; Chapter 
1; Exhibit 1-1 Noise Compatibility Planning Process; Exhibit 1-2 
Airport Location; Exhibit 1-3 Existing Airport Layout; Table 1-1 Based 
Aircraft; Table 1-2 Summary of Average-Annual Day Operations; Chapter 
2; Exhibit 2-1 Airport Environs and General Study Area; Exhibit 2-2 
Existing Land Uses; Table 2-1 Franklin County Airport Environs Overlay 
District Land Use Compatibility Standards; Table 2-2 City of Columbus 
Airport Environs Overlay District Land Use Compatibility Standards; 
Table 2-3 Population Change 2020-2023; Chapter 3; Table 3-1 Areas 
Within Existing (2024) Noise Exposure Contour; Table 3-2 Comparison of 
Areas Within Existing (2024) and Future (2029) Noise Exposure Contour; 
Table 3-3 Existing (2024) Baseline Housing Population and Noise-
Sensitive Facility Incompatibilities; Table 3-4 Future (2029) Baseline 
Housing Population and Noise-Sensitive Facility Incompatibilities; 
Table 3-5 Existing (2024) Baseline Versus Future (2029) Baseline 
Housing Population and Noise-Sensitive Facility Incompatibilities; 
Chapter 4; Table 4-1 2024 Noise Compatibility Program Recommendations; 
Table 4-2 Future (2029) NEM/NCP Housing Population and Noise-Sensitive 
Facilities Incompatibilities; Table 4-3 2024 NCP Implementation Costs; 
Appendix A; Table A-1 Land Use Compatibility Guidelines; Appendix B; 
Table B-1 Acoustical Measurement Instrumentation; Table B-2 Field Noise 
Measurement Sites; Table B-3 Short Term Field Noise Measurement Program 
Summary; Table B-4 Noise Levels at Permanent Noise Monitor Sites; Table 
B-5Aircraft Noise Single Event Data; Table B-6 Summary of Noise 
Complaints; Table B-7 Noise Complaints by Time of Day; Exhibit B-1; 
Appendix C; Table C-1 Summary of Average-Annual Day Operations Existing 
(2024) Baseline; Table C-2

[[Page 58078]]

Existing (2024) Average-Annual Day Operations by Aircraft Type; Table 
C-3 Existing (2024) Runway End Utilization; Table C-4 Existing (2024) 
Arrival Flight Track Utilization; Table C-5 Existing (2024) Departure 
Flight Track Utilization; Table C-6 Existing (2024) Touch-and-Go Flight 
Track Utilization; Table C-7 Existing (2024) Stage Lengths; Table C-8 
Existing (2024) Run-up Operations; Table C-9 Summary of Average-Annual 
Day Operations Future (2029) Baseline; Table C-10 Future (2029) 
Average-Annual Day Operations by Aircraft Type; Table C-11 Future 
(2029) Stage Lengths; Table C-12 Future (2029) Run-up Operations; 
Exhibit C-10 East Flow Large Jet Tracks; Exhibit C-11 East Flow 
Regional Jet Tracks; Exhibit C-12 East Flow Prop Aircraft Tracks; 
Exhibit C-13 West Flow Large Jet Tracks; Exhibit C-14 West Flow 
Regional Jet Tracks; Exhibit C-15 West Flow Prop Aircraft Tracks; 
Exhibit C-16; Appendix D; Table D-1 Generalized Land Use 
Classifications; Table D-2 Noise-Sensitive Public Facilities; Table D-3 
Historic Sites Within General Study Area; Table D-4 Generalized Zoning 
Classifications; Exhibit D-1; Appendix E; Table E-1 Future (2029) 
Baseline Housing Population and Noise-Sensitive Facility 
Incompatibilities; Appendix F; Appendix G; Table G-1 Technical Advisory 
Committee (TAC) Membership; Appendix H required by 14 CFR 150.101 and 
49 U.S.C sections 47503 and 47506.
    The FAA completed its review of the NEMs and supporting 
documentation and determined the NEMs comply with the requirements of 
49 U.S.C. 47503 and 14 CFR part 150. This determination is effective on 
October 14, 2025. FAA's determinations for this NEM submitted by 
Columbus Regional Airport Authority is limited to a finding that the 
maps were developed in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 47503 and the 
procedures in appendix A of 14 CFR part 150. FAA's determination does 
not constitute approval of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority 
data, information or plans, or constitute 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 an NEM it 
should be noted 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 NEMs to resolve questions 
concerning, for example, which properties should be covered by the 
provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47506. These functions are inseparable from the 
land use control and planning responsibilities of local government. 
These local responsibilities are not changed in any way under 14 CFR 
part 150 or through FAA's review of the NEMs. Therefore, the 
responsibility for the detailed overlaying of noise exposure contours 
onto the map depicting properties on the surface rests exclusively with 
the Columbus Regional Airport Authority that submitted the NEMs or with 
those public agencies and planning agencies with which consultation is 
required. The FAA relied on the certification by the Columbus Regional 
Airport Authority this required consultation has been accomplished per 
14 CFR 150.21 and 49 U.S.C. 47503. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed 
noise compatibility program (NCP) for John Glenn Columbus International 
Airport which FAA formally received for John Glenn Columbus 
International Airport. The formal review period, limited by law to a 
maximum of 180 days will be completed on or before April 12, 2026. 
Preliminary review of the submitted material indicates that it conforms 
to the requirements for submittal of an NCP, but further review will be 
necessary prior to FAA approval or disapproval of the program. FAA 
approval will only indicate the measures would, if implemented, be 
consistent with the purposes of 14 CFR part 150. The primary 
considerations in the evaluation process are whether the proposed 
measures will reduce existing noncompatible uses and prevent or reduce 
the probability of additional noncompatible uses and whether the 
proposed measures will impose an undue burden on interstate and foreign 
commerce or reduce safety or adversely affect the safe and efficient 
use of airspace. Interested persons are invited to comment on the 
proposed program with specific reference to these factors. The FAA, to 
the extent practicable, will consider all comments other than those 
properly addressed to local land use authorities. Copies of the John 
Glenn Columbus International Airport NEMs and the proposed NCP are 
available for examination on the internet at: www.airportprojects.net/cmh-part150/home/documents-reports/.
    The Columbus Regional Airport Authority has also made a hard copy 
of these documents available for review at Columbus Regional Airport 
Authority, John Glenn Columbus International Airport, Administrative 
Offices, 4600 International Gateway, Columbus, OH 43219.
    Questions regarding this notice may be directed to the individual 
named above under the heading, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Des Plaines, Illinois, on October 14, 2025.
James Gregory Keefer,
Director, Airports Division, Great Lakes Region.
[FR Doc. 2025-22810 Filed 12-12-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P