Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program and Request for Review; Fort Worth Alliance Airport; Fort Worth, TX

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program

and Request for Review; Fort Worth Alliance Airport; Fort Worth, TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its

determination that the noise exposure maps submitted by the city of

Fort Worth, Texas, for Fort Worth Alliance Airport under the provisions

of Title I of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (Pub.

L. 96-193) and 14 CFR Part 150 are in compliance with applicable

requirements. The FAA also announces that it is reviewing a proposed

noise compatibility program that was submitted for Fort Worth Alliance

Airport under Part 150 is conjunction with the noise exposure map, and

that this program will be approved or disapproved on or before February

7, 1995.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's determination on the

noise exposure maps and of the start of its review of the associated

noise compatibility program is August 11, 1994. The public comment

period ends October 10, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Nicely, DOT/FAA, Texas Airport

Development Office, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76193-0653.

Comments on the proposed noise compatibility program should also be

submitted to the above office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds

that the noise exposure maps submitted for Fort Worth Alliance Airport

are in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, effective

August 11, 1994. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise

compatibility program for this airport which will be approved or

disapproved on or before February 7, 1995. This notice also announces

the availability of this program for public review and comment.

Under Section 103 of Title I of the Aviation Safety and Noise

Abatement Act of 1979 (hereinafter referred to as ``the Act''), and

airport operator may submit to the FAA noise exposure maps which meet

applicable regulations and which depict noncompatible land uses as of

the date of submission on 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) 150, promulgated pursuant to Title I of the

Act, may submit a noise compatibility program for FAA approval which

sets forth the measures the operator has taken or proposes for the

reduction of existing noncompatible uses and for the prevention of the

introduction of additional noncompatible uses.

The city of Fort Worth submitted to the FAA on August 4, 1994 noise

exposure maps, descriptions and other documentation which were produced

from November 1991 to July 1994 during the development of the Fort

Worth Alliance Airport FAR Part 150 Airport Noise Compatibility Plan.

It was requested that the FAA review this material as the noise

exposure maps, as described in Section 103(a)(1) of the Act, 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 104(b) of the Act.

The FAA has completed its review of the noise exposure maps and

related descriptions submitted by the city of Forth Worth. The specific

maps under consideration are Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2 in the submission.

The FAA has determined that these maps for Fort Worth Alliance Airport

are in compliance with applicable requirements. This determination is

effective on August 11, 1994. 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 103 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 107 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 which submitted those maps,

or with those public agencies and planning agencies with which

consultation is required under Section 103 of the Act. The FAA has

relied on the certification by the airport operator, under Sec. 150.21

of FAR Part 150, that the statutorily required consultation has been

accomplished.

The FAA has formally received the noise compatibility program for

Fort Worth Alliance Airport, also effective on August 11, 1994.

Preliminary review of the submitted material indicates that it conforms

to the requirements for the submittal of noise compatibility programs,

but the 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 February 7, 1995.

The FAA's detailed evaluation will be conducted under the

provisions of 14 CFR Part 150, Sec. 150.33. The primary considerations

in the evaluation process are whether the proposed measures may reduce

the level of aviation safety, create an undue burden on interstate or

foreign commerce, or be reasonably consistent with obtaining the goal

of reducing existing noncompatible land uses and preventing the

introduction of additional noncompatible land uses.

Interested persons are invited to comment on the proposed program

with specific reference to these factors. All comments, 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, the FAA's evaluation of the maps, and the proposed noise

compatibility program are available for examination at the following

locations:

Federal Aviation Administration, Texas Airport Development Office,

Suite 697, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76193-0653

Mr. A.M. Rivera, Director of Airport Systems, City of Fort Worth, 4201

North Main Street, Fort Worth, TX 76106-2736

Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the

heading, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 11, 1994.

Otis T. Welch,

Manager, Texas Airport Development Office.

[FR Doc. 94-20304 Filed 8-17-94; 8:45 am]

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