Noise Exposure Map Notice and Receipt of Noise Compability Program and Request for Review

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION -

Federal Aviation Administration

Noise Exposure Map Notice and Receipt of Noise Compability

Program and Request for Review

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 Snohomish

County Airport (PAE) 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 Snohomish County Airport under Part 150 in

conjunction with the noise exposure maps, and that this program will be

approved or disapproved on or before October 2, 1996.

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

Snohomish County Airport noise exposure maps and the start of its

review of the associated noise compatibility program is April 5, 1996.

The public comment period ends May 6, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dennis Ossenkop, FAA, Airports Division, ANM-611, 1601 Lind Avenue,

S.W., Renton, Washington, 98055-4056. 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 for Snohomish County Airport are in

compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, effective April 5,

1996. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program

for that airport which will be approved or disapproved on or before

October 2, 1996. 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''), an

airport operator may submit to the FAA a noise exposure map which meets

applicable regulations and which depicts noncompatible land uses as of

the date of submission of such map, a description of projected aircraft

operations, and the ways in which such operations will affect such map.

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 a noise exposure map that has

been found by FAA to be in compliance with the requirements of Federal

Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 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.

[[Page 16519]]

The Airport Manager for Snohomish County Airport submitted to the

FAA noise exposure maps, descriptions and other documentation which

were produced during an airport Noise Compatibility Study. 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 PAE. The specific maps under

consideration are Figures C5 and G1 in the submission. The FAA has

determined that these maps for Snohomish County Airport are in

compliance with applicable requirements. This determination is

effective on April 5, 1996. FAA's determination on an airport

operator's noise exposure maps is limited to the determination 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 noise exposure maps

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 for 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 maps 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 Section

150.21 of the FAR Part 150, that the statutorily required consultation

has been accomplished.

The FAA has formally received the noise compatibility program for

PAE, also effective on April 5, 1996. Preliminary review of the

submitted material indicates that it conforms to the requirements for

the submittal of noise compatibility programs, but that 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 October 2, 1996.

The FAA's detailed evaluation will be conducted under the

provisions of 14 CFR Part 150, paragraph 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 the 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, Independence Avenue, SW, Room 615,

Washington, D.C.

Federal Aviation Administration, Airports Division, ANM-600, 1601 Lind

Avenue, S.W., Renton, Washington, 98055-4056

Snohomish Country Airport, Everett, Washington

Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the

heading, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

Issued in Renton, Washington, April 5, 1996.

Matthew Cavanaugh,

Acting Manager, Airports Division, ANM-600, Northwest Mountain Region.

[FR Doc. 96-9251 Filed 4-12-96; 8:45 am]

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