[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 68 (Monday, April 8, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15557-15558]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-8642]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program
and Request for Review Chattanooga Metropolitan (Lovell Field) Airport
Chattanooga, TN
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 Chattanooga
Metropolitan Airport Authority for Chattanooga Metropolitan (Lovell
Field) Airport under the provisions of Title I of the Aviation Safety
and Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (Public Law 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 Chattanooga Metropolitan (Lovell Field) Airport under
Part 150 in conjunction with the noise exposure map, and that this
program will be approved or disapproved on or before September 23,
1996.
DATES: 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 March 27, 1996. The public comment period ends
May 26, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jerry O. Bowers, Airports District Office, 2851 Directors Cove, Suite
#3, Memphis, TN 38131-0301, telephone number 901-544-3495. 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 Chattanooga Metropolitan
(Lovell Field) Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements
of Part 150, effective March 27, 1996. Further, FAA is reviewing a
proposed noise compatibility program for that airport which will be
approved or disapproved on or before September 23, 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 noise exposure maps which meet
applicable regulations and which depict noncompatible land uses as of
the date of submission of such maps, a description of projected
aircraft operations, and the ways in which such
[[Page 15558]]
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 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.
Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority submitted to the FAA on
October 2, 1995, noise exposure maps, descriptions and other
documentation which were produced during Chattanooga Metropolitan
Airport Noise Compatibility Study, initiated in Fall 1992. 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 Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport
Authority. The specific maps under consideration are Chattanooga
Metropolitan (Lovell Field) `1995 Base Case LDN Contours' and `1999
Forecast Case LDN Contours' in the submission. The FAA has determined
that these maps for Chattanooga Metropolitan (Lovell Field) Airport are
in compliance with applicable requirements. This determination is
effective on March 27, 1996. 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 section
150.21 of FAR Part 150, that the statutorily required consultation has
been accomplished.
The FAA has formally received the noise compatibility program for
Chattanooga Metropolitan (Lovell Field) Airport, also effective on
March 27, 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
September 23, 1996.
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, Community and Environmental Needs
Division, APP-600, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 615B, Washington,
D.C. 20591
Federal Aviation Administration, Airports District Office, 2815
Directors Cove, Suite #3, Memphis, Tennessee 38131-0301
Mr. Hugh Davis, President, Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority,
P.O. Box 22444, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37422.
Questions may be directed to the individual named under the
heading, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Issued in Memphis Airports District Office, March 27, 1996.
LaVerne F. Reid,
Manager.
[FR Doc. 96-8642 Filed 4-5-96; 8:45 am]
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