[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 80 (Friday, April 25, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20238-20239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10729]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review, Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, 
Sarasota, FL

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its 
determination that the updated future noise exposure map submitted by 
the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority for Sarasota-Bradenton 
International Airport under the provisions of Title 1 of the Aviation 
Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (Pub. L. 96-193) and 14 CFR part 
150 is in compliance with applicable requirements The FAA also 
announces that it is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program 
update that was submitted for Sarasota-Bradenton International airport 
under part 150 in conjunction with the noise exposure maps, and that 
this program update will be approved or disapproved on or before 
October 12, 1997. This program was submitted subsequent to a 
determination by FAA that the associated existing noise exposure map 
submitted under 14 CFR part 150 for the Sarasota-Bradenton 
International Airport was in compliance with applicable requirements 
effective May 7, 1996.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of the FAA's determination on the 
updated future noise exposure map and of the start of its review of the 
associated noise compatibility program update is April 15, 1997. The 
public comment period ends June 14, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Tommy J. Pickering, P.E., Federal Aviation Administration, Orlando 
Airports District Office, 5950 Hazeltine National Drive, Suite 400, 
Orlando, Florida 32822-5024, (407) 812-6331, Extension 29. Comments on 
the proposed noise compatibility program update should also be 
submitted to the above office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds 
that the undated future noise exposure map submitted for Sarasota-
Bradenton International Airport is in compliance with applicable 
requirements of part 150, effective April 15, 1997. Further, FAA is 
reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program update for that 
airport which will be approved or disapproved on or before October 12,

[[Page 20239]]

1997. This notice also announces the availability of this program 
update 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 operations will affect 
such maps. The Act requires such maps to be developed in consultation 
with interested and affected parties to 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.
    The Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority submitted to the FAA on 
April 9, 1997, an updated future noise exposure map, descriptions and 
other documentation which were produced during the Sarasota-Bradenton 
International Airport FAR Part 150 Study Update conducted between may 
1, 1993 and April 7, 1997. It was requested that the FAA review this 
material as the future noise exposure map, 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 updated future noise 
exposure map and related descriptions submitted by the Sarasota-Manatee 
Airport Authority. The specific map under consideration is ``FUTURE 
(2000) NOISE EXPOSURE MAP with Recommended Noise Abatement Measure 
Implemented'' in the submission. The FAA has determined that this map 
for Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport is in compliance with 
applicable requirements. This determination is effective on April 15, 
1997. FAA's determination on an airport operator's noise exposure map 
is limited to a finding that the map was 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 map 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 a noise exposure map. 
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 map, 
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 
update for Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, also effective on 
April 15, 1997. 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 update. The formal review 
period, limited by law to a maximum of 180 days, will be completed on 
or before October 12, 1997.
    The FAA's detailed evaluation will be conducted under the 
provisions of 14 CFR Part 150, Section 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 
update 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 updated 
future noise exposure map, the FAA's evaluation of the map, and the 
proposed noise compatibility program update are available for 
examination at the following locations:

Federal Aviation Administration, Orlando Airports District Office, 5950 
Hazeltine National Drive, Suite 400, Orlando, Florida 32822-5024
Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority, Sarasota-Bradenton International 
Airport, 6000 Airport Circle, Sarasota, FL 34243

    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Orlando, Florida April 15, 1997.
John W. Reynolds, Jr.,
Assistant Manager, Orlando Airport District Office.
[FR Doc. 97-10729 Filed 4-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M