[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 246 (Monday, December 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77548-77549]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30484]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program
and Request for Review Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Seattle,
Washington
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its
determination that the Noise Exposure Maps submitted by the Port of
Seattle for the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport under the
provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et. seq. (Aviation Safety and Noise
Abatement Act) 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 Seattle-Tacoma
International Airport under Part 150 in conjunction with the Noise
Exposure Map, and that this program will be approved or disapproved on
or before June 10, 2014.
DATES: 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 December 13, 2013. The public
comment period ends February 11, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cayla Morgan, Federal Aviation
Administration Seattle Airports District Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW.,
Renton, Washington, 98057, (425) 227-2653. 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 Seattle-Tacoma International
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of part 150,
effective December 13, 2013. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed Noise
Compatibility Program for that Airport which will be approved or
disapproved on or before June 10, 2014. This notice also announces the
availability of this Program for public review and comment.
Under 49 U.S.C., Section 47503 (the Aviation Safety and Noise
Abatement Act, (the Act), an airport operator may submit to the FAA
Noise Exposure Maps which meet applicable regulations and which depict
non-compatible 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 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 part 150,
promulgated pursuant to the Act, may submit a Noise Compatibility
Program for FAA approval which sets forth the measures the operator has
taken or proposes to take to reduce existing non-compatible uses and
prevent the introduction of additional non-compatible uses.
The Port of Seattle submitted to the FAA on October 24, 2013 Noise
Exposure Maps, descriptions and other documentation that were produced
during the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport part 150 Noise
Compatibility Study Update conducted between November 6, 2009 and
October 24, 2013 It was requested that the FAA review this material as
the Noise Exposure Maps, as described in Section 47503 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 47504 of the Act.
[[Page 77549]]
The FAA has completed its review of the Noise Exposure Maps and
related descriptions submitted by the Port of Seattle. The specific
documentation determined to constitute the Noise Exposure Maps
includes: Existing (2013) Noise Exposure Map (Exhibit NEM-1), (Exhibit
3-14) and the Future (2018) Noise Exposure Map (Exhibit NEM-2),
(Exhibit 3-15) and Future (2018) Noise Exposure Map/Noise Compatibility
Program (Exhibit 6-2). The FAA has determined that these maps for
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport are in compliance with applicable
requirements. This determination is effective on December 13, 2013.
FAA's determination on the 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 14 CFR part 150. Such
determination does not constitute approval of the airport operator'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 47503 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 exposure
contours, or in interpreting the Noise Exposure Maps to resolve
questions concerning, for example, which properties should be covered
by the provisions of Section 47506 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 that
submitted those maps, or with those public agencies and planning
agencies with which consultation is required under Section 47503 of the
Act. The FAA has relied on the certification by the airport operator,
under Section 150.21 of part 150, that the statutorily required
consultation has been accomplished.
The FAA has formally received the Noise Compatibility Program for
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also effective on December 13,
2013. 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 June 10, 2014.
The FAA's detailed evaluation will be conducted under the
provisions of 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 non-compatible land uses and preventing the
introduction of additional non-compatible 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 and the proposed Noise Compatibility Program are
available for examination at the following locations:
Federal Aviation Administration, Airports District Office, 1601 Lind
Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057.
Port of Seattle, Airport Noise Office, Seattle-Tacoma International
Airport, Seattle, Washington 68727.
Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the
heading, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Issued in Renton, Washington: December 13, 2013.
Stanley C. Allison,
Acting Division Manager, Airports, Northwest Mountain Region.
[FR Doc. 2013-30484 Filed 12-20-13; 8:45 am]
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