[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 113 (Thursday, June 12, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33798-33799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-13684]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FAA Approval of Noise Compatibility Program; Seattle-Tacoma
International Airport, Seattle, Washington
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its
findings on the noise compatibility program submitted by the Seattle-
Tacoma International Airport under the provisions of the Aviation
Safety and Noise Abatement Act, hereinafter referred to as ``the Act''
and FAA regulations. These findings are made in recognition of the
description of Federal and nonfederal responsibilities in Senate Report
No. 96-52 (1980). On December 13, 2013, the FAA determined that the
noise exposure maps submitted by the Seattle-Tacoma International
Airport were in compliance with applicable requirements. On May 29,
2014, the FAA approved the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport noise
compatibility program. Nineteen of the Twenty-two recommendations of
the program were approved. One recommendation was disapproved, one
withdrawn and one approved in part and disapproved in part.
[[Page 33799]]
DATES: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the Seattle-Tacoma
International Airport noise compatibility program is May 29, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cayla Morgan, Federal Aviation
Administration, Seattle Airports District Office, 1601 Lind Ave. SW.,
Renton, WA 98057-3356, telephone 425 227 2653. Documents reflecting
this FAA action may be reviewed at this same location.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA has given
its overall approval to the noise compatibility program for Seattle-
Tacoma International Airport, effective May 29, 2014.
Under section 47504 of the Act, an airport operator who has
previously submitted a noise exposure map may submit to the FAA a noise
compatibility program which sets forth the measures taken or proposed
by the airport operator for the reduction of existing non-compatible
land uses and prevention of additional non-compatible land uses within
the area covered by the noise exposure maps. The Act requires such
programs to be developed in consultation with interested and affected
parties including local communities, government agencies, airport
users, and FAA personnel. Each airport noise compatibility program
developed in accordance with Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part
150 is a local program, not a Federal program. The FAA does not
substitute its judgment for that of the airport proprietor with respect
to which measures should be recommended for action. The FAA's approval
or disapproval of FAR Part 150 program recommendations is measured
according to the standards expressed in Part 150 and the Act and is
limited to the following determinations:
a. The noise compatibility program was developed in accordance with
the provisions and procedures of FAR Part 150;
b. Program measures are reasonably consistent with achieving the
goals of reducing existing non-compatible land uses around the airport
and preventing the introduction of additional non-compatible land uses;
c. Program measures would not create an undue burden on interstate
or foreign commerce, unjustly discriminate against types or classes of
aeronautical uses, violate the terms of airport grant agreements, or
intrude into areas preempted by the Federal Government; and
d. Program measures relating to the use of flight procedures can be
implemented within the period covered by the program without derogating
safety, adversely affecting the efficient use and management of the
navigable airspace and air traffic control systems, or adversely
affecting other powers and responsibilities of the Administrator
prescribed by law.
Specific limitations with respect to FAA's approval of an airport
noise compatibility program are delineated in FAR Part 150, section
150.5. Approval is not a determination concerning the acceptability of
land uses under Federal, state, or local law. Approval does not by
itself constitute an FAA implementing action. A request for Federal
action or approval to implement specific noise compatibility measures
may be required, and an FAA decision on the request may require an
environmental assessment of the proposed action. Approval does not
constitute a commitment by the FAA to financially assist in the
implementation of the program nor a determination that all measures
covered by the program are eligible for grant-in-aid funding from the
FAA. Where Federal funding is sought, requests for project grants must
be submitted to the FAA Seattle Airports District Office in Seattle,
Washington. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport submitted to the FAA
on October 24, 2013, the noise exposure maps, descriptions, and other
documentation produced during the noise compatibility planning study
conducted from 2009 through 2013. The Seattle-Tacoma International
Airport noise exposure maps were determined by FAA to be in compliance
with applicable requirements on December 13, 2014. Notice of this
determination was published in the Federal Register on December 23,
2013 (78 FR 77548-77549).
The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport study contains a proposed
noise compatibility program comprised of actions designed for phased
implementation by airport management and adjacent jurisdictions. It was
requested that the FAA evaluate and approve this material as a noise
compatibility program as described in section 47504 of the Act. The FAA
began its review of the program on December 13, 2014, and was required
by a provision of the Act to approve or disapprove the program within
180 days (other than the use of new or modified flight procedures for
noise control). Failure to approve or disapprove such program within
the 180-day period shall be deemed to be an approval of such program.
The submitted program contained 9 noise abatement measures, 10
noise mitigation/land use compatibility measures, and 3 administrative
recommendations. The FAA completed its review and determined that the
procedural and substantive requirements of the Act and FAR Part 150
have been satisfied. The overall program therefore, was approved by the
FAA on May 29, 2014.
Approval was granted for 19 measures. One measure was withdrawn so
no action was required. Measure A-10 to address maintenance run-ups was
previously disapproved in the 2002 NCP and continues to be disapproved.
Measure M-2B for sound insulation of schools was approved as a
continuation of a previously approved program but the sound insulation
of the Highline Community College was disapproved for Airport
Improvement Program funding as it is outside the newly revised noise
remedy boundary.
These determinations are set forth in detail in a Record of
Approval signed by the Airports Division Manager, Northwest Mountain
Region on May 29, 2014. The Record of Approval, as well as other
evaluation materials and the documents comprising the submittal are
available for review at the FAA office listed above and at the Airport
Noise Office of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The Record of
Approval also will be available on-line at http://www.faa.gov/airports/environmental/airport_noise/part_150/states/.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 3, 2014.
Sarah P. Dalton,
Manager, Airports Division, Northwest Mountain Region.
[FR Doc. 2014-13684 Filed 6-11-14; 8:45 am]
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