[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 11, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32046-32047]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14522]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA Approval of Noise Compatibility Program; Westfield-Barnes
Regional Airport, Westfield, Massachusetts
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 City of
Westfield under the provisions of Title I of the Aviation Safety and
Noise Abatement Act of 1979. On June 14, 2017 the New England Region
Airports Division Manager approved the Noise Compatibility Program
under Part 150. On December 22, 2015, the FAA had determined the noise
exposure maps submitted by the City of Westfield were in compliance
with applicable requirements of Part 150.
DATES: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the Westfield-Barnes
Regional Airport noise compatibility program is June 14, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Doucette, Federal Aviation
Administration, New England Region, Airports Division, ANE-600, 1200
[[Page 32047]]
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803, telephone (781) 238-7613.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 47501-47510; 14 CFR part 150.
This notice announces that the FAA has given its overall approval
to Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport noise compatibility program,
effective June 14, 2017.
Under Section 104(a) of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act
of 1979 (hereinafter 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 Regulation (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 as
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 a 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 under the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of
1982. Where Federal funding is sought, requests for project grants must
be submitted to the FAA Regional Office in Burlington, Massachusetts.
The City of Westfield previously submitted to the FAA noise
exposure maps and associated documentation produced during the noise
compatibility planning study. The Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport
noise exposure maps were determined by FAA to be in compliance with
applicable requirements on December 22, 2015. Notice of this
determination was published in the Federal Register on January 11,
2016.
The Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport study contains a proposed
noise compatibility program comprised of actions designed for
implementation by airport. The City of Westfield requested that the FAA
evaluate and approve this material as a noise compatibility program as
described in Section 104(b) of the Act. The FAA began its review of the
program on March 13, 2017, and was required by a provision of the Act
to approve or disapprove the program within 180 days (other than the
use of new flight procedures for noise control). Failure to approve or
disapprove such a program within the 180-day period shall be deemed to
be an approval of such a program.
The submitted program contained several changes to noise mitigation
measures in the Noise Compatibility Program. Four measures were not
recommended for approval and the FAA concurred. Three measures were
recommended but the FAA disapproved those measures. One substantive
change was recommended and approved by the FAA. This change allows for
voluntary acquisition of residential properties located in the 65DNL
noise contour. The FAA completed its review and determined that the
procedural and substantive requirements of the Act and FAR Part 150
have been satisfied. The New England Region Airports Division Manager
therefore approved the overall program on June 14, 2017. 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 administrative offices of Westfield-Barnes
Regional Airport.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on June 14, 2017.
Mary T. Walsh,
Manager, Airports Division, FAA New England Region.
[FR Doc. 2017-14522 Filed 7-10-17; 8:45 am]
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