Noise Exposure Map Notice: Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program and Request for Review for Missoula International Airport, Missoula, MT, 2451-2452 [05-668]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 9 (Thursday, January 13, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2451-2452]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-668]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice: Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program 
and Request for Review for Missoula International Airport, Missoula, MT

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 (NEM) submitted by the 
airport director for Missoula 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 Missoula 
International Airport under part 150 in conjunction with the noise 
exposure map, and that this program will be approved or disapproved on 
or before July 2, 2005.

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 January 3, 2005. The public comment 
period ends March 4, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis Ossenkop, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Airports Division, 1601 Lind Ave. SW., Renton, WA, 
98055-4056, telephone 425-227-2611. 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 Missoula International 
Airport are in

[[Page 2452]]

compliance with applicable requirements of part 150, effective January 
3, 2005. Further, the FAA is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility 
program for that airport which will be approved or disapproved on or 
before July 2, 2005. This notice also announces the availability of 
this program for public review and comment.
    Under 49 U.S.C., 47503 (the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement 
Act, hereinafter referred to as ``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 the FAA to be in compliance with the requirements of Federal 
Aviation Regulations (FAR) 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 
noncompatible uses.
    The Acting Director of the Missoula International Airport submitted 
to the FAA on January 4, 2005, noise exposure maps, descriptions and 
other documentation that were January 4, 2005, noise exposure maps, 
descriptions and other documentation that were produced during the 
Missoula International Airport FAR part 150 Study dated May 2004 and a 
Supplemental Report dated June 2004. 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.
    The FAA has completed its review of the noise exposure maps and 
related descriptions submitted by the director of the Missoula 
International Airport. The specific documentation determined to 
constitute the noise exposure maps includes the following from the 
Missoula International Airport FAR Part 150 Study of May 2004 and 
Supplemental Report of June 2004:
     Figure S1 at page S.4, Existing Noise Exposure Map, 2003;
     Figure S2 at page S.7, Future Noise Exposure Map, 2009;
     Figures C9 and C10 noise monitoring locations;
     Figure C11 at page C.35 Departure Flight Tracks;
     Figure C12 at page C.36 Arrival Flight Tracks;
     Table S1 at page S.2 Revised Summary of Aviation Forecasts 
2003-2023 and additional aviation activity data;
     Table S3 at page S.5 Existing Land Use Within Existing 
Noise Contours 2003 presents estimates of the number of persons 
residing with the DNL 55, 60, and 65 noise contours;
     Table S4 at page S.6 Future Noise Exposure Map with 
Existing Land Use, 2009, presents estimates of the number of persons 
residing with the DNL 55, 60, and 65 noise contours;
     Appendix H in the Revised Report volume and starting at 
page S.32 in the Supplemental Report Consultation actions.
     There are no properties on or eligible for inclusion in 
the National Register of Historic Places with the DNL 65 noise contour.
    The FAA has determined that these maps for Missoula International 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements. This 
determination is effective on January 3, 2005. The 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 
constitute 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 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 the 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 FAR part 150, that the statutorily required consultation has 
been accomplished.
    The FAA has formally received the noise compatibility program for 
Missoula International Airport, also effective on January 2, 2005. 
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 July 2, 2005.
    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 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. The FAA will consider all 
comments, other than those properly addressed to local land use 
authorities, 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, Airports Division, 1601 
Lind Avenue, SW., Suite 315, Renton, Washington. Helena Airports 
District Office, FAA Building, Suite 2, Helena, Montana. Missoula 
International Airport, 5225 Highway 10 West, Missoula, Montana.
    Questions may be directed to the individual named above under the 
heading, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, January 3, 2005.
David A. Field,
Acting Manager, Airports Division, Northwest Mountain Region.
[FR Doc. 05-668 Filed 1-12-05; 8:45 am]
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