Airport noise compatibility program: Noise exposure maps— Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, MD,

[Federal Register: April 17, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 73)]

[Notices]

[Page 19782-19783]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr17ap06-118]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

Revised Noise Exposure Maps Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its determination that the revised noise exposure maps submitted by the Maryland Aviation Administration for Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport under the provisions of Title I of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (Pub. L. 96-193) and CFR part 150 are in compliance with applicable requirements.

[[Page 19783]]

DATES: Effective Date: The effective date of the FAA's determination on the noise exposure maps is April 3, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Brooks, Federal Aviation Administration Eastern Region Office, 1 Aviation Plaza, Jamaica, NY 11434, (718) 553-3356.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds that the noise exposure maps submitted for Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of part 150, effective April 3, 2006.

Under section 103 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 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 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 for the measures the operator has taken or proposes for the reduction of existing non-compatible uses and for the prevention of the introduction of additional non-compatible uses.

The FAA has completed its review of the noise exposure maps and related descriptions submitted by the Maryland Aviation Administration. The specific maps under consideration are the noise exposure maps identified as Figure 16 (Basecase 2003 DNL Contours) and Figure 17 (Forecast 2010 DNL Contours) in the submission. The FAA has determined that these maps for Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements. This determination is effective on April 3, 2006. 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 a commitment to approve a noise compatibility program or to find 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 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 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 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 which submitted those maps, 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 section 150.21 of FAR part 150, that the statutorily required consultation has been accomplished.

Copies of the noise exposure maps and of the FAA's evaluation of the maps are available for examination at the following locations: Federal Aviation Administration, Washington Airports District Office, 23723 Air Freight Lane, Suite 210, Dulles, VA 20166. Maryland Aviation Administration, Noise and Land Use Compatibility Planning, 991 Corporate Boulevard, Linthicum, MD 21090.

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

Issued on April 3, 2006 in Jamaica, NY. William J. Flanagan, Manager, Airports Division, Eastern Region.

[FR Doc. 06-3624 Filed 4-14-06; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-13-M