Noise Compatibility Program Notice; Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport, Highfill, AR

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its findings on the noise compatibility program submitted by Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. (the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, hereinafter referred to as “the Act” and 14 CFR Part 150. These findings are made in recognition of the description of Federal and nonfederal responsibilities in Senate Report No. 96-52 (1980). On June 7, 2005, the FAA determined that the noise exposure maps submitted by Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport Authority under Part 150 were in compliance with applicable requirements. On December 2, 2005, the FAA approved the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport noise compatibility program. Both of the recommendations of the program were approved. No program elements relating to new or revised flight procedures for noise abatement were proposed by the airport sponsor.

Effective Date:

The effective date of the FAA's approval of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport noise compatibility program is December 2, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Tim Tandy, Federal Aviation Administration, ASW-630, Fort Worth, TX 76193-0630; telephone (817) 222-5635. 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 Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport, effective December 2, 2005.

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 expresses 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 or 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 fight 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 Regional Office in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport Authority submitted to the FAA on May 25, 2005, the noise exposure maps, descriptions, and other documentation produced during the noise compatibility planning study conducted from August 4, 2000 through May 25, 2005. The Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport Authority noise exposure maps were determined by FAA to be in compliance with applicable requirements on June 7, 2005. Notice of this determination was published in the Federal Register on June 22, 2005.

The Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport requested that the FAA evaluate and approve its submitted material as a noise compatibility program as described in Section 47504 of the Act. The FAA began its review of the program on June 2, 2005 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 two proposed actions for noise mitigation. 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 effective December 2, 2005.

Outright approval was granted for both of the specific program elements. The sponsor proposes to reevaluate the FAR Part 150 Study at the end of five years. In addition, if there is a significant change in either aircraft types or numbers of operations, or significant new facilities, the sponsor proposes to update the study prior to the end of the five-year timeframe. The sponsor also proposes to develop a Planners Forum type committee to review proposed land use changes in the Airport Influence Area. The committee could be composed of planners representing the various jurisdictions, regional planners, airport staff and FAA Air Traffic Control representatives.

These determinations are set forth in detail in a Record of Approval signed by the FAA Associate Administrator for Airports on December 2, 2005. 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 the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport Authority. The Record of Approval also will be available on-line at http://www.faa.gov/arp/environmental/14cfr150/index14.cfm.