Noise Exposure Map Notice; Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program and Request for Review for Harrisburg International Airport, Middletown, PA

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its determination that the noise exposure maps submitted by the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority for the Harrisburg International Airport under the provisions of Title I of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (Pub. L. 96-193) 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 the Harrisburg 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 12, 2006.

DATES:

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 13, 2006. The public comment period ends March 14, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Edward S. Gabsewics, CEP, Environmental Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, Harrisburg Airports District Office, 3905 Hartzdale Drive, Suite 508, Camp Hill, PA 17011, Telephone 717-730-2832. 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 the Harrisburg International Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of part 150, effective January 13, 2006. Further, FAA is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program for that airport which will be approved or disapproved on or before July 12, 2006. This notice also announces the availability of this proposed noise compatibility program for public review and comment.

Under section 103 of Title I 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, governmental 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 forth 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 Susquehanna Area Regional Authority submitted to the FAA on December 16, 2005 noise exposure maps, descriptions and other documentation which were produced during the development of the Final Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study dated May 2005 and the Addendum 1 to that study dated December 2005. It was requested that the FAA review this material as the noise exposure maps, as described in section 103(a)(1) 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 104(b) of the Act.

The FAA has completed its review of the noise exposure maps and related descriptions submitted by the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority. The specific maps under consideration are the Existing (2004) Noise Exposure Map (NEM) for the existing conditions and the Future (2010) NEM with Noise Compatibility Program (NCP) Implementation. The FAA has determined that these maps for the Harrisburg International Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements. This determination is effective on January 13, 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 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 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 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.

The FAA has formally received the noise compatibility program for the Harrisburg International Airport, also effective January 13, 2006. Preliminary review of the submitted material indicates that it conforms to the requirements for the submittal or 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 12, 2006.

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 use.

Interested persons are invited to comment on the proposed program with specific reference to these factors. All comments, other than those properly addressed to local land use authorities, will be considered by the FAA to the extent practicable. Copies of the noise exposure maps, the FAA's evaluation of the maps, and the proposed noise compatibility program for the Harrisburg International Airport are available for examination at the following locations:

Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority, Harrisburg International Airport, One Terminal Drive, Suite 300, Middletown, PA 17057.

Federal Aviation Administration, Harrisburg Airports District Office, 3905 Hartzdale Drive, Suite 508, Camp Hill, PA 17011.

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