
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 6 (Monday, January 11, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 1281]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-299]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Notice; 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 
determination that the noise exposure maps for Westfield-Barnes 
Regional Airport, as submitted by the City of Westfield, Massachusetts, 
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.

DATES: The effective date of the FAA's determination on the noise 
exposure maps is December 22, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Doucette, Federal Aviation 
Administration, New England Region, Airports Division, 12 New England 
Executive Park, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds 
that the noise exposure maps submitted for Westfield-Barnes Regional 
Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150, 
effective December 22, 2015.
    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 that meet 
applicable regulations and that 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 such noise exposure maps that 
are found by FAA to be in compliance with the requirements of Federal 
Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 150, promulgated pursuant to Title I of 
the Act, may submit a noise compatibility program for FAA approval that 
sets forth the measures the operator has taken, or proposes, for the 
introduction of additional non-compatible uses.
    The FAA has completed its review of the noise exposure map and 
related descriptions submitted by Westfield, Massachusetts. The 
specific maps under consideration were ``Figure 3-9. DNL Contours for 
Average Daily Aircraft Operations for CY2015'' and ``Figure 4-1. DNL 
Contours for Average Daily Aircraft Operations for CY2020 NEM'' in the 
submission. The FAA has determined that these maps for Westfield-Barnes 
Regional Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements. This 
determination is effective on December 22, 2015.
    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 a noise exposure map. 
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 the map 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:

Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport, 110 Airport Drive, Westfield MA 
01085.
Federal Aviation Administration, New England Region, Airports Division, 
12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803.

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

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts on December 22, 2015.
Richard P. Doucette,
Environmental Program Manager, FAA New England Region, Airports 
Division.
[FR Doc. 2016-299 Filed 1-8-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


