
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 150 (Monday, August 7, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 36849]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16609]



[[Page 36849]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Noise Exposure Map Determination, Centennial Airport, Englewood, 
CO

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The FAA announces its determination that the noise exposure 
maps submitted by the Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority for 
Centennial Airport are in compliance with applicable requirements.

DATES: The date of the FAA's determination on the noise exposure maps 
is August 1, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Bruce, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Denver Airports District Office, 26805 E. 68th Ave., 
Suite 224, Denver, CO 80249, (303) 342-1264, linda.bruce@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA finds 
that the noise exposure maps submitted for Centennial 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 of 14 CFR part 150, effective January 13, 2004. Under 49 
U.S.C. 47503 of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act 
(hereinafter referred to as ``the Act''), an airport operator may 
submit to the FAA noise exposure maps that meet applicable regulations 
and depict non-compatible land uses as of the date of submission of 
such maps, a description of projected aircraft operations during a 
forecast period that is at least five (5) years in the future, 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 14 
CFR part 150, promulgated pursuant to the Act, may submit a noise 
compatibility program for FAA approval that sets forth the measures the 
operator has taken or proposes to take to reduce existing non-
compatible uses and prevent the introduction of additional non-
compatible uses.
    The FAA has completed its review of the noise exposure maps and 
accompanying report submitted by the Arapahoe County Public Airport 
Authority. The documentation that constitutes the ``Noise Exposure 
Maps'' (NEM), as defined in Section 150.7 of 14 CFR part 150, and 
includes an Existing Conditions (2016) Noise Exposure Map, Figure 13, 
and a Forecast Conditions (2021) Noise Exposure Map, Figure 14, located 
in Chapter 4 of the official NEM Report submittal.
    The NEM contain current and forecast information, including the 
depiction of the airport and its boundaries, the runway configurations, 
and land uses such as residential, open space, commercial/office, 
community facilities, libraries, churches, open space, infrastructure, 
vacant and warehouse and those areas within the Day Night Average Sound 
Level (DNL) 65, 70 and 75 noise contours. This information is contained 
in the NEM Report. Land uses in close proximity to the airport are 
shown in Chapter 2, Figure 1. Estimates of private residential 
population within the 2016 Base Year and the 2021 Future Year noise 
contours are shown in Chapter 4, Table 12.
    The locations of noise monitoring sites are discussed in Chapter 4 
and are included on the NEM (Figures 13 and 14). Flight tracks for the 
existing and the five-year forecast Noise Exposure Maps are found in 
Chapter 3, Figures 5 and 6. The type and frequency of aircraft 
operations (including nighttime operations) are found in Chapter 3, 
Table 5 through Table 8. For aircraft types not in the INM standard 
database, FAA-approved substitutions were used to model an aircraft of 
a similar type, as detailed in Chapter 3 and Appendix H and I.
    As discussed in Chapter 5 of the NEM Report, the Arapahoe County 
Public Airport Authority provided the general public the opportunity to 
review and comment on the NEM. The public consultation program for the 
NEM was open to the general public and included a project Web site, 
social media posting, newsletters, and public open house/meeting. The 
public comment period on the draft NEM and narrative report opened 
November 1, 2016 and closed on November 30, 2016. Public open houses 
were held on February 3, 2016 and November 2, 2016. All comments 
received during the public comment period and throughout the 
development of the NEM, as well as responses to these comments, are 
contained in Appendix G of the NEM Report.
    The FAA has determined that these noise exposure maps and 
accompanying documentation are in compliance with applicable 
requirements. This determination is effective on August 1, 2017.
    FAA's determination on an airport operator's NEM is limited to a 
finding that the maps were developed in accordance with the procedures 
contained in Appendix A of 14 CFR 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 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 14 CFR 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 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 14 CFR part 150, that 
the statutorily required consultation has been accomplished.
    Copies of the full noise exposure maps and associated documentation 
are available for examination at the following locations:

Federal Aviation Administration, Denver Airports District Office, 26805 
E. 68th Ave., Suite 224, Denver, CO 80249.
The Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority, 7800 S. Peoria Street, 
Unit G1, Englewood, CO 80112.

    Issued in Renton, WA, on August 1, 2017.
Randall S. Fiertz,
Director, Airports Division, Northwest Mountain Region.
[FR Doc. 2017-16609 Filed 8-4-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


