[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 11, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44182-44183]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-14653]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program Update and Request for 
Review; Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport (BAF), Westfield, 
Massachusetts

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation 
(DOT).

SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces that it is 
reviewing a proposed Noise Compatibility Program (NCP) Update submitted 
by the City of Westfield, Massachusetts, through its Aviation 
Department, for Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport and has found it in 
compliance with applicable requirements. This NCP Update was submitted 
subsequent to a determination by the FAA that the associated Noise 
Exposure Maps (NEMs) for the Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport, were 
prepared in compliance with applicable requirements. The NCP Update 
will be approved or disapproved on or before November 22, 2023. 
Finally, this notice announces that the proposed NCP Update will be 
available for public review and comment for 60 days from the 
publication date of this notice.

DATES: The effective start date of the FAA's 180-day review period for 
the associated NCP Update is May 26, 2023. The FAA must issue an 
approval or disapproval of the NCP Update on or before November 22, 
2023. The public review and comment period ends 60 days from the 
publication date of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Quaine, Federal Aviation 
Administration, New England Regional Office Environmental Protection 
Specialist, Airports Division, Federal Aviation Administration, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts, 01803. Phone number: 781-
238-7613. Comments on the proposed NCP Update should also be submitted 
to the above office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA is 
reviewing a proposed NCP Update for the Westfield-Barnes Regional 
Airport. As required by title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, part 150 
(hereinafter referred to as part 150), the NCP Update will be approved 
or disapproved on or before November 22, 2023. This notice also 
announces the availability of this NCP Update for public review and

[[Page 44183]]

comment for 60 days from the publication date of this notice.
    Under the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act (49 U.S.C. 47501 
et seq.), an airport operator (hereinafter referred to as Sponsor) who 
has submitted NEMs that are found by the FAA to be in compliance with 
the requirements of part 150 may submit for FAA approval a NCP or NCP 
Update that sets forth the measures the Sponsor has taken, or proposes 
to take, to reduce existing noncompatible uses and prevent the 
introduction of additional noncompatible uses within the area covered 
by the NEMs. The FAA has formally received the NCP Update for the 
Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport effective on May 26, 2023. The City 
of Westfield, Massachusetts, through its Aviation Department, requested 
the FAA review this material and that the noise mitigation measures, to 
be implemented jointly by the Sponsor and surrounding communities, be 
approved as NCP Update under the Act. Preliminary review of the 
submitted material indicates that it conforms to part 150 requirements 
for the submittal of an NCP, but that further review is necessary prior 
to approval or disapproval of the NCP Update. The formal review period, 
limited by law to a maximum of 180 days, will be completed on or before 
November 22, 2023.
    A public information meeting on the NCP Update was held by the 
Sponsor on March 16, 2022, and a public hearing was held on February 1, 
2023. The FAA's detailed evaluation will be conducted under the 
provisions of part 150, Sec.  105.33. The primary considerations in the 
evaluation process are whether the proposed measures may reduce the 
level of aviation safety or create an undue burden on interstate or 
foreign commerce, and whether they are reasonably consistent with 
obtaining the goal of reducing existing noncompatible land uses and 
preventing the introduction of additional noncompatible land uses.
    Each airport NCP/NCP Update developed in accordance with part 150 
is a local program, not a Federal program. The FAA does not substitute 
its judgment for that of the Sponsor with respect to which measures 
should be recommended for action. The FAA's approval or disapproval of 
each specific measure proposed by a Sponsor in an NCP/NCP Update is 
determined by applying approval criteria prescribed in Sec.  150.35(b) 
of part 150. Only measures that meet the approval criteria can be 
approved and considered for Federal funding eligibility. FAA approval 
or disapproval of a measure only indicates whether that measure would, 
if implemented, be consistent with the purposes of part 150. When a 
measure is disapproved by the FAA, Sponsors are encouraged to work with 
their communities and the FAA, outside of the part 150 process as 
necessary, to implement initiatives that provide noise benefits for the 
surrounding community.
    Interested persons are invited to comment on the proposed NCP 
Update with specific reference to these factors. To maximize the 
effectiveness of comments and the FAA's understanding of them, comments 
should be as specific as possible, identifying the concern(s) as well 
as suggested or desired resolution to the concern(s). When possible, 
quote text and cite details such as page and section numbers, NCP 
Update measure number, etc. to which the comment(s) pertain. This 
commenting procedure is intended to ensure that substantive comments 
and concerns are made available to the FAA in a timely manner so that 
the FAA has an opportunity to address them in its Record of Approval. 
All comments in their entirety become part of the public record, 
including any personal information provided in the comment including 
name, address, phone number, etc. All relevant comments, other than 
those properly addressed to local land use authorities, will be 
considered by the FAA to the extent practicable.
    Copies of the proposed NCP Update are available for examination 
online at: www.barnesairport.com and hard copy is available at 
Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport, 110 Airport Road, Suite 207, 
Westfield, MA 01085.
    Please direct questions or requests to arrange an appointment to 
review the NCP Update document to the individual named above under the 
heading, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Issued in New England Regional Office, Burlington, MA, on July 
6, 2023.
Julie Seltsam-Wilps,
Deputy Director, ANE-600.
[FR Doc. 2023-14653 Filed 7-10-23; 8:45 am]
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