Notice2023-14653
Receipt of Noise Compatibility Program Update and Request for Review; Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport (BAF), Westfield, Massachusetts
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
July 11, 2023
Effective
May 26, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 131 (Tuesday, July 11, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 11, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44182-44183]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[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: <a href="http://www.barnesairport.com">www.barnesairport.com</a> 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]
BILLING CODE P
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