[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 235 (Wednesday, December 6, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76339-76340]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-31090]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Air Traffic Noise Screen
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) DOT.
ACTION: Notice of change in air traffic noise screen policy.
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SUMMARY: This action changes the FAA Air Traffic Noise Screen (ATNS)
policy to incorporate an administrative change in the procedures to
conduct the ATNS. This action is issued as a Final Notice without prior
notice because this change is administrative and/or required by
statute. Also, the current adoption of the policy change is in the
public interest.
DATES: Effective January 5, 2001.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William J. Marx, Environmental
Programs Division, Office of Air Traffic Airspace Management, Federal
Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC
20591; Telephone: (202) 267-3705.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In 1987 the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented the
Expanded East Coast Plan (EECP). At that time air traffic proposed
actions above 3,000 feet above ground level (AGL) were considered non-
controversial by nature and were categorically excluded from further
environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969. When the EECP was categorically excluded from further
environmental review, populations in New Jersey reacted strongly. The
action became highly controversial, and Congress mandated that an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) be completed by the FAA. At that
time, there was no precedence for analyzing noise effects from aircraft
above 3,000 feet AGL.
In 1991 Air Traffic Services began the Congressionally mandated EIS
of air traffic procedural actions associated with the EECP. Populations
in the study area were analyzed for noticeable changes ( 5
decibels on an average annual basis) in their exposure to aircraft
noise due to the EECP.
The FAA chose to model predicted change in noise exposure up to
18,000 feet AGL to insure that communities with predicted 45 decibel
(dB) Day Night Level (DNL) (average aircraft noise level over a 24 hour
period averaged over the course of a year) noise footprints were
included in the study area. The resulting Air Traffic Noise Screen
(ATNS) was created to address airspace changes that may cause
controversy on environmental grounds at altitudes between 3,000 feet
AGL and 18,000 feet AGL. It was a factor to be considered in
determining whether actions normally categorically excluded from
further environmental review should be reviewed as part of an
environmental assessment because of the potential for community
annoyance and reaction.
Since the EECP EIS, Air Traffic Services has used 18,000 feet AGL
as the altitude ceiling when screening for potentially controversial
noise exposures that could be expected from proposed air traffic
actions. In 1999 the FAA's Office of Air Traffic Airspace Management
initiated a scientific study
[[Page 76340]]
of the ATNS to rigorously analyze predicted noise exposures using
different altitude ceilings. Using a research and development tool, FAA
analyzed data from a major airspace project and proposed alternative
that reflected the largest proposed changes to the current area
airspace design. The science-based study provided analysis on the
difference in noise screening results by comparing results using an
18,000 feet AGL altitude ceiling with results using 10,000, 12,000,
14,000, and 16,000 feet AGL. Completed in July 1999, the results
revealed equivalent predicted noise exposure values using a 10,000 feet
ceiling as were predicted using a 18,000 feet ceiling. In addition,
since the ATNS was implemented, proposals to change air traffic
procedures have not identified 5 decibel or greater changes at
altitudes above 10,000 feet AGL.
The results of this analysis confirm that an altitude cut-off of
10,000 feet AGL has materially the same predictive capability as the
ATNS run to 18,000 feet AGL. The FAA has determined that the public
interest is served by this action. The policy change enables the Air
Traffic Service to avoid unproductive agency resource use; further, the
policy change enables resource allocation to more timely analysis of
environmental conditions for proposed airspace projects without
changing environmental protection and consideration to affected
communities.
Air Traffic Noise Screen Policy
Beyond the airport environs, aircraft following air traffic routes
and procedures normally do not significantly influence the noise
environment of underlying land uses. Air traffic procedures for
operations over 3,000 feet AGL are normally categorically excluded from
environmental assessment requirements delineated in FAA Order 1050.1,
Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures.
At the same time, in recognition that some actions that are
normally categorically excluded can be highly controversial on
environmental grounds, the FAA has developed the ATNS which allows air
traffic specialists and planners to evaluate potential noise impacts
from proposed air traffic changes. The ATNS is a computerized noise
screening procedure that provides guidance to air traffic managers in
identifying air traffic changes that will increase aircraft noise
exposure, and the possible need for an environmental assessment.
The ATNS will be used to evaluate proposed changes in arrival
procedures between 3,000 feet and 7,000 feet and departure procedures
between 3,000 and 10,000 feet AGL, for large civil jet aircraft
weighing over 75,000 pounds. Where a proposed change would cause an
increase in noise of 5 dB DNL or greater, FAA considers whether there
are extraordinary circumstances in accordance with Order 1050.1 that
warrant preparation of an environmental assessment.
Issued in Washington, DC November 30, 2000.
Nancy B. Kalinowski,
Deputy Program Director for Air Traffic Airspace Management, ATA-1.
[FR Doc. 00-31090 Filed 12-5-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M