802 

14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–24 Edition) 

§ 161.311 

new notice in accordance with the pro-
cedures in § 161.303 or, alternatively, 
the procedures in § 161.321. These re-
quirements apply to substantial 
changes that are not encompassed in 
submitted alternative restriction pro-
posals and their analyses. A substan-
tial change to a restriction includes, 
but is not limited to, any proposal that 
would increase the burden on any avia-
tion user class. 

(c) In addition to the information in 

§ 161.303(c), a new notice must indicate 
that the applicant is revising a pre-
vious notice, provide the reason for 
making the revision, and provide a new 
effective date (if any) for the restric-
tion. 

(d) If substantial changes requiring a 

new notice are made during the FAA’s 
180-day review of the proposed restric-
tion, the applicant submitting the pro-
posed restriction shall notify the FAA 
in writing that it is withdrawing its 
proposal from the review process until 
it has completed additional analysis, 
public review, and documentation of 
the public review. Resubmission to the 
FAA will restart the 180-day review. 

§ 161.311 Application procedure for ap-

proval of proposed restriction. 

Each applicant proposing a Stage 3 

restriction shall submit to the FAA the 
following information for each restric-
tion and alternative restriction sub-
mitted, with a request that the FAA 
review and approve the proposed Stage 
3 noise or access restriction: 

(a) A summary of evidence of the ful-

fillment of conditions for approval, as 
specified in § 161.305; 

(b) An analysis as specified in 

§ 161.305, as appropriate to the proposed 
restriction; 

(c) A statement that the entity sub-

mitting the proposal is the party em-
powered to implement the restriction, 
or is submitting the proposal on behalf 
of such party; and 

(d) A statement as to whether the 

airport requests, in the event of dis-
approval of the proposed restriction or 
any alternatives, that the FAA approve 
any portion of the restriction or any 
alternative that meets the statutory 
requirements for approval. An appli-
cant requesting partial approval of any 
proposal should indicate its priorities 

as to portions of the proposal to be ap-
proved. 

§ 161.313 Review of application. 

(a) 

Determination of completeness. 

The 

FAA, within 30 days of receipt of an ap-
plication, will determine whether the 
application is complete in accordance 
with § 161.311. Determinations of com-
pleteness will be made on all proposed 
restrictions and alternatives. This 
completeness determination is not an 
approval or disapproval of the proposed 
restriction. 

(b) 

Process for complete application. 

When the FAA determines that a com-
plete application has been submitted, 
the following procedures apply: 

(1) The FAA notifies the applicant 

that it intends to act on the proposed 
restriction and publishes notice of the 
proposed restriction in the F

EDERAL

 

R

EGISTER

in accordance with § 161.315. 

The 180-day period for approving or dis-
approving the proposed restriction will 
start on the date of original FAA re-
ceipt of the application. 

(2) Following review of the applica-

tion, public comments, and any other 
information obtained under § 161.317(b), 
the FAA will issue a decision approving 
or disapproving the proposed restric-
tion. This decision is a final decision of 
the Administrator for purpose of judi-
cial review. 

(c) 

Process for incomplete application. 

If the FAA determines that an applica-
tion is not complete with respect to 
any submitted restriction or alter-
native restriction, the following proce-
dures apply: 

(1) The FAA shall notify the appli-

cant in writing, returning the applica-
tion and setting forth the type of infor-
mation and analysis needed to com-
plete the application in accordance 
with § 161.311. 

(2) Within 30 days after the receipt of 

this notice, the applicant shall advise 
the FAA in writing whether or not it 
intends to resubmit and supplement its 
application. 

(3) If the applicant does not respond 

in 30 days, or advises the FAA that it 
does not intend to resubmit and/or sup-
plement the application, the applica-
tion will be denied. This closes the 

803 

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT 

§ 161.317 

matter without prejudice to later ap-
plication and does not constitute dis-
approval of the proposed restriction. 

(4) If the applicant chooses to resub-

mit and supplement the application, 
the following procedures apply: 

(i) Upon receipt of the resubmitted 

application, the FAA determines 
whether the application, as supple-
mented, is complete as set forth in 
paragraph (a) of this section. 

(ii) If the application is complete, the 

procedures set forth in § 161.315 shall be 
followed. The 180-day review period 
starts on the date of receipt of the last 
supplement to the application. 

(iii) If the application is still not 

complete with respect to the proposed 
restriction or at least one submitted 
alternative, the FAA so advises the ap-
plicant as set forth in paragraph (c)(1) 
of this section and provides the appli-
cant with an additional opportunity to 
supplement the application as set forth 
in paragraph (c)(2) of this section. 

(iv) If the environmental documenta-

tion (either an environmental assess-
ment or information supporting a cat-
egorical exclusion) is incomplete, the 
FAA will so notify the applicant in 
writing, returning the application and 
setting forth the types of information 
and analysis needed to complete the 
documentation. The FAA will continue 
to return an application until adequate 
environmental documentation is pro-
vided. When the application is deter-
mined to be complete, including the 
environmental documentation, the 180- 
day period for approval or disapproval 
will begin upon receipt of the last sup-
plement to the application. 

(v) Following review of the applica-

tion and its supplements, public com-
ments, and any other information ob-
tained under § 161.317(b), the FAA will 
issue a decision approving or dis-
approving the application. This deci-
sion is a final decision of the Adminis-
trator for the purpose of judicial re-
view. 

(5) The FAA will deny the application 

and return it to the applicant if: 

(i) None of the proposals submitted 

are found to be complete; 

(ii) The application has been returned 

twice to the applicant for reasons other 
than completion of the environmental 
documentation; and 

(iii) The applicant declines to com-

plete the application. This closes the 
matter without prejudice to later ap-
plication, and does not constitute dis-
approval of the proposed restriction. 

§ 161.315 Receipt of complete applica-

tion. 

(a) When a complete application has 

been received, the FAA will notify the 
applicant by letter that the FAA in-
tends to act on the application. 

(b) The FAA will publish notice of 

the proposed restriction in the F

ED

-

ERAL

R

EGISTER

, inviting interested par-

ties to file comments on the applica-
tion within 30 days after publication of 
the F

EDERAL

R

EGISTER

notice. 

§ 161.317 Approval or disapproval of 

proposed restriction. 

(a) Upon determination that an appli-

cation is complete with respect to at 
least one of the proposals submitted by 
the applicant, the FAA will act upon 
the complete proposals in the applica-
tion. The FAA will not act on any pro-
posal for which the applicant has de-
clined to submit additional necessary 
information. 

(b) The FAA will review the appli-

cant’s proposals in the preference order 
specified by the applicant. The FAA 
may request additional information 
from aircraft operators, or any other 
party, and may convene an informal 
meeting to gather facts relevant to its 
determination. 

(c) The FAA will evaluate the pro-

posal and issue an order approving or 
disapproving the proposed restriction 
and any submitted alternatives, in 
whole or in part, in the order of pref-
erence indicated by the applicant. Once 
the FAA approves a proposed restric-
tion, the FAA will not consider any 
proposals of lower applicant-stated 
preference. Approval or disapproval 
will be given by the FAA within 180 
days after receipt of the application or 
last supplement thereto under § 161.313. 
The FAA will publish its decision in 
the F

EDERAL

R

EGISTER

and notify the 

applicant in writing. 

(d) The applicant’s failure to provide 

substantial evidence supporting the 
statutory conditions for approval of a 
particular proposal is grounds for dis-
approval of that proposed restriction.