This June 2018 FAA memorandum clarifies how noise screening assessments should be used in environmental reviews under NEPA. Noise screening tools are meant to determine whether a more detailed noise analysis is needed, and can help decide the appropriate level of environmental review, but they are not a substitute for comprehensive noise modeling. Importantly, the FAA should not report specific noise levels at precise geographic locations based solely on screening results, as these tools use simplified assumptions that tend to overstate impacts and lack the accuracy needed for site-specific conclusions.Open full document
Notes
This FAA memorandum clarifies existing policy and guidance on noise screening assessments and the appropriate use of noise screening tools and methodologies. It explains the primary purpose of noise screening as a preliminary step to determine whether more detailed noise analysis is needed under NEPA, and outlines the limitations of screening tools, including that they should not be used to report precise noise levels at specific geographic locations. The memo also notes that noise screening tools have not been approved for air quality analyses.