On August 19, 2014, FAA published a Notice and Request for Public Comment regarding Section 213(c)(2) of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, which directs FAA to file a Categorical Exclusion (CATEX) for any Performance Based Navigation (PBN) procedure that would result in measurable reductions in fuel consumption, carbon dioxide emissions, and noise on a per flight basis.  FAA is now proposing the New Noise Reduction Method for determining whether a proposed PBN reduces noise.  Specifically, where the number of people who experience a noise reduction exceeds the number of people experiencing a noise increase, the proposed PBN reduces noise, and the application of the CATEX is reasonable.  FAA is now asking for public comment regarding the Net Noise Reduction Method and several suggested variations that also incorporate consideration of the magnitude of the noise level change.  See 79 Fed. Reg. 49, 141 (Aug. 19, 2014).