[Federal Register: October 8, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 195)]
[Notices]               
[Page 54947-54948]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08oc99-181]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration
[Docket No. 29802]

 
Airport Privatization Pilot Program

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Acceptance for Review: Preliminary Application for 
San Diego Brown Field, San Diego, California.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has completed its 
review of the San Diego Brown Field (SDM) preliminary application for 
participation in the airport privatization pilot program. The 
preliminary application is accepted for review, with a filing date of 
September 1, 1999. The City of San Diego, the airport sponsor, may 
submit a final application to the FAA for exemption under the pilot 
program. 49 U.S.C. 47134 establishes an airport privatization pilot 
program and authorizes the Department of Transportation to grant 
exemptions from certain Federal statutory and regulatory requirements 
for up to five airport privatization projects. The application 
procedures require the FAA to publish a notice in the Federal Register 
after review of a preliminary application. The FAA must publish a 
notice of receipt of the final application in the Federal Register for 
public review and comment for a sixty-day period. The SDM preliminary 
application is available for public review in the Federal Aviation 
Administration, Office of Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket (AGC-
200), Docket No. 28895, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20591.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin C. Willis (202-267-8741) Airport 
Compliance Division, AAS-400, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20591.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction and Background

    Section 149 of the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization 
Act of 1996, Public Law 104-264 (October 9, 1996) (1996 Reauthorization 
Act), adds a new Sec. 47134 to Title 49 of the U.S. Code. Section 47134 
authorizes the Secretary of Transportation, and through delegation, the 
FAA Administrator, to exempt a sponsor of a public use airport that has 
received Federal assistance, from certain Federal requirements in 
connection with the privatization of the airport by sale or lease to a 
private party. Specifically, the Administrator may exempt the sponsor 
from all or part of the requirements to use airport revenues for 
airport-related purposes, to pay back a portion of Federal grants upon 
the sale of an airport, and to return airport property deeded by the 
Federal Government upon transfer of the airport. The Administrator is 
also authorized to exempt the private purchaser or lessee from the 
requirement to use all airport revenues for airport-related purposes, 
to the extent necessary to permit the purchaser or lessee to earn 
compensation from the operations of the airport.
    On September 16, 1997, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a 
notice of procedures to be used in applications for exemption under 
Airport Privatization Pilot Program (62 FR

[[Page 54948]]

48693). A request for participation in the Pilot Program must be 
initiated by the filing of either a preliminary or final application 
for exemption with the FAA.
    The City of San Diego has selected a private operator. The filing 
date of this preliminary application is September 1, 1999, the date of 
the last submittal revising the application. The City may negotiate an 
agreement with the private operator and submit a final application to 
the FAA for exemption.
    If FAA accepts the final application for review, the application 
will be published in the Federal Register for public review and comment 
for a sixty-day period.

    Issued in Washington, DC on September 30, 1999.
Louise E. Maillett,
Acting Associate Administrator for Airports.
[FR Doc. 99-26373 Filed 10-7-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M