49 U.S.C. § 49101 — Findings

Page 1718 TITLE 49—TRANSPORTATION § 49101 § 49101. Findings Congress finds that— (1) the 2 federally owned airports in the met- ropolitan area of the District of Columbia con- stitute an important and growing part of the commerce, transportation, and economic pat- terns of Virginia, the District of Columbia, and the surrounding region; (2) Baltimore/Washington International Air- port, owned and operated by Maryland, is an air transportation facility that provides serv- ice to the greater Metropolitan Washington region together with the 2 federally owned air- ports, and timely Federal-aid grants to Balti- more/Washington International Airport will provide additional capacity to meet the grow- ing air traffic needs and to compete with other airports on a fair basis; (3) the United States Government has a con- tinuing but limited interest in the operation of the 2 federally owned airports, which serve the travel and cargo needs of the entire Metro- politan Washington region as well as the Dis- trict of Columbia as the national seat of gov- ernment; (4) operation of the Metropolitan Wash- ington Airports by an independent local au- thority will facilitate timely improvements at both airports to meet the growing demand of interstate air transportation occasioned by the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 (Public Law 95–504; 92 Stat. 1705); (5) all other major air carrier airports in the United States are operated by public entities at the State, regional, or local level; (6) any change in status of the 2 airports must take into account the interest of nearby communities, the traveling public, air car- riers, general aviation, airport employees, and other interested groups, as well as the inter- ests of the United States Government and State governments involved; (7) in recognition of a perceived limited need for a Federal role in the management of these airports and the growing local interest, the Secretary of Transportation has recommended a transfer of authority from the Federal to the local/State level that is consistent with the management of major airports elsewhere in the United States; (8) an operating authority with representa- tion from local jurisdictions, similar to au- thorities at all major airports in the United States, will improve communications with local officials and concerned residents regard- ing noise at the Metropolitan Washington Air- ports; (9) a commission of congressional, State, and local officials and aviation representatives has recommended to the Secretary that transfer of the federally owned airports be as a unit to an independent authority to be created by Vir- ginia and the District of Columbia; and (10) the Federal interest in these airports can be provided through a lease mechanism which provides for local control and operation. (Added Pub. L. 105–102, § 2(26), Nov. 20, 1997, 111 Stat. 2206.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 49101 .......... (uncodified). Oct. 18, 1986, Pub. L. 99–500, title VI, § 6002, 100 Stat. 1783–373. Oct. 30, 1986, Pub. L. 99–591, title VI, § 6002, 100 Stat. 3341–376. In clause (4), the word ‘‘authority’’ is substituted for ‘‘agency’’ for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code. Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT The Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, referred to in par. (4), is Pub. L. 95–504, Oct. 24, 1978, 92 Stat. 1705, which was classified principally to sections of former Title 49, Transportation. The Act was substantially re- pealed by Pub. L. 103–272, § 7(b), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1379, the first section of which enacted subtitles II, III, and V to X of Title 49, Transportation. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. For disposition of sections of former Title 49, see Table at the beginning of Title 49. PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 49101 was renumbered section 50101 of this title. § 49102. Purpose (a) GENERAL.—The purpose of this chapter is to authorize the transfer of operating responsi- bility under long-term lease of the 2 Metropoli- tan Washington Airport properties as a unit, in- cluding access highways and other related facili- ties, to a properly constituted independent air- port authority created by Virginia and the Dis- trict of Columbia, in order to achieve local con- trol, management, operation, and development of these important transportation assets. (b) INCLUSION OF BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT NOT PRECLUDED.—This chapter does not prohibit the Airports Author- ity and Maryland from making an agreement to make Baltimore/Washington International Air- port part of a regional airports authority, sub- ject to terms agreed to by the Airports Author- ity, the Secretary of Transportation, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Maryland. (Added Pub. L. 105–102, § 2(26), Nov. 20, 1997, 111 Stat. 2207.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 49102(a) ...... (uncodified). Oct. 18, 1986, Pub. L. 99–500, title VI, § 6003(a), 100 Stat. 1783–374. Oct. 30, 1986, Pub. L. 99–591, title VI, § 6003(a), 100 Stat. 3341–377. 49102(b) ...... (uncodified). Oct. 18, 1986, Pub. L. 99–500, title VI, § 6003(b), 100 Stat. 1783–374. Oct. 30, 1986, Pub. L. 99–591, title VI, § 6003(b), 100 Stat. 3341–377. In subsection (b), the words ‘‘and conditions’’ are omitted as being included in ‘‘terms’’. Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 49102 was renumbered section 50102 of this title.