
[Federal Register: September 15, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 177)]
[Notices]               
[Page 47304]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15se09-147]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Docket No.: 2009-0830]

 
Airport Privatization Pilot Program

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Receipt and Acceptance for Review: Preliminary 
Application for Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, New 
Orleans, LA.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has completed its 
review of the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) 
preliminary application for participation in the airport privatization 
pilot program received under 49 U.S.C. 47134. The preliminary 
application is accepted for review, with a filing date of August 5, 
2009. The City of New Orleans, the airport sponsor, may select a 
private operator, negotiate an agreement and 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 MSY preliminary application is available for 
public review at http://www.regulations.gov. The docket number is FAA 
Docket Number 2009-0830.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin C. Willis (202-267-8741) Airport 
Compliance Division, ACO-100, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20591.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction and Background

    Title 49 of the U.S. Code Sec.  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 or 
lease 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 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 New Orleans submitted a preliminary application to the 
Airport Privatization Pilot Program for Louis Armstrong New Orleans 
International Airport on August 5, 2009; the filing date of this 
preliminary application. The City may select a private operator, 
negotiate an agreement and submit a final application to the FAA for 
exemption.
    If FAA accepts the final application for review, the application 
will be made available for public review and comment for a sixty-day 
period.

    Issued in Washington, DC on September 8, 2009.
Randall S. Fiertz,
Director, Office of Airport Compliance and Field Operations.
[FR Doc. E9-22144 Filed 9-14-09; 8:45 am]
