[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 29, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-15767]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 29, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
[Docket No. 27782]

 

Proposed Policy Regarding Airport Rates and Charges

AGENCY: Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: On June 9, 1994, the Department of Transportation and the 
Federal Aviation Administration published a notice of a proposed policy 
statement in the Federal Register, with respect to fair and reasonable 
and nondiscriminatory airport rates and charges, and announced that a 
public meeting for oral views would be held in Washington, DC. The 
proposed policy statement sets forth DOT/FAA policy regarding airport 
practices that DOT/FAA would consider to be consistent with Federal 
requirements for airport rates and charges for aeronautical uses. This 
notice announces the date, time, location, and procedures for the 
meeting.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on July 15, 1994, starting at 9 
a.m. Pursuant to the June 9, 1994, Notice of Proposed Policy, written 
comments are also invited and must be received on or before August 8, 
1994.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 14th & Independence Avenue, SW., South Building, 
Washington, DC. Persons unable to attend the meeting may mail their 
comments in triplicate to: Federal Aviation Administration, Office of 
the Chief Counsel, Rules Docket (AGC-200), Docket No. 27782, 800 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests to present a statement at the meeting or questions regarding 
the logistics of the meeting should be directed to Effie Upshaw, Office 
of Rulemaking, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; 
telephone (202) 267-7626.
    Questions concerning the subject matter of the meeting be directed 
to Barry Molar, Federal Aviation Administration, Airports Law Branch, 
800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 
267-3423.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Participation at the Meeting

    Requests from persons who wish to present oral statements at the 
public meeting should be received by the FAA no later than July 12, 
1994. Such requests should be submitted to Effie Upshaw as listed in 
the section titled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT and should include a 
written summary of oral remarks to be presented, and an estimate of 
time needed for the presentation. Requests received after the date 
specified above will be scheduled if there is time available during the 
meeting; however, the name of those individuals may not appear on the 
written agenda. The FAA will prepare an agenda of speakers that will be 
available at the meeting. To accommodate as many speakers as possible, 
the amount of time allocated to each speaker may be less than the 
amount of time requested.

Background

    On June 9, 1994, the DOT and FAA jointly published in the Federal 
Register a notice of proposed policy regarding fair and reasonable and 
nondiscriminatory airport rates and charges (59 FR 29874). 
Specifically, the proposed policy statement sets forth DOT/FAA policy 
regarding airport practices that DOT/FAA would consider to be 
consistent with Federal requirements for airport rates and charges for 
aeronautical uses.
    The proposed policy statement is intended to assist in maintaining 
a balance between airport infrastructure development and the 
preservation of safe and efficient transportation. Airlines should 
benefit from assurances that airport-related costs will be fair and 
reasonable. Airport operators should benefit from being afforded the 
flexibility necessary to tailor financial management, pricing, and 
investment strategies to meet local needs and conditions. The DOT/FAA 
recognize that there is no single procedure or fixed methodology for 
establishing rates and charges in use in the industry and that the 
standard of reasonableness does not compel a single approach or a 
single fee. Airport proprietors may adopt procedures and methodologies 
that serve their objectives so long as they comply with applicable 
Federal requirements, including the requirement to keep airport 
revenues employed in the airport system.

Meeting Procedures

    The following procedures are established to facilitate the meeting:
    (1) There will be no admission fee or other charge to attend or to 
participate in the meeting. The meeting will be open to all persons who 
have requested in advance to present statements or who register on the 
day of the meeting (between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m.) subject to 
availability of space in the meeting room.
    (2) There will be a morning and afternoon break as well as a break 
for lunch.
    (3) The meeting may adjourn early if scheduled speakers complete 
their statements in less time than currently is scheduled for the 
meeting.
    (4) An individual, whether speaking in a personal or a 
representative capacity on behalf of an organization, may be limited to 
a 10-minute statement. If possible, we will notify the speaker if 
additional time is available.
    (5) The FAA will try to accommodate all speakers. If the available 
time does not permit this, speakers generally will be scheduled on a 
first-come-first-served basis. However, the FAA reserves the right to 
exclude some speakers if necessary to present a balance of viewpoints 
and issues.
    (6) Sign and oral interpretation can be made available at the 
meeting, as well as an assistive listening device, if requested at the 
above number 10 calender days before the meeting.
    (7) Representatives of the FAA will preside over the meeting. A 
panel of FAA personnel involved in this issue will be present.
    (8) The meeting will be recorded by a court reporter. A transcript 
of the meeting and any material accepted by the panel during the 
meeting will be included in the public docket. Any person who is 
interested in purchasing a copy of the transcript should contact the 
court reporter directly. This information will be available at the 
meeting.
    (9) The DOT/FAA will review and consider all material presented by 
participants at the meeting. Position papers or material presenting 
views or information related to the proposed policy statement may be 
accepted at the discretion of the presiding officer and subsequently 
placed in the public docket. The FAA requests that persons 
participating in the meeting provide 10 copies of all materials to be 
presented for distribution to the panel members; other copies may be 
provided to the audience at the discretion of the participant.
    (10) Statements made by members of the meeting panel are intended 
to facilitate discussion of the issues or to clarify issues. Any 
statement made during the meeting by a member of the panel is not 
intended to be, and should not be construed as, a position of the FAA.
    (11) The meeting is designed to solicit public views and more 
complete information on the proposed policy statement. Therefore, the 
meeting will be conducted in an informal and nonadversarial manner. No 
individual will be subject to cross-examination by any other 
participant; however, panel members may ask questions to clarify a 
statement and to ensure a complete and accurate record.

    Issued in Washington, DC on June 22, 1994.
Cynthia Rich,
Assistant Administrator for Airports.
[FR Doc. 94-15767 Filed 6-28-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M