[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 13, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14616-14617]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6235]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Docket No. 28895]


Airport Privatization Pilot Program

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting for public comment on the final 
application of Niagara Falls International Airport, Niagara Falls, New 
York.

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SUMMARY: On March 5, 2001, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 
published a notice in the Federal Register (66 FR 133366) seeking 
information and comments from interested parties on the final 
application by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) for 
participation of Niagara Falls International Airport (IAG) in the 
Airport Privatization Pilot Program. The deadline for submitting 
comments is May 4, 2001. In an effort to provide the public the 
opportunity to comment on the final application, the FAA will conduct a 
public meeting on Monday, March 19, 2001, at Niagara Falls Community 
College.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on Monday, March 19, 2001, 
beginning at 7 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held in the auditorium of the 
Niagara County Community College, 3111 Saunders Settlement Road, 
Sanborn, NY. IAG final 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. NFTA, the airport sponsor, has also 
made a copy of the application available at the following locations:

[[Page 14617]]

Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, 1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo, New 
York, 14202, (716) 858-8900
Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, 181 Ellicott Street, 
Buffalo, New York, 14203, Attn: Ruth Keating, (716) 855-7398
Earl W. Brydges Public Library, 1425 Main Street, Niagara Falls, New 
York, 14305, (716) 286-4881
Niagara Falls International Airport, Niagara Falls Boulevard, Niagara 
Falls, New York, 14304, (716) 297-4494
    Written comments on the IAG final application must be delivered or 
mailed, in quadruplicate, to: the Federal Aviation Administration, 
Office of Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket (AGC-200), Docket No. 
#28895, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591. Written 
comments must be marked ``Docket No. 28895''. Commenters wishing the 
FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments must include a 
preaddressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is 
made: ``Comments to Docket No. 28895.'' The postcard will be date 
stamped and mailed to the commenter. Comments on this Notice may be 
delivered or examined in room 915G on weekdays, except Federal 
holidays, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Commenters planning to speak 
at the public hearing are not required to submit written comments.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 149 of the Federal Aviation 
Administration Authorization Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 104-264 (October 
9, 1996) (1996 Reauthorization Act), added 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 (upon approval of 65 percent of the air carriers serving the 
airport and having 65 percent of the landed weight), 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. Since Niagara Falls International Airport is a general 
aviation airport without air carrier service, the 65 percent approval 
of air carriers is not required. 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 FAA issued a notice of procedures to be 
used in applications for exemption under Airport Privatization Pilot 
Program (62 FR 48693). The notice of procedures and public comments 
received are available for review in FAA Rules Docket No. 28895.
    On June 5, 2000, NFTA filed a final application and selected Cintra 
Niagra Falls Airport Corporation, USA, as the airport's private 
operator. Cintra Niagara proposes to lease the airport under a 99-year 
lease agreement. It plans to market the airport to develop new services 
such as low cost domestic passenger flights to business and leisure 
centers, international charters and cargo services. Cintra Niagara will 
commit $10.1 million in the initial 13 years for the purposes of 
operating, managing and developing the airport. $1.125 million will be 
used for operating, marketing and capital improvement costs. The 
remaining $8.975 million will be used for marketing expenses and to 
fund the initial five year capital planning period.
    The public meeting scheduled for March 19, 2001, will begin at 7 
p.m. in the school auditorium of the Niagara County Community College, 
3111 Saunders Settlement Road, Sanborn, NY. NFTA, the airport owner, 
will provide a brief presentation of the privatization initiative 
followed by public comments on the IAG final application for inclusion 
in Docket No. 28895 and considered by the FAA in making its decision on 
the application. American Sign Language interpretative services will be 
available. Registration for individuals wishing to speak will begin at 
6:30 pm directly outside the auditorium. Because the IAG final 
application is presently before the agency for a decision, the FAA will 
not be able to discuss the application or the pending agency decision.

    Issued in Washington, DC on March 7, 2001.
David L. Bennett,
Director, Office of Airport Safety and Standards.
[FR Doc. 01-6235 Filed 3-12-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M