[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 82 (Wednesday, April 28, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23248-23249]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-9626]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Docket No. FAA-2003-14246]


Airport Privatization Pilot Program

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice to reopen comment period for final application of New 
Orleans Lakefront Airport, New Orleans, Louisiana.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is reopening the 
comment period for the Orleans Levee District's final application for 
participation of New Orleans Lakefront Airport (NEW) in the Airport 
Privatization Pilot Program. Specifically, the FAA is seeking 
information and comments from interested parties on the Operating 
Agreement of American Airports Lakefront, LLC, the proposed private 
sponsor. This agreement was not available to the FAA during the 
original public comment period, January 16, 2003, to May 23, 2003, 
published in the Federal Register as (68 FR 12969) and

[[Page 23249]]

(68 FR 2391). The comment period is now reopened until May 28, 2004.

DATES: Comments must be received May 28, 2004.

ADDRESSES: The Operating Agreement of American Airports Lakefront, LLC 
and the final application are available for public review in the 
Dockets Office, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room Plaza 401, 400 
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. The documents have been 
filed under FAA Docket Number 2003-14246. The Dockets Office is open 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Dockets Office is on the plaza level of the Nassif 
Building at the Department of Transportation at the above address. 
Also, you may review public dockets on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.
    The Orleans Levee District, the airport sponsor, has also made a 
copy of the agreement and the application available at the following 
location: Administration Building, New Orleans Lakefront Airport, 6001 
Stars and Stripes Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70126.
    The Administration Building is open weekdays from 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. 
with the exception of legal holidays. The contact person is Max L. 
Hearn who may be reached at (504) 243-4000.
    Comments on the agreement must be delivered or mailed, in 
duplicate, to: the Docket Management System, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Room Plaza 401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20590-0001. You must identify the docket number ``FAA Docket No 2003-
14246'' at the beginning of your comments. 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 FAA Docket No. 2003-14246.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
mailed to the commenter. You may also submit comments through the 
Internet to http://dms.dot.gov.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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. The FAA application 
procedures for the Airport Privatization Pilot Program (62 FR 48693) 
are available for review on the FAA Web site: www.faa.gov/arp/publications/fedreg.cfm?arpnav=fedr.
    On March 2, 2000, Orleans Levee District submitted a preliminary 
application for the participation of the New Orleans Lakefront Airport 
in the Airport Privatization Pilot Program. On March 8, 2001, the FAA 
accepted the Orleans Levee District's preliminary application for the 
New Orleans Lakefront Airport, after reviewing additional information 
provided by the Orleans Levee District. After selecting a private 
operator and negotiating an agreement, the Orleans Levee District filed 
its final application on April 23, 2002. On January 16, 2003, the 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published a notice in the Federal 
Register (68 FR 2391) seeking information and comments from interested 
parties on the final application by the Orleans Levee District for 
participation of New Orleans Lakefront Airport (NEW) in the Airport 
Privatization Pilot Program. The original deadline for submitting 
comments was March 12, 2003. However, the comment period was extended 
until May 23, 2003, to allow the public more time to comment and for 
the FAA to receive comments from airport users and interested parties 
at a public meeting at New Orleans Lakefront Airport on May 10, 2003.
    On April 6, 2004, at the FAA's request, the private operator 
submitted a coy of the operating agreement for American Airports 
Lakefront, LLC. The agreement outlines the responsibilities of American 
Airports Corporation and United Professionals in fulfilling the duties 
of the private operator. This agreement was not available to the FAA 
during the original public comment period, January 16, 2003, to May 23, 
2003, published in the Federal Register as (68 FR 12969) and (68 FR 
2391).
    Since this agreement is considered part of the final application 
and will be used by the FAA in making its final determination, the 
agency has decided to make it available for 30-day public comment.

    Dated: Issued in Washington, DC on April 15, 2004.
David L. Bennett,
Director, Office of Airport Safety and Standards.
[FR Doc. 04-9626 Filed 4-27-04; 8:45 am]
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