Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 100 Part 4.djvu/982

 100 STAT. 3341-377

PUBLIC LAW 99-591—OCT. 30, 1986

the growing air traffic needs and to compete with other airports on a fair basis; (3) the Federal Government has a continuing but Hmited cr interest in the operation of the two federally owned airports, which serve the travel and cargo needs of the entire Metropolifftt" tan Washington region as well as the District of Columbia as the national seat of government; (4) operation of the Metropolitan Washington Airports by an independent local agency will facilitate timely improvements at in'- 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; sws (6) any change in status of the two airports must take into -• " account the interest of nearby communities, the traveling public, air carriers, general aviation, airport employees, and other interested groups, as well as the interests of the Federal Government and State governments involved; -rrtc ^rj^ jjj recognition of a perceived limited need for a Federal role in the management of these airports and the growing local interest, the Secretary 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 Nation; (8) an operating authority with representation from local jurisdictions, similar to authorities at all major airports in the g^-vj. United States, will improve communications with local officials j^ifT and concerned residents regarding noise at the Metropolitan Washington Airports; (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 the Commonwealth of Virginia 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. > SEC. 6003. PURPOSE.
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(a) IN GENERAL.—It is therefore declared to be the purpose of the Congress in this title to authorize the transfer of operating responsibility under long-term lease of the two Metropolitan Washington Airport properties as a unit, including access highways and other related facilities, to a properly constituted independent airport authority created by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia, in order to achieve local control, management, operation, and development of these important transportation assets. (b) INCLUSION OF B W I NOT PRECLUDED.—Nothing in this title shall be construed to prohibit the Airports Authority and the State of Maryland from entering into an agreement whereby Baltimore/ Washington International Airport may be made part of a regional airports authority, subject to terms and conditions agreed to by the Airports Authority, the Secretary, the Commonwealth of Virginia, the District of Columbia, and the State of Maryland.

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