Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 2.djvu/530

 108 STAT. 1246 PUBLIC LAW 103-272—JULY 5, 1994 47124. Agreements for State and local operation of airport facilities. 47125. Conveyances of United States Government land. 47126. Criminal penalties for false statements. 47127. Ground transportation demonstration projects. 47128. State block grant pilot program. 47129. Annued report. SUBCHAPTER II—SURPLUS PROPERTY FOR PUBLIC AIRPORTS 47151. Authority to transfer an interest in surplus property. 47152. Terms of gifts. 47153. Waiving and adding terms. SUBCHAPTER I—AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT §47101. Policies (a) GENERAL.—It is the policy of the United States— (1) that the safe operation of the airport and airway system is the highest aviation priority; (2) that aviation facilities be constructed and operated to minimize current and projected noise impact on nearby communities; (3) to give special emphasis to developing reliever airports; (4) that appropriate provisions should be made to make the development and enhancement of cargo hub airports easier; (5) to encourage the development of transportation systems that use various modes of transportation in a way that will serve the States and local communities efficiently and effectively; (6) that airport development projects under this subchapter provide for the protection and enhancement of natural resources and the quality of the environment of the United States; (7) that airport construction and improvement projects that increase the capacity of facilities to accommodate passenger and cargo traffic be undertaken to the maximum feasible extent ^ so that safety and efficiency increase and delays decrease; (8) to ensure that nonaviation usage of the navigable airspace be accommodated but not allowed to decrease the safety and capacity of the airspace and airport system; (9) that artificial restrictions on airport capacity— (A) are not in the public interest; (B) should be imposed to alleviate air traffic delays only after other reasonably available and less burdensome alternatives have been tried; and (C) should not discriminate unjustly between categories and classes of aircraft; and (10) that special emphasis should be placed on converting appropriate former military air bases to civil use and identifying and improving additional joint-use facilities. (b) NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION POLICY. —(1) It is a goal of the United States to develop a national intermodal transportation system that transports passengers and property in an efficient manner. The future economic direction of the United States depends on its ability to confront directly the enormous challenges of the global economy, declining productivity growth, energy vulnerability, air pollution, and the need to rebuild the infrastructure of the United States. (2) United States leadership in the world economy, the expanding wealth of the United States, the competitiveness of the industry of the United States, the standard of living, and the quality of life are at stake.

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