Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 117.djvu/2615

 117 STAT. 2596

PUBLIC LAW 108–176—DEC. 12, 2003

a sponsor of a commercial service airport that does not own the airport land and is a party to a long-term lease agreement with a Federal agency (other than the Department of Defense or the Department of Transportation) may impose restrictions on, or prohibit, the operation of Stage 2 aircraft weighing less than 75,000 pounds, in order to help meet the noise control plan contained within the lease agreement. A use restriction imposed pursuant to this section must contain reasonable exemptions for public health and safety. (b) PUBLIC NOTICE AND COMMENT.—Prior to imposing restrictions on, or prohibiting, the operation of Stage 2 aircraft weighing less than 75,000 pounds, the airport sponsor must provide reasonable notice and the opportunity to comment on the proposed airport use restriction limited to no more than 90 days. (c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the terms ‘‘Stage 2 aircraft’’ and ‘‘Stage 3 aircraft’’ have the same meaning as those terms have in chapter 475 of title 49, United States Code. 49 USC 40101 note.

Deadline.

Certification.

SEC. 826. GAO REPORT ON AIRLINES’ ACTIONS TO IMPROVE FINANCES AND ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

(a) FINDING.—Congress finds that the United States Government has by law provided substantial financial assistance to United States commercial airlines in the form of war risk insurance and reinsurance and other economic benefits and has imposed substantial economic and regulatory burdens on those airlines. In order to determine the economic viability of the domestic commercial airline industry and to evaluate the need for additional measures or the modification of existing laws, Congress needs more frequent information and independently verified information about the financial condition of these airlines. (b) GAO REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall prepare a report for Congress analyzing the financial condition of the United States airline industry in its efforts to reduce the costs, improve the earnings and profits and balances of each individual air carrier. The report shall recommend steps that the industry should take to become financially self-sufficient. (c) GAO AUTHORITY.—In order to compile the report required by subsection (b), the Comptroller General, or any of the Comptroller General’s duly authorized representatives, shall have access for the purpose of audit and examination to any books, accounts, documents, papers, and records of such air carriers that relate to the information required to compile the report. The Comptroller General shall submit with the report a certification as to whether the Comptroller General has had access to sufficient information to make informed judgments on the matters covered by the report. (d) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—The Comptroller General shall transmit the report required by subsection (b) to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. SEC. 827. PRIVATE AIR CARRIAGE IN ALASKA.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Due to the demands of conducting business within and from the State of Alaska, the Secretary of Transportation shall permit, under the operating rules of part 91 of title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations where common carriage is not involved, a company, located in the State of Alaska, to organize

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