61548 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 201 / Tuesday, October 19, 2004 / Notices 

did not believe that service would 

currently be profitable, but (2) the 

airline did believe that a modest subsidy 

would cover losses in the short term, 

and (3) the particular market had 

sufficient potential that it would 

support profitable service without a 

subsidy at the end of the promotional 

subsidy period. 

Unintended consequences: Some 

commenters noted that allowing the 

subsidy of air carrier service with 

airport revenue, as proposed by SMAA, 

could produce unintended and counterproductive consequences. Airlines 

could use such a program to demand 

subsidies to maintain existing service at 

an airport. SMAA proposed limitations 

and conditions on the program that 

would limit the scope of subsidies (and 

airline demands for subsidies). 

However, if promotional subsidy of new 

airline service were a permissible use of 

airport revenue, it is not clear what 

authority FAA would rely on to limit 

that use to some airports and not others. 

Several commenters noted another 

possible consequence of a subsidy to 

airlines i.e., a subsidy program could 

reduce funds available for capital 

improvements and operating and 

maintenance costs of the airport. 

Whether a subsidy resulted in a net cost 

to the airport would depend on whether 

fees from new service were sufficient to 

offset the subsidy, and the success of the 

subsidy in generating new service in the 

long term. 

III. Conclusion 

The FAA understands that SMAA and 

other airports consider it essential to 

find ways to attract new air service to 

their airports. While it is unclear 

whether temporary subsidies to airlines 

would be effective in generating new 

service beyond the subsidy period, we 

can understand why SMAA and others 

would like to use every possible tool 

available for this purpose. The FAA has 

interpreted other laws to provide 

flexibility for airport operators, such as 

the ability to reduce or even waive fees 

charged to carriers for a substantial 

promotional period. However, we do 

not find that same flexibility in the laws 

governing the use of airport revenue. 

Congress has repeatedly asserted its 

interest in the strict interpretation and 

enforcement of the use of airport 

revenue for purposes which are clearly 

capital and operating costs of the 

airport. We do not find that the petition 

or comments provide a sufficient basis 

for the FAA to reverse its longstanding 

interpretation that subsidies to airlines 

are not a capital or operating cost of an 

airport. Accordingly, the petition is 

denied.

Issued in Washington, DC on October 6, 

2004. 

Woodie Woodward, 

Associate Administrator for Airports.

[FR Doc. 04–23381 Filed 10–18–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–M

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration 

Notice of Availability of Final 

Environmental Impact Statement 

(FEIS), Notice of Holding Period for 

Master Plan Development Including 

Runway Safety Area Enhancement/

Extension of Runway 12–30 and Other 

Improvements of Gary/Chicago 

International Airport located in Gary, IN

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability, notice of 

holding period. 

SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA) is issuing this 

notice to advise the public that a Final 

Environmental Impact Statement 

(FEIS)—Master Plan Development 

Including Runway Safety Area 

Enhancement/Extension of Runway 12–

30 and Other Improvements, Gary/

Chicago International Airport, has been 

prepared and is in a 30-day holding 

period before a Record of Decision can 

be signed and issued. Written requests 

for the FEIS and written comments on 

the FEIS can be submitted to the 

individual listed in the FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT. The holding 

period will commence on October 22, 

2004 and will close on November 22, 

2004. 

Public Availability: Copies of the FEIS 

may be viewed during regular business 

hours at the following locations: 

1. Gary/Chicago International Airport, 

6001 West Industrial Highway, Gary, 

Indiana 46406. 

2. Chicago Airports District Office, 

Room 312, Federal Aviation 

Administration, 2300 East Devon 

Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018. 

3. Gary Public Library, 220 West 5th 

Avenue, Gary, Indiana 46402. 

4. Hammond Public Library, 564 State 

Street, Hammond, Indiana 46320. 

5. East Chicago Main Library, 2401 

East Columbus Drive, East Chicago, 

Indiana 46312. 

6. IU Northwest Library, 3400 

Broadway, Gary Indiana 46408. 

7. Lake County Main Library, 1919 

West 81st Avenue, Merrillville, Indiana 

46410–5382.

8. Purdue Calumet Library, 2200 

169th Street, Hammond, Indiana 46323–

2094. 

The FEIS will be available during the 

Council on Environmental Quality’s 

required 30-day holding period from 

October 22, 2004 to November 22, 2004. 

The FAA will accept comments until 

November 23, 2004 at the address listed 

in the section entitled FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Prescott C. Snyder, Airports 

Environmental Program Manager, 

Federal Aviation Administration, 

Airports Division, Room 315, 2300 East 

Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois 

60018. Mr. Snyder can be contacted at 

(847) 294–7538 (voice), (847) 294–7036 

(facsimile) or by e-mail at 9–AGL–GYY–

EIS–Project@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: At the 

request of the Gary/Chicago Airport 

Authority, the FAA has prepared an 

Environmental Impact Statement. The 

review addressed specific 

improvements at the Gary/Chicago 

International Airport as identified 

during the 2001 Airport Master Plan 

process and the 2003 Railroad 

Relocation Study, and shown on the 

2001 Airport Layout Plan. The following 

improvements have been grouped into 

four categories and are identified as ripe 

for review and decision: (1) 

Improvements associated with the 

existing Runway 12–30, the primary air 

carrier runway at the airport, relocate 

the E.J. & E. Railroad, acquire land 

northwest of the airport to allow for 

modifications to the runway safety area, 

relocate the airside perimeter roadway 

(including providing a southwest access 

roadway), relocate the Runway 12–30 

navaids, improve the Runway Safety 

Area for Runway 12, relocate the 

Runway 12 threshold to remove prior 

displacement, and acquire land 

southeast of the airport, located within 

or immediately adjacent to the runway 

protection zone; (2) Extension of 

Runway 12–30, (1356 feet), relocate the 

Runway 12–30 navaids, extend parallel 

taxiway A to the new end of Runway 12, 

construct deicing hold pads on Taxiway 

A at Runway 12 and Runway 30, and 

develop two high-sped exit taxiways; (3) 

Expansion of the existing passenger 

terminal to accommodate projected 

demands; and (4) analysis of sites 

adjacent to the extended runway for 

potential aviation related development, 

including a future new passenger 

terminal and air cargo area. 

The purpose and need for these 

improvements is reviewed in the FEIS. 

All reasonable alternative have been 

considered including the no-action 

alternative.

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 201 / Tuesday, October 19, 2004 / Notices 61549

Issued in Des Plaines, Illinois on October 

8, 2004. 

Philip M. Smithmeyer, 

Manager, Chicago Airports Districts Office, 

FAA, Great Lakes Region.

[FR Doc. 04–23382 Filed 10–18–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–M

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration 

Notice of Intent To Rule on Application 

04–16–C–00–CHO To Impose and Use 

the Revenue From a Passenger Facility 

Charge (PFC) at CharlottesvilleAlbemarle Airport, Charlottesville, VA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent to rule on 

application. 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to rule and 

invites public comment on the 

application to impose and use the 

revenue from a PFC at CharlottesvilleAlbemarle Airport (CHO) under the 

provisions of the 49 U.S.C. 40117 and 

part 158 of the Federal Aviation 

Regulations (14 CFR part 158).

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before November 18, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this 

application may be mailed or delivered 

in triplicate to the FAA at the following 

address: Washington Airports District 

Office, 23723 Air Freight Lane, Suite 

210, Dulles, Virginia 20166. 

In addition, one copy of any 

comments submitted to the FAA must 

be mailed or delivered to Mr. Bryan O. 

Elliott, Executive Director, 

Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport of the 

Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport 

Authority at the following address: 

Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport 

Authority, Charlottesville-Albemarle 

Airport, 201 Bowen Loop Road, Suite 

200, Charlottesville, Virginia 24012–

1148. 

Air carriers and foreign air carriers 

may submit copies of written comments 

previously provided to the public 

agency full name under § 158.23 of part 

158.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

Terry J. Page, Manager, Washington 

Airports District Office, 23723 Air 

Freight Lane, Suite 210, Dulles, Virginia 

20166, Telephone: (703) 661–1354. 

The application may be reviewed in 

person at this same location.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA 

proposes to rule and invites public 

comment on the application to impose 

and use the revenue from a PFC at 

Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport under 

the provisions of the 49 U.S.C. 40117 

and part 158 of the Federal Aviation 

Regulations (14 CFR part 158). 

On October 12, 2004, the FAA 

determined that the application to 

impose and use the revenue from a PFC 

submitted by Charlottesville-Albemarle 

Airport Authority was substantially 

complete within the requirements of 

§ 158.25 of part 158. The FAA will 

approve or disapprove the application, 

in whole or in part, no later than 

December 22, 2004.

The following is a brief overview of 

the application. 

Proposed charge effective date:

August 1, 2007. 

Proposed charge expiration date:

August 1, 2015. 

Level of the proposed PFC: $4.50. 

Total estimated PFC revenue:

$5,499,286. 

Brief description of proposed 

projects(s): Air Carrier Debt Service; 

Rehabilitate and Expand General 

Aviation parking Apron; Rehabilitate 

Air Carrier Apron; Project 

Administration Fees. 

Level of the proposed PFC: $4.50. 

Class or classes of air carriers which 

the public agency has requested not be 

required to collect PFCs: Air Tax/

Commercial Operators (ATCO) required 

to file FAA form 1800–31. 

Any person may inspect the 

application in person at the FAA office 

listed above under FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT and at the FAA 

regional Airports office located at: 

Federal Aviation Administration, 

Eastern Region, 1 Aviation Plaza, 

Jamaica, New York 11434–4809. 

In addition, any person may, upon 

request, inspect the application, notice 

and other documents germane to the 

application in person at the 

Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport 

Authority.

Issued in Dulles, Virginia on October 12, 

2004. 

Terry J. Page, 

Manager, Washington Airports District Office, 

Eastern Region.

[FR Doc. 04–23385 Filed 10–18–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–M

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration 

Notice of Intent to Rule on Application 

04–07–C–00–JNU to Impose and Use 

the Revenue From a Passenger Facility 

Charge (PFC) at Juneau International 

Airport, Juneau, Alaska

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent to rule on 

application. 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to rule and 

invites public comment on the 

application to impose and use the 

revenue from a PFC at Juneau 

International Airport under the 

provisions of the 49 U.S.C. 40117 and 

Part 158 of the Federal Aviation 

Regulations (14 CFR Part 158).

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before November 18, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this 

application may be mailed or delivered 

in triplicate to the FAA at the following 

address: Byron K. Huffman, Manager, 

Alaskan Region Airports Division, 222 

West 7th Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage, 

AK 99513. In addition, one copy of any 

comments submitted to the FAA must 

be mailed or delivered to Mr. Allan A. 

Heese, Airport Manager, of the Juneau 

International Airport at the following 

address: Juneau International Airport, 

1873 Shell Simmons Drive, Juneau, AK 

99801. 

Air carriers and foreign air carriers 

may submit copies of written comments 

previously provided to the Juneau 

International Airport under section 

158.23 of Part 158.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

James Lomen, Programming Specialist, 

Alaskan Region Airports Division, AAL610, 222 W 7th Avenue, Box 14, 

Anchorage, AK 99513, (907) 271–5816. 

The application may be reviewed in 

person at this same location.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA 

proposes to rule and invites public 

comment on the application to impose 

and use the revenue from a PFC at 

Juneau International Airport under the 

provisions of the 49 U.S.C. 40117 and 

Part 158 of the Federal Aviation 

Regulations (14 CFR Part 158). 

On October 5, 2004, the FAA 

determined that the application to 

impose and use the revenue from a PFC 

submitted by the City and Borough of 

Juneau, Juneau International Airport, 

Juneau, Alaska was substantially 

complete within the requirements of 

§158.25 of Part 158. The FAA will 

approve or disapprove the application, 

in whole or in part, no later than 

January 5, 2005. 

The following is a brief overview of 

the application. 

Proposed charge effective date:

January 1, 2005. 

Proposed charge expiration date:

November 30, 2009. 

Level of proposed PFC: $4.50. 

Total estimated PFC revenue:

$4,706,313. 

Brief description of proposed projects: