Document: 369 U.S. 84 82 S.Ct. 531 7 L.Ed.2d 585 Thomas N. GRIGGS, Petitioner,v.COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA. No. 81. Argued Jan. 16, 1962. Decided March 5, Rehearing Denied April See 857, 931. William A. Blair, Pittsburgh, Pa., for petitioner. Maurice Louik, respondent. Mr. Justice DOUGLAS delivered the opinion of Court. 1 This case is here on a petition writ certiorari to Supreme Court Pennsylvania which we granted (366 943, 81 1672, 6 854) because its decision (402 Pa. 411, 168 A.2d 123) seemed be in conflict with United States v. Causby, 328 256, 66 1062, 90 L.Ed. 1206. The question whether respondent has taken an air easement over petitioner's property it must pay just compensation as required by Fourteenth Amendment. Chicago, B. & Q.R. Co. 166 226, 241, 17 581, 41 979. Common Pleas, pursuant customary procedure, appointed Board Viewers determine there had been 'taking' and, if so, amount due. met upon property; held hearing, and report found that payable (damages suffered) was $12,690. Pleas dismissed exceptions each party Board's report. On appeal, decided, divided vote, were constitutional sense, not liable. 2 Respondent owns maintains Greater Pittsburgh Airport land purchased provide airport air-transport facilities. designed public use conformity rules regulations Civil Aeronautics Administration within scope National Plan provided 49 U.S.C. § 1101 et seq., U.S.C.A. seq. By this Act federal Administrator authorized directed prepare continually revise 'national plan development airports.' 1102(a). For purpose he make grants 'sponsors' development. §§ 1103, 1104. Provision made apportionment among States. 1105. applications projects follow standards prescribed Administrator. 1108. 3 It 1108(d) that: 'No project shall approved respect any unless agency holds good title, satisfactory Administrator, landing area such or site therefor, gives assurance title will acquired.' agrees share from 50% 75% 'allowable costs,' depending, so far material here, class location airport. 1109. 4 Allowable costs Federal Government include 'costs acquiring interests therein easements through other space * *.' 1112(a)(2). 5 executed three agreements agreed, things, abide adhere Rules Regulations C.A.A. 'maintain master airport,' including 'approach areas.' 'airport approach followed connection those established Administrator'; also agreed 'will acquire lands may necessary perform covenants paragraph.' 'master plan' laid out submitted included areas'; approved. One area' northeast runway. As approved, passed home 3,250 feet end elevation at runway 1,150.50 above sea level; door sill residence, 1,183.64 feet; top chimney, 1,219.64 feet. slope gradient 40 feet, leaves clearance 11.36 between bottom glide angle chimney. airlines are lessees respondent; leases give them, right 'to land' 'take off.' No flights violation C.A.A.; nor lower than safe take-off. planes taking off observed regular flight patterns ranging 30 300 residence; let-down they 53 153 take-off noise comparable riveting machine steam hammer.' noisy factory.' 'The low altitude plaintiff's caused plaintiff occupants his become nervous distraught, eventually causing their removal therefrom undesirable unbearable residential use.' Judge Bell, dissenting below, accurately summarized uncontroverted facts follows: 8 'Regular almost continuous daily flights, often several minutes apart, have number directly very, very close residence. During these impossible people house converse talk telephone. members household (depending turn sometimes depended wind) frequently unable sleep even ear plugs sleeping pills; would awakened planes; windows rattle times plaster fell down walls ceilings; health affected impaired, compelled elsewhere. Moreover, runways path spokesman Airlines Pilot Association admitted 'If engine failure no course but plow into your house." 402 422, 123, 128—129. 9 We start supra, military chicken farm unusable therefore 'taking', made. At time Causby case, Congress placed navigable airspace domain, defining 'airspace minimum altitudes prescribed' 44 Stat. 574. downward reach 'navigable airspace.' 264, 1062. Following redefined airspace' mean issued under chapter, needed insure safety aircraft.' 72 739, 1301(24), 1301(24). present regulations1 'minimum altitudes' meaning statute defined, relevant heights 500 1,000 '(e)xcept where takeoff landing.' But said presupposes some it. Otherwise could built, tree planted, fence constructed, chimney erected. An invasion 'superadjacent 'affect surface itself.' 265, 1068. 10 argued though 'taking,' someone taker—the acting representative think, however, respondent, promoter, owner, lessor2 airport, circumstances one who took sense. subject approval C.A.A., what need, direction length, navigation needed. takes nothing; local authority decides build vel non, located. see difference responsibility operation built. Nor did when legislation Plan. For, already noted, 1109, payment owners airports, whose plans 'the allowable costs' space.' A county constructed bridge usable facility least necessry approaches bridge. Why should designs, constructs, uses more favorable position Amendment concerned? That instant 'for use' debatable. operate benefit public,' 'on fair reasonable terms without unjust discrimination,' allow carrier 'any exclusive right' use. 11 way bridge, dam. Virginia Electric Co., 365 624, 630, 784, 838. stated Washington Ackerman Port Seattle, 55 Wash.2d 400, 401, 413, 348 P.2d 664, 671, 77 A.L.R.2d 1344, '* adequate part ground airstrip, itself, Without areas,' indeed operable. designing private property. Our conclusion enough. 12 Reversed. 13 BLACK, whom FRANKFURTER concurs, dissenting. 14 In Causby,1 flying aircraft Causby's disturbed peace frightened chickens 'taken' 'just compensation' Fifth Today similar making petitioner Griggs' 'undesirable use,' constitute property—not, owner operator Allegheny County, fly. Although I dissented believe individual 'took' sense merely going believed complexities adjusting atmospheric rights age best handled Congress, agree noise, vibrations fear constant extremely overflights interfered enjoyment holding. cannot agree, County 'taking.' think States, Airport, flight.2 While design arrangement areas, order comply requirements supervision States.3 15 years adopted comprehensive national international commerce, regulating minute detail virtually every aspect transit—from construction planning facilities methods operations.4 overall scheme development, 1938 declared 'complete sovereignty States'5 citizen 'a freedom transit commerce States.'6 then existing laws used all free transit, since, 1958, enacted new law, regulatory before it, clear aircraft' airspace.'7 Thus only appropriated fly high throughout country essential same take airports. These airspaces much control airports direct signal supervisory agent.8 16 reaching conclusion, emphasizes fact highway bridges require approaches. Of do. Highway Department purchases need not. true has, well country. Despite this, somehow finds congressional intent shift burden communities 1112, authorizes reimbursement 'necessary' acquisitions 'easements different bridge-approach argument. Merely might reimbursed acquisition does acquired. And all—a denied Court—pretty clearly again acquired 1112 space' clearing protecting 'aerial approaches' physical hazards'9 duty explicitly (§ 1110) contract Government. There community airspace. Having use, owes compensation. financed large funds supplied induce localities like assist setting up airtransportation system. Court's imposition liability goes long toward defeating greatly increased financial burdens (how great can guess) hereafter fall cities counties til now given support program. do ever intended frustration own purpose. 18 wholly inequitable saddling entire program County. wind rapid peculiar citizens great, reliable transportation system immense advantage whole Nation war. Just unfair others suffer serious injuries reason bear proportion expenses advantages receive justification throwing monkey wrench Congress' finely tuned mechanism. affirm state court's judgment holding Regulation 60.17, entitled 'Minimum altitudes, provides: 'Except landing, person below following altitudes: '(a) Anywhere. permit, event power unit, emergency undue hazard persons surface; '(b) Over congested areas. areas cities, towns settlements, open-air assembly persons, highest obstacle horizontal radius 2,000 aircraft. '(c) surface, except open water sparsely populated event, operated closer person, vessel, vehicle, structure. *' (Emphasis catch lines.) C.F.R. 60.17. opaque lessors obligations. Burton Wilmington Parking Auth., 715, 856, 45. called pass Constitution laws. 60 174—176, amended, 1108, 1110, 1110. duties since transferred Aviation Agency 806—807. maintain States' 'into account needs both flying, probable technological developments science aeronautics, (and) growth civil aeronautics.' 1102, 1102. detailed features cc. (Federal-aid Public Development), (International Facilities) 20 (Federal Program). 52 1028, 1508, 1508. 980, 1304, 1304. Section 101(24) 1958 "Navigable means Act, CFR 60.18. States.' 1303(c), 1303(c). term hazard' structure object natural obstructs otherwise hazardous 1101(a)(4), 1101(a)(4).

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