SUBMISSION AND APPROVAL OF PROJECTS FOR AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT.

SEC. 16. SUBMISSION AND APPROVAL OF PROJECTS FOR AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT. (a) Submission.—Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, any public agency, or two or more public agencies acting jointly, may submit to the Secretary a project application, in a form and containing such information, as the Secretary may prescribe, setting forth the airport, development proposed to be undertaken. No project application shall propose airport development other than that included in the then current revision of the national airport system plan formulated by the Secretary under this part, and all proposed development shall be in accordance with standards established by the Secretary, including standards for site location, airport layout, grading, drainage, seeding, paving, lighting, and safety of approaches. (b) Public Agencies Whose Powers Are Limited by State Law.—Nothing in this part shall authorize the submission of a project 84 Stat. 227 application by any municipality or other public agency which is subject to the law of any State if the submission of the project application by the municipality or other public agency is prohibited by the law of that State. (c) Approval.— (1) All airport development projects shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary, which approval may be given only if he is satisfied that— (A) the project is reasonably consistent with plans (existing at the time of approval of the project) of planning agencies for the development of the area in which the airport is located and will contribute to the accomplishment of the purposes of this part; (B) sufficient funds are available for that portion of the project costs which are not to be paid by the United States under this part; (C) the project will be completed without undue delay; (D) the public agency or public agencies which submitted the project application have legal authority to engage in the airport development as proposed; and (E) all project sponsorship requirements prescribed by or under the authority of this part have been or will be met. No airport development project may be approved by the Secretary with respect to any airport unless a public agency holds good title, satisfactory to the Secretary, to the landing area of the airport or the site therefor, or gives assurance satisfactory to the Secretary that good title will be acquired. (2) No airport development project may be approved by the Secretary which does not include provision for installation of the landing aids specified in subsection (d) of section 17 of this part, and determined by him to lie required for the safe and efficient use of the airport. by aircraft taking into account the category of the airport and the type and volume of traffic utilizing the airport. (3) No airport development project may be approved by the Secretary unless he is satisfied that fair consideration has been given to the interest of communities in or near which the project may be located. (4) It is declared to be national policy that airport development projects authorized pursuant to this part shall provide for the protection and enhancement of the natural resources and the quality of environment of the Nation. In implementing this policy, the Secretary shall consult with the Secretaries of the Interior and Health, Education, and Welfare with regard to the effect that any project involving airport location, a major runway extension, or runway location may have on natural resources including, but not limited to, fish and wildlife, natural, scenic, and recreation assets, water and air quality, and other factors affecting the environment, and shall authorize no such project found to have adverse effect unless the Secretary shall render a finding, in writing, following a full and complete review, which shall lie a matter of public record, that no feasible and prudent alternative exists and that all possible steps have been taken to minimize such adverse effect. (d) Hearings.— (1) No airport development project involving the location of an airport, an airport runway, or a runway extension may be approved by the Secretary unless the public agency sponsoring the project certifies to the Secretary that there has been afforded the opportunity for public hearings for the purpose of considering the economic, social, and environmental effects of the airport, location and its consistency with the goals and objectives of such urban planning as has been carried out by the community. 84 Stat. 228 (2) When hearings are held under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the project sponsor shall, when requested by the Secretary, submit a copy of the transcript to the Secretary. (e) Air and Water Quality.— (1) The Secretary shall not approve any project application for a project involving airport location, a major runway extension, or run-way location unless the Governor of the State in which such project may be located certifies in writing to the Secretary that there is reasonable assurance that the project will be located, designed, constructed, and operated so as to comply with applicable air and water quality standards. In any case where such standards have not been approved or where such standards have been promulgated by the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, certification shall be obtained from the appropriate Secretary. Notice of certification or of refusal to certify shall be provided within sixty days after the project application is received by the Secretary. (2) The Secretary shall condition approval of any such project application on compliance during construction and operation with applicable air and water quality standards. (f) Airport Site Selection.— (1) Whenever the Secretary determines (A) that a metropolitan area comprised of more than one unit of State or local government is in need of an additional airport to adequately meet the air transportation needs of such area, and (B) that an additional airport for such area is consistent with the national airport, system plan prepared by the Secretary, he shall notify, in writing, the governing authorities of the area concerned of the need for such additional airport and request such authorities to confer agree upon a site for the location of such additional airport, and notify the Secretary of their selection. In order to facilitate the selection of a site for an additional airport under the preceding sentence, the Secretary shall exercise such of his authority under this part, as he may deem appropriate to carry out the provisions of this paragraph. For the purposes of this subsection, the, term “metropolitan area.” means a standard metropolitan statistical area as established by the Bureau of the Budget, subject however to such modifications and extensions as the Secretary may determine to be appropriate for the purposes of this subsection. (2) In the case of a proposed new airport serving any area, which does not include a metropolitan area, the Secretary shall not approve any airport development project with respect to any proposed airport site not approved by the community or communities in which the airport is proposed to be located.