Volume 64 · 771
Public Law 81–905
To authorize the construction, protection, operation, and maintenance of a public airport in or in the vicinity of the District of Columbia.
Approved September 7, 1950
Statutory text
AN ACT
To authorize the construction, protection, operation, and maintenance of a public airport in or in the vicinity of the District of Columbia.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That the Secretary of Commerce (hereinafter referred to as the “Secretary”) is hereby authorized and directed to construct, protect, operate, improve, and maintain within or in the vicinity of the District of Columbia, a public airport (including all buildings and other structures necessary or desirable therefor).
Sec. 2.
For the purpose of carrying out this Act, the Secretary is
Acquisition of land.
authorized to acquire, by purchase, lease, condemnation, or otherwise (including transfer with or without compensation from Federal agencies or the District of Columbia, or any State or political subdivision thereof), such lands and interests in lands and appurtenances thereto, including avigation easements or airspace rights, as may be necessary or desirable for the construction, maintenance, improvement, operation, and protection of the airport: Provided,
National Capital Park and Planning Commission.
That before making commitments for the acquisition of land, or the transfer of any lands, the Secretary shall consult and advise with the National Capital Park and Planning Commission as to the conformity of the proposed location with the Commission’s comprehensive plan for the National Capital and its environs, and said Commission shall, upon request, submit a report and recommendations thereon within thirty days: Provided further, That the choice
Consultation with governing body in county.
of site by the Secretary shall be made only after consultation with the governing body in the county in which the airport is to be located, with respect to the suitability of the site to be selected, and its possible impact on the vicinity.
Sec. 3.
For the purposes of this Act, the Secretary is empowered
Rights-of-way, etc.
to acquire, by purchase, lease, condemnation, or otherwise (including transfer with or without compensation from Federal agencies or the District of Columbia, or any State or political subdivision thereof), rights-of-way or easements for roads, trails, pipe lines, power lines, railroad spurs, and other similar facilities necessary or desirable for the construction or proper operation of the airport.
The Secretary is authorized to construct any streets, highways, or
Construction of streets, roads, etc.
roadways (including bridges) as may be necessary to provide access to the airport from existing streets, highways, or roadways. Upon completion of construction of any street, highway, or roadway within the District of Columbia, such street, highway, or roadway shall be transferred to the District of Columbia without charge, and thereafter shall be maintained by the District of Columbia. Upon construction
Transfer.
of any street, highway, or roadway within a State or political subdivision thereof, such street, highway, or roadway may be transferred to such State or political subdivision thereof, without charge, on the condition that such street, highway, or roadway thereafter be maintained as a public street, highway, or roadway by such State or political subdivision thereof.
Sec. 4.
The Secretary shall have control over and responsibility for
Control of airport.
the care, operation, maintenance, improvement, and protection of the airport, together with the power to make and amend such rules and regulations as he may deem necessary to the proper exercise thereof: Provided, That the authority herein contained may be delegated by the Secretary to such official or officials of the Department of Commerce as the Secretary may designate.
Sec. 5.
The Secretary is empowered to lease under such conditions
Leases.
as he may deem proper and for such periods as may be desirable space or property within or upon the airport for purposes essential or appropriate to the operation of the airport: Provided, That no lease for the use of any hangar or space therein shall extend for a period exceeding three years.
Sec. 6.
The Secretary is authorized to contract with any person for
Contracts.
the furnishing of supplies or performance of services at or upon the airport necessary or desirable for the proper operation of the airport, including but not limited to, contracts for furnishing food and lodging, sale of aviation fuels, furnishing of aircraft repairs and other aeronautical services, and such other services and supplies as may be necessary or desirable for the traveling public. No such contract, not including contracts involving the construction of permanent buildings or facilities, shall extend for a period of longer than five years, except the restaurant. The provisions of section 3709 of the Revised
Statutes shall not apply to contracts authorized under this section, to leases authorized under section 5 hereof, or to contracts for architectural or engineering services necessary for the design and planning of the airport.
Sec. 7.
Any executive department, independent establishment, or
Transfer of property.
agency of the Federal Government or the District of Columbia, for the purposes of carrying out this Act, is authorized to transfer to the Secretary, without compensation, upon his request, any lands, interests in lands (including avigation easements or airspace rights), buildings, property, or equipment under its control and in excess of its own requirements, which the Secretary may consider necessary or desirable for the construction, care, operation, maintenance, improvement, or protection of the airport.
Sec. 8.
The Secretary, and any Department of Commerce
Arrests.
employee appointed to protect life and property on the airport, when designated by the Secretary, is hereby authorized and empowered (1) to arrest under a warrant within the limits of the airport any person accused of having committed within the boundaries of the airport any offense against the laws of the United States, or against any rule or regulation prescribed pursuant to this Act; (2) to arrest without warrant any person committing any such offense within the limits of the airport, in his presence; or (3) to arrest without warrant within the limits of the airport any person whom he has reasonable grounds to believe has committed a felony within the limits of the airport.
Any individual having the power of arrest as provided in subsection (a) of this section may carry firearms or other weapons as the Secretary may direct or by regulation may prescribe.
The United States Park Police may, at the request of the
U. S. Park Police.
Secretary, be assigned by the Secretary of the Interior, in his discretion, to patrol any area of the airport, and any members of the United States Park Police so assigned are hereby authorized and empowered to make arrests within the limits of the airport for the same offenses, and in the same manner and circumstances, as is provided in this section with respect to employees designated by the Secretary.
The officer on duty in command of those employees designated
Deposit of collateral.
by the Secretary as provided in subsection (a) of this section may accept deposit of collateral from any person charged with the violation of any rule or regulation prescribed under this Act, for appearance in court or before the appropriate United States Commissioner; and such collateral shall be deposited with such United States Commissioner.
Sec. 9.
The Secretary may enter into agreements with the State, or
Agreements for State or municipal services.
any political subdivision thereof, in which the airport or any portion thereof is situated, for such State or municipal services as the Secretary shall deem necessary to the proper and efficient operation and protection of the airport, and he may, from time to time, agree to modifications in any such agreement: Provided, however, That where the charge for any such service is established by the laws of the State, the Secretary may not pay for such service in excess of the charge so established.
Sec. 10.
Any person who knowingly and willfully violates any
Penalties.
rule, regulation, or order issued by the Secretary under this Act shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be subject to a fine of not more than $500 or to imprisonment not exceeding six months, or to both such fine and imprisonment.
Sec. 11.
Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions of
Definitions.
the words and phrases used in this Act shall be the definitions assigned to such words and phrases by the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, as
49 U. S. C. § 681; Sup. III, § 401 et seq.
Ante, pp. 395, 417.
Appropriations authorized.
Post, p. 1049.
amended.
Sec. 12.
There is hereby authorized to be appropriated the sum of $14,000,000 for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act, said appropriation to remain available until expended. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated from year to year such sums as may be necessary for the proper development, improvement, maintenance, protection, control, and operation of said airport or as may be otherwise necessary to carry out the purpose of this Act.
Approved September 7, 1950.