PUBLIC LAW 103-411—OCT. 25, 1994 108 STAT. 4237 ment, if the unit of government on whose behalf the operation is conducted certifies to the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration that the operation was necessary to respond to a significant and imminent threat to hfe or property (including natural resources) and that no service by a private operator was reasonably available to meet the threat". (b) AUTHORITY TO GRANT EXEMPTIONS.— 49 USC 40io9 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal Avia- "°*®- tion Administration may grant an exemption to any unit of Federal, State, or local government fix)m any requirement of part A of subtitle VII of title 49, United States Code, that would otherwise be applicable to current or fiiture aircraft of such unit of government as a result of the amendment made by subsection (a) of this section. (2) REQUIREMENTS.—The Administrator may grant an exemption under paragraph (1) only if— (A) the Administrator finds that granting the exemption is necessary to prevent an undue economic burden on the unit of government; and (B) the Administrator certifies that the aviation safety program of the unit of government is effective and appropriate to ensure safe operations of the type of aircraft operated by the imit of government (c) INVESTIGATIVE AUTHORITY OF BOARD.— (1) ACCIDENTS INVOLVING PUBLIC AIRCRAFT. —Section 1131(a)(1)(A) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting before the semicolon at the end the following: "or an aircrEift accident involving a public aircraft as defined by section 40102(a)(37) of this title other than an aircraft operated by the Armed Forces or by an intelUgence agency of the United States". (2) DUTIES AND POWERS.— Section 1131 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (A) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); £Uld (B) by inserting after subsection (c) the following: "(d) ACCIDENTS INVOLVING PUBLIC AIRCRAFT.—The Board, in furtherance of its investigative duties with respect to public aircraft accidents under subsection (a)(1)(A) of this section, snail have the same duties and powers as are specified for civil aircraft accidents under sections 1132(a), 1132(b), and 1134(b)(2) of this title.". (d) EFFECTIVE DATE. —The amendments made by subsections 49 USC 1131 (a) and (c) shall take effect on the 180th day following the date of the enactment of this Act SEC. 4. RELEASE OF RESERVATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN PROPERTY LOCATED IN RAPIDES PARISH, LOUISIANA. (a) RELEASE. —Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and except as provided in subsections (b) and (d), the United States releases without consideration all reservations, restrictions, conditions, and limitations on the use, encumbrance, or conveyance of certain real property (together with any improvements thereon and easements appurtenant thereto) consisting of approximately 1,991.53 acres of land and located in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, the location of Esler Field, as identified in the deed of conveyance fi:x)m the United States to the Parish of Rapides, Louisiana, dated note.
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