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E-Library

Legal Documents of Interest to the Public

From time to time, the Office of the General Counsel generates documents, such as legal opinions and interpretations, that may be of interest to the public and helpful in understanding law and regulations pertinent to transportation. A selection of these documents follows.

Legal Documents of Interest to the Public
Name Date
Aviation  
Updated Fact Sheet (2023) on State and Local Regulation of Unmanned 
Aircraft Systems (UAS) 		 7/14/2023
Assistant General Counsel Letter re: Application of the Anti-Head Tax Act 3/28/2019
Assistant General Counsel Letter re: Preemption of Hawaii Law Prohibiting Balance Billing by Air Ambulances 7/10/2017
Assistant General Counsel Letter re: Preemption of San Bernardino County Requirements for Air Ambulance Operations 2/25/2016
Assistant General Counsel Letter re: Preemption of Colorado Law Affecting Air Ambulances 4/21/2015
Guidelines for the Use and Availability of Helicopter Emergency Medical Transport (HEMS) 4/21/2015
Assistant General Counsel Letter re: MinnesotaCare Tax on Air Ambulance Services 5/21/2014
Assistant General Counsel Letter re: Preemption of ADA to Kern County Requirements for Air Ambulance Operations 5/19/2014
Assistant General Counsel Letter re: Taxation of Skydiving 12/30/2013
Assistant General Counsel Letter re: Question on Regulation of Big Game Transporters in State of Alaska 9/14/2011
Deputy General Counsel Letter re: Passenger Facility Charge Refunds 3/30/2010
Assistant General Counsel Letter re: Whether Maryland Gross Receipts Tax Violates the Anti-Head Tax Act 1/29/2010
Assistant General Counsel Letter re: Whether U.S. to Seoul to Saipan Constitutes Cabotage 8/31/2009
General Counsel Opinion re: Preemption of Texas Law Affecting Air Ambulances 11/3/2008
General Counsel Letter re: Florida Air Ambulance Laws and Regulations 10/10/2007
Hawaii Certificate of Need Program Requirements for Air Ambulance Operators 4/23/2007
Operation of Air Ambulance Service as a Direct Air Carrier or Indirect Air Carrier 2/4/2002
Secretary's Conditional Finding That Hawaii Handling of Off-Airport Duty-Free Revenues Complies with Section 511(g) of AIP Act 4/11/1991
Possible Security Interest Created in International Air Service Route Rights 9/18/1990
Secretary's Letter Advising Hawaii That Its Diversion of Off-Airport Duty-Free Revenues Violates Federal Grant Obligations Under Section 511(a)(12) of the AIP Act 6/19/1989
Preemption of State Smoking Requirements on Air Carriers Operating in the State 1/20/1988
Views on Whether a City Subsidy of One Carrier but not Others Violates Federal Law 11/16/1987
Preemption of State Entry Requirements on Indirect Air Carriers Operating in the State 8/8/1986
Preemption of State Regulation of Emergency Air Ambulances Operating in the State 6/16/1986
Applicability of Section 1113 of the FAA Act of 1958 to Local Taxation of Air Taxi Service 12/18/1985
Civil Aeronautics Board Opinion of Certain "Rights and Responsibilities" Related to Co-Terminal Points 12/16/1949
Environment  
Federal Environmental Statutes, Regulations, and Executive Orders Applicable to the Development and Review of Transportation Infrastructure Projects 4/30/2015
International Matters  
General Counsel Letter re: Whether 49 U.S.C. 41720 Extends Beyond Domestic Carriers to Foreign Air Carriers 12/28/1998
Use of International Air Service Route Rights as Collateral for Long-Term Financing 3/20/1992
General Counsel Letter to United Airlines Stating That a Codeshare with a Foreign Air Carrier is a Wet Lease Requiring a Statement of Authorization 12/18/1987
Civil Aeronautics Board General Counsel Opinion re: Whether CP Air Truck-Air Cargo Shipment to Honolulu via Vancouver (BC) Constitutes Cabotage 2/7/1983
Civil Aeronautics Board General Counsel Opinion re: AVIANCA "Transshipment" of Cargo at Miami (to or from NYC) Between Valid Foreign Flights Constitutes Cabotage 12/7/1982
Civil Aeronautics Board General Counsel Opinion re: Whether Japan Air Lines Requires Additional Authority to Conduct Certain Operations 9/16/1960
Security  
Other  
General Counsel Letter to Representative Kanjorski re: Nanticoke City Redevelopment 5/27/2008
General Counsel Letter re: Whether a Los Angeles Contracting Ordinance is Compatible with DOT's "Full and Open Competition" Acquisition Requirements 6/25/2004
General Counsel Letter re: Whether a 2001 Appropriations Restriction Mandates Advance Notice of Furnishing a Presidential Appointee's Office 9/6/2002
Last updated: Friday, July 14, 2023