[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 6 (Monday, January 10, 1994)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 1362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-544]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 10, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Chapter I

[Docket No. 27581, Notice No. 94-1]

 

Regulatory Review

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice requests that the public identify regulations that 
it believes should be amended or eliminated to reduce undue regulatory 
burdens, if any, consistent with the FAA's statutory safety, security, 
and other public interest responsibilities. This notice asks each 
commenter to identify, in order of priority, those regulations that are 
believed to be unwarranted or inappropriate. In order to focus agency 
consideration, each commenter is asked to concentrate on no more than 
three regulations he or she believes to be of primary concern. The 
agency asks further that each commenter provide a brief explanation of: 
(1) The bases for the three highest priority recommendations to amend 
or eliminate the regulations; (2) the ways in which each regulation's 
objective is otherwise fulfilled (e.g., by duplicative regulations or 
by technological advances that render the regulations obsolete); and 
(3) where appropriate, a suggested substitute or amended version of the 
regulations identified. This information will help the FAA to respond 
to the Administration's direction to design regulations in the most 
effective manner to achieve their regulatory objective.

DATES: Comments should be submitted on or before March 11, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed, in triplicate, to: Federal 
Aviation Administration, Office of Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules 
Docket (AGC-200), Docket No. 27581, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20591.
    Comments delivered must be marked Docket No. 27581. Comments may be 
examined in room 915G weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., except on 
Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Chris Christie, Director, Office of Rulemaking, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; 
telephone (202) 267-9677.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With this Notice, the FAA is undertaking an 
evaluation aimed at eliminating or amending existing rules and 
regulations that may not be necessary to achieve the agency's safety, 
security, and other public interest responsibilities. This effort 
initiates a response to the recommendations of the 15-member National 
Commission to Ensure a Strong Competitive Airline Industry, the 
recommendations of the Vice President's National Performance Review, 
and DOT and FAA regulatory initiatives.
    In April 1993, the National Commission to Ensure a Strong 
Competitive Airline Industry (Commission) was established by Public Law 
No. 103-13. The Commission was asked to investigate, study and make 
policy recommendations regarding the financial vitality and future 
competitiveness of the U.S. airline and aerospace industries.
    In August 1993, the Commission issued a report to the President and 
Congress that addressed, among other things, the legal and 
administrative policies that govern the regulatory responsibilities 
imposed on United States airlines. The Commission found that Federal 
regulations impose a cumulative burden on airlines. While the FAA has 
not quantified that burden, the Commission estimated that existing 
rules have added to airline costs and concluded that the costs of these 
rules have a direct impact on the airlines' financial condition.
    To enhance the FAA's ability to perform its statutory role without 
undue economic impact on the aviation industry, the Commission 
recommends that the ``FAA/DOT undertake a short-range regulatory 
review--in close consultation with industry and other interested 
parties--to eliminate or amend existing regulations to reduce 
regulatory burdens consistent with safety and security 
considerations.''
    In addition, Executive Order 12866 requires that agencies 
``identify regulations that are cumulative, obsolete, or inconsistent, 
and where appropriate, eliminate or modify them.'' In light of these 
concerns, and consistent with the Administration's Civil Aviation 
Initiative, this notice solicits public comment that will assist the 
FAA in focusing attention on areas where the public believes the 
regulatory burden is excessive and unjustified. In particular, the 
agency requests that each commenter identify the most significant 
regulations that the commenter believes may no longer be necessary, are 
unduly burdensome, or impose excessive costs or red tape. In some 
cases, for example, important innovations, technologies, or new market 
opportunities may have taken place or may have been created since a 
rule was promulgated, potentially rendering a rule obsolete.
    The FAA requests commenters to focus their recommendations on up to 
three regulations they believe to be of primary concern--rather than 
catalogue all rules that they may view to be objectionable in some 
respect. This will facilitate development of a manageable overall 
proposal. Further, each commenter should rank in priority order the 
regulations that the commenter believes the agency should address 
first. In addition, each submission should include an explanation of: 
(1) How the identified regulatory requirement is burdensome; (2) how 
the requirement should be changed or deleted, including, where 
possible, suggested draft substitutes; (3) how a regulatory change 
would benefit the public; and (4) how a proposed regulatory change 
would provide an adequate level of safety, security, or environmental 
protection. Specific economic information to support a reliable cost/
benefit analysis of the proposed change will also be of assistance.
    Comments in response to this notice are also expected to facilitate 
the FAA's regulatory review envisioned by Executive Order No. 12866, 
``Regulatory Planning and Review,'' issued September 30, 1993. This 
executive order requires each agency to create a program under which it 
will periodically review its existing significant regulations to 
determine whether any should be modified or eliminated to make the 
agency's regulatory program more effective and less burdensome.
    The comments provided in response to this notice will assist the 
agency in establishing its priorities for future regulatory changes, 
including repeal or modification of rules where appropriate, to 
maintain safety and security while reducing regulatory burdens.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 5, 1994.
David R. Hinson,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 94-544 Filed 1-6-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M