[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 206 (Friday, October 24, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 55357]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27960]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

49 CFR Part 1

[OST Docket No. 1; Amdt. 1-291]
RIN 9000-AA02


Organization and Delegation of Powers and Duties; Secretarial 
Succession

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The purpose of this amendment is to alter the order of 
Secretarial succession for the Department to reflect that the Federal 
Aviation Administrator now serves a statutory term of office.

DATES: The effective date of this amendment is October 24, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David K. Tochen, Office of the General 
Counsel, Department of Transportation, Washington, DC (202) 366-4710.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 49 CFR 1.26, the order of succession to 
act as Secretary of Transportation is set forth: The Deputy Secretary, 
General Counsel, Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy, 
Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs, Assistant 
Secretary for Governmental Affairs, Assistant Secretary for Budget and 
Programs, Associate Deputy Secretary, Saint Lawrence Seaway Development 
Corporation Administrator, and Assistant Secretary for Administration, 
in that order. The Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation 
Administrator is included in the order of succession because that 
official has a statutory term of office, and therefore is more likely 
to be in office during a Presidential transition, when someone of that 
rank must act as Secretary. With the recent appointment of the first 
Federal Aviation Administrator to serve a statutory term of office 
(five years--see 49 USC 106(b), as amended by the Federal Aviation 
Administration Authorization Act of 1994, Public Law 103-305, Section 
201, August 23, 1994), that official is also more likely to be in 
office during a Presidential transition, and is being substituted for 
the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation Administrator. This 
amendment reflects this change in the order of Secretarial Succession.
    Since this amendment relates to Departmental management, 
procedures, and practice, notice and comment on it are unnecessary 
under 5 USC 553(b)(3)(A), and it may be made effective in less than 30 
days after publication in the Federal Register under 5 USC 553(d)(2) as 
a change in internal policy.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 1

    Authority delegations (Government agencies), Organization and 
functions (Government agencies).

    In consideration of the foregoing, Part 1 of Title 49, Code of 
Federal Regulations, is amended as follows:

PART 1--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation continues to read as follows:


    Authority: 49 USC 322; Public Law 101-522, 28 USC 2672, 31 USC 
3711 (a)(2).

    2. In Sec. 1.26, paragraph (a) introductory text is republished and 
paragraph (a)(8) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 1.26  Secretarial succession.

    (a) The following officials, in the order indicated, shall act as 
Secretary of Transportation, in case of the absence or disability of 
the Secretary, until the absence or disability ceases, or, in case of a 
vacancy, until a successor is appointed:
* * * * *
    (8) Federal Aviation Administrator.
* * * * *
    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 15, 1997.
Rodney E. Slater,
Secretary of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 97-27960 Filed 10-23-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P