[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 192 (Tuesday, October 5, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 53958]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25853]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 193

[Docket No. FAA-1999-6001; Notice No. 99-14]
RIN 2120-AG36


Protection of Voluntarily Submitted Information

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: On July 26, 1999, the FAA published a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding protection of voluntarily submitted 
information and invited comments for a 60-day period. The comment 
period closed on September 24, 1999; however, the FAA is reopening the 
comment period for an additional 30 days in response to a request from 
the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Per NTSB, the 
reopening of the comment period is needed to permit NTSB, and other 
affected parties, additional time to develop comments responsive to 
Notice No. 99-14.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 4, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this proposed rulemaking should be mailed, or 
delivered, in duplicate, to: U.S. Department of Transportation Dockets, 
Docket No. FAA-1999-6001, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room Plaza 401, 
Washington, DC 20590. Comments may be filed and examined in Room Plaza 
401 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays, except Federal holidays. 
Comments also may be sent electronically to the Dockets Management 
System (DMS) at the following Internet address: http://dms.dot.gov at 
anytime. Commenters, who wish to file comments electronically, should 
follow the instructions on the DMS website.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marisa Mullen, Office of Rulemaking, 
ARM-205, or Mardi Thompson, Office of Assistant Chief Counsel, AGC-200, 
Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20591, telephone (202 267-7653 or (202) 267-3073, 
respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the 
proposed action by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as 
they may desire. Comments relating to the environmental, energy, 
federalism, or economic impact that might result from adopting the 
proposals in this document also are invited. Substantive comments 
should be accompanies by cost estimates. Comments must identify the 
regulatory docket or notice number and be submitted in duplicate to the 
DOT Rules Docket address specified above.
    All comments received, as well as a report summarizing each 
substantive public contact with FAA personnel concerning this proposed 
rulemaking, will be filed in the docket. The docket is available for 
public inspection before and after the comment closing date.
    All comments received on or before the closing date will be 
considered by the Administrator before taking action on this proposed 
rulemaking. Comments filed late will be considered as far as possible 
without incurring expense or delay. The proposals in this document may 
be changed in light of the comments received.
    Comments wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this document must include a pre-addressed, 
stamped postcard with those comments on which the following statement 
is made: ``Comments to Docket No. FAA-1999-6001.'' The postcard will be 
date stamped and mailed to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded using a modem 
and suitable communications software from the FAA regulations section 
of the FedWorld electronic bulletin board service (telephone: (703) 
321-3339) or the Government Printing Office (GPO)'s electronic bulletin 
board service (telephone: (202) 512-1661.
    Internet users may reach the FAA's web page at http://www.faa.gov/
avr/arm/nprm/nprm.htm or the GPO's web page at http://
www.access.gpo.gov/nara access to recently published rulemaking 
documents.
    Any person may obtain a copy of this document by submitting a 
request to the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Rulemaking, 
ARM-1, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591, or by calling 
(202) 267-9680. Communications must identify the notice number or 
docket number of this NPRM.
    Persons interested in being placed on the mailing list for future 
rulemaking document should request from the above office a copy of 
Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Distribution 
System, which describes the application procedure.

Background

    On July 26, 1999, the FAA published in the Federal Register (64 FR 
40471) Notice No. 99-14, entitled ``Protection of Voluntarily Submitted 
Information'' that would add a new part to provide that certain 
information submitted to the FAA on a voluntary basis would not be 
disclosed. This proposal would implement a new statutory provision and 
is intended to encourage people to provide information that will assist 
the FAA in carrying out its safety and security duties. The comment 
period closed September 24.
    By requests dated September 15 and 22, NTSB asked that the comment 
period by extended 30 days to permit a more careful review and 
consideration of the proposed rule.
    The FAA has determined that a reopening of the comment period will 
allow NTSB, and others as well, additional time for a more thorough 
review of applicable issues and questions raised by the NPRM, and the 
drafting of responsive comments. The FAA recognizes, in addition, that 
the intervening holiday period may have impeded the ability of 
interested persons to formulate comprehensive responses to the issues 
in the NPRM.
    In order, therefore, to give all interested persons additional time 
to complete their comments, the FAA finds that it is in the public 
interest to reopen the comment period for thirty (30) days.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 29, 1999.
Anthony F. Fazio,
Director, Office of Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 99-25853 Filed 10-4-99; 8:45 am]
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