[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 231 (Friday, November 30, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 59692-59693]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-29479]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Parts 91, 121, 135, and 145

[Docket No. FAA-1999-5836; Amendment Nos. 91-269, 121-286, 135-82, 145-
27, and SFAR 36-7]
RIN 2120-AC38


Repair Stations

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:  Final rule; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: This action reopens the comment period for a final rule that 
was published on August 6, 2001. In that document, the FAA updated and 
revised the regulations for aeronautical repair stations. The FAA also 
requested comments on the new recordkeeping requirements and its 
decisions to remove appendix A. This reopening of the comment period is 
a result of several requests to allow additional time to comment on the 
paperwork burden associated with the final rule.

DATES: Comments on the paperwork burden associated with the final rule 
must be received on or before January 29, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this document should be mailed or delivered, in 
duplicate, to: U.S. Department of Transportation Dockets, Docket No. 
FAA-1999-5836, 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 any time. Commenters 
who wish to file comments electronically, should follow the 
instructions on the DMS web site.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diana L. Frohn, Aircraft Maintenance 
Division, Air Carrier Maintenance Branch, AFS-330, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; 
telephone (202) 493-4241; facsimile (202) 267-5115.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    An opportunity for comment on the information collection 
requirements of the repair station final rule was not provided during 
the notice of proposed rulemaking stage. Interested persons are invited 
to submit written data, views, or arguments regarding the information 
collection requirements as they may desire. Substantive comments should 
be accompanied 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 
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 FAA before the effective date of the final rule. 
Comments filed late will be considered as far as possible without 
incurring expense or delay.
    Commenters 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-1999-5836.'' The postcard will 
date stamped and mailed to the commenter.

Background

    On July 30, 2001, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued 
Repair Stations; Final Rule with request for comments and direct final 
rule with request for comments (66 FR 41088, August 6, 2001). Comments 
to that document were to be received on or before October 5, 2001.
    Several organizations have requested an extension of the comment 
period. By letter dated September 28, 2001, the Aeronautical Repair 
Station Association, Aircraft Electronics Association, Helicopter 
Association International, National Air Transportation Association, and 
National Air Carrier Association jointly requested that FAA extend the 
comment period until December 31, 2001. The petitioners cited the 
national security events that occurred on September 11, 2001, to 
support their requests for an extension. The petitioners indicated that 
the recent events devastated its member companies. In some cases, the 
personnel needed to collect, compile, evaluate, and respond to the 
request for cost estimates have been laid off. In other cases these 
personnel have been assigned to other responsibilities, making it 
difficult to respond to the request for comments by the October 5, 
2001, deadline. Goodrich Aerostructures Group, also requested that FAA 
extend the comment period.
    The FAA acknowledges that the tragic events of September 11 have 
required the nation's attention and concurs with the petitioner's 
request to extend the comment period on the information collection 
requirements of the final rule. Therefore, the FAA believes as 
additional 60 days is sufficient to allow interest parties to provide 
comment.

Extension of Comment Period

    In accordance with Sec. 11.47 of Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations, the FAA has reviewed the requests for extension of the 
comment period to the repair stations final rule. These petitioners 
have shown a substantive interest in the final rule and good cause for 
the extension. The FAA also has determined that an extension of the 
comment period is consistent with the public interest, and that good 
cause exists for taking this action.
    Accordingly, the comment period for Repair Stations; Final Rule 
request for

[[Page 59693]]

comments on the paperwork burden is extended until January 29, 2002.

    Issued in Washington, DC, November 19, 2001.
Louis C. Cusimano,
Acting Director, Flight Standards Service.
[FR Doc. 01-29479 Filed 11-29-01; 8:45 am]
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