[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 241 (Friday, December 14, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 64778]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-30836]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 241 / Friday, December 14, 2001 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 64778]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 93

[Docket No. FAA-2001-11128]
RIN 2120-AG34


Noise Limitations for Aircraft Operations in the Vicinity of 
Grand Canyon National Park

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability of working draft.

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SUMMARY: This document notifies the public that a copy of a working 
draft of a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNPRM) Noise 
Limitations for Aircraft operations in the Vicinity of Grand Canyon 
National Park was released to an industry representative contrary to 
Department of Transportation (DOT) policy. This notice provides 
information to allow other persons the same access to this information 
to ensure fairies in the rulemaking process.

ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the working draft of the SNPRM from 
the DOT public docket through the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov/, 
docket number FAA-2001-11128. If you do not have access to the 
Internet, you may obtain a copy of the working draft by United States 
mail from the Docket Management System, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Room PL401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20590-0001. You must identify Docket Number FAA-2001-11128 and request 
a copy of the working draft of the supplemental notice of proposed 
rulemaking entitled ``Noise Limitations for Aircraft Operations in the 
Vicinity of Grand Canyon National Park''.
    You may also review the public docket in person in the Docket 
Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Office is on the plaza level.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Thomas L. Connor, Manager, 
Technology Division, AEE-100, Office of Environment and Energy, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC, 
20591; Telephone: (202) 267-8933; Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on 
December 31, 1996 entitled ``Nose Limitations for Aircraft Operations 
in the Vicinity of Grand Canyon National Park'' (Noise Limitations 
NPRM, 61 FR 69334; Notice 96-15). This NPRM proposed to establish noise 
efficiency limitations for certain aircraft operations in the vicinity 
of Grand Canyon National Park (GCNP). Given the length of time since 
the issuance of the NPRM, the FAA and the National Park Service (NPS) 
determined that an SNPRM should be issued to provide the public an 
opportunity to comment again in light of developments since 1996. The 
standards for quiet technology proposed in this SNPRM would assist the 
NPS achieve its statutory mandate to provide for the substantial 
restoration of natural quiet and experience in the GCNP. The SNPRM 
would also respond to the comments that the FAA received pertaining to 
the Noise Limitations NPRM.
    A copy of a working draft of the SNPRM (``working draft'') was 
released to an industry representative contrary to Department of 
Transportation policy. We regret this action. To ensure that the 
rulemaking process is open and fair to all, we are placing a copy of 
the working draft in the public docket. the ADDRESSES section above 
provides information about where you may obtain a copy of the working 
draft.
    The FAA, DOT, NPS and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
management have not completed review of the working draft. Therefore, 
it may not accurately represent the agency's final proposal, if one is 
issued. Because the working draft is not yet a formal proposal, and may 
or may not be published, it is premature for the FAA to request 
comments on this document. We have filed the working draft in the 
public docket solely to ensure that all interested persons have access 
to information that was released by the FAA and to ensure that the 
fairness and integrity of the rulemaking process is not compromised.

    Issued in Washington, DC, December 7, 2001.
Paul Dykeman,
Acting Director, Office of Environment and Energy.
[FR Doc. 01-30836 Filed 12-13-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M