[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 103 (Wednesday, May 29, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37361-37362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-13366]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 121

[Docket No. FAA-2002-11301; Notice No. 02-04]
RIN 2120-AH14


Antidrug and Alcohol Misuse Prevention Programs for Personnel 
Engaged in Specified Aviation Activities; Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); extension of comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: This action extends the comment period for an NPRM that was 
published on February 28, 2002. In that document, the FAA proposed to 
clarify regulatory language, increase consistency between the antidrug 
and alcohol misuse prevention program regulations where possible, and 
revise regulatory provisions as appropriate. This extension is a result 
of a joint request from 14 entities.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 29, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this document should be mailed or delivered, in 
duplicate, to: U.S. Department of Transportation Dockets, Docket No. 
FAA-2002-11301, 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: Diane J. Wood, Manager, AAM-800, Drug 
Abatement Division, Office of Aerospace Medicine, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591, 
telephone number (202) 267-8442.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this 
rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. We also 
invite comments relating to the economic, environmental, energy, or 
federalism impacts that might result from adopting the proposals in the 
NPRM, Notice No. 02-04. The most helpful comments reference a specific 
portion of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, 
and include supporting data. We ask that you send us two copies of 
written comments.
    We will file in the docket all comments we receive, as well as a 
report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel 
concerning this proposed rulemaking. The docket is available for public 
inspection before and after the comment closing date. If you wish to 
review the docket in person, go to the address in the ADDRESSES section 
of this preamble between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also review the docket using 
the Internet at the web address in the ADDRESSES section.
    Before acting on the proposals in the NPRM, Notice No. 02-04, we 
will

[[Page 37362]]

consider all comments we receive on or before the closing date. We will 
consider comments filed late if it is possible to do so without 
incurring expense or delay. We may change the proposals in light of the 
comments we receive.
    If you want the FAA to acknowledge receipt of your comments, 
include with your comments a pre-addressed, stamped postcard on which 
the docket number appears. We will stamp the date on the postcard and 
mail it to you.

Background

    On February 28, 2002, the FAA published NPRM, Notice No. 02-04, 
Antidrug and Alcohol Misuse Prevention Programs for Personnel Engaged 
in Specified Aviation Activities (67 FR 9366). Comments to that 
document were to be received on or before May 29, 2002.
    By letter dated April 29, 2002, 14 entities jointly requested that 
the FAA extend the comment period for NPRM, Notice No. 02-04, for 90 
days. The entities wanted additional time to gather, develop, and 
analyze data to support their comments regarding a proposed change 
clarifying the applicability of the drug and alcohol testing 
regulations to contractors. In addition, subsequent to the April 29 
joint request, a representative of one of the entities notified the FAA 
that the regulatory evaluation was missing from the electronic docket.
    While the FAA agrees that additional time for comments may be 
needed because of the inadvertent administrative error in the 
electronic docket, the FAA believes that a 90-day extension would be 
excessive. Therefore, the FAA believes an additional 60 days would be 
adequate for these entities to provide comment to NPRM, Notice No. 02-
04.

Extension of Comment Period

    In accordance with [sect] 11.47 of Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations, the FAA has reviewed the April 29 joint request made by 
the 14 entities for extension of the comment period to NPRM, Notice No. 
02-04. Also, the FAA has recognized that there was an administrative 
error when information was inadvertently omitted from the electronic 
docket. Therefore, the FAA has found good cause for extending the 
comment period for 60 days. The FAA also has determined that extension 
of the comment period is consistent with the public interest.
    Accordingly, the comment period for NPRM, Notice No. 02-04, is 
extended until July 29, 2002.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 23, 2002.
Jon L. Jordan,
Federal Air Surgeon.
[FR Doc. 02-13366 Filed 5-28-02; 8:45 am]
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