[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 202 (Friday, October 18, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64330-64331]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-26465]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 119

[Docket No. FAA-2002-13378; Notice No. 02-14]
RIN 2120-AH55


Reports by Carriers on Incidents Involving Animals During Air 
Transport

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 September 27, 2002. In that document, the FAA proposed to 
amend its regulations to implement the requirement established by 
Congress that air carriers providing scheduled passenger air 
transportation submit reports to the Secretary of Transportation on any 
incidents involving the loss, injury or death of an animal during air 
transport provided by the air carrier. This extension is a result of 
requests received during the comment period for the NPRM.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 27, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this document should be mailed or delivered, in 
duplicate, to: U.S. Department of Transportation Dockets, Docket No. 
FAA-2002-13378, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room Plaza 401, Washington, DC 
20590. Comments may be filed and examined in Room Plaza 401 between 9 
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: James W. Whitlow, Office of the Chief 
Counsel, AGC-2, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-3222; facsimile 
(202) 267-3227.

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. 02-14. 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 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. You may also review the docket using the 
Internet at the web address ADDRESSES section.
    Before acting on the proposals in the NPRM, Notice No. 02-14, we 
will 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.

Availability of Rulemaking Documents

    You can get an electronic copy using the Internet by taking the 
following steps:
    (1) Go to the search function of the Department of Transportation's 
electronic Docket Management System (DMS) Web page (http://dms.dot.gov/search).
    (2) On the search page type in the last four digits of the Docket 
number shown at the beginning of this notice. Click on ``search.''
    (3) On the next page, which contains the Docket summary information 
for the Docket you selected, click on the document number of the item 
you wish to view.

Background

    The FAA published a notice (67 FR 61238, September 27, 2002) 
proposing to amend 14 CFR part 119 to implement the requirement 
established by Section 710(a) of Public Law 106-181, the Wendell H. 
Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR-21) 
that air carriers must submit reports on the loss, injury or death of 
an animal during air transport. This information would be submitted to 
the Secretary of Transportation for each month in which an incident or 
incidents occur, through the Animal and Plant

[[Page 64331]]

Health Inspection Service (APHIS), United States Department of 
Agriculture (USDA). The notice also proposed the type and manner of 
information that air carriers would be required to submit to APHIS.

Extension of Comment Period

    In accordance with Sec.  11.47 of Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations, the FAA has reviewed the petitions submitted to the docket 
by several commenters requesting an extension of the comment period to 
Notice No. 02-14 (67 FR 61238). These petitioners requested an 
extension of time to adequately respond to the notice of proposed 
rulemaking. To allow additional time for a more thorough review of 
applicable issues and drafting of responsive comments, the FAA finds 
that there is good cause and it is in the public interest to extend the 
comment period for an additional 60 days beyond the 30 days already 
provided. Accordingly, the comment period for Notice No. 02-14 is 
extended until December 27, 2002.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 10, 2002.
James W. Whitlow,
Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 02-26465 Filed 10-17-02; 8:45 am]
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