[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 21, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14122-14123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-4025]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Parts 25, 91, 121, 125, and 129

[Docket No. FAA-2005-22997; Notice No. 05-14]
RIN 2120-A123


Reduction of Fuel Tank Flammability in Transport Category 
Airplanes

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 published 
on November 23, 2005. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed new rules that 
would require operators and manufacturers of transport category 
airplanes to take steps that, in combination with other required 
actions, should greatly reduce the chance of a catastrophic fuel tank 
explosion. The extension of the comment period is a result of requests 
from a number of entities to allow public comment on new information 
that has recently been placed in the public docket.

DATES: Send your comments on or before May 8, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments on the NPRM, identified by Docket No. 
FAA-2005-22997, using any of the following methods:
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to
http://dms.dot.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For more information on the rulemaking process, see the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of the NPRM.
    Privacy: We will post all comments we receive, without change, to 
http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. For 
more information, see the Privacy Act discussion in the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of the NPRM.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael E. Dostert, FAA Propulsion/
Mechanical Systems Branch, ANM-112, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 227-2132, facsimile (425-227-
1320); e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA continues to invite interested persons to take part in this 
rulemaking by sending written comments, data, or views about the NPRM 
we issued on November 17, 2005, Reduction of Fuel Tank Flammability in 
Transport Category Airplanes (70 FR 70922, November 23, 2005). We also 
invite comments about the economic, environmental, energy, or 
federalism impacts that might result from adopting the proposals in the 
NPRM. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the 
NPRM, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include 
supporting data. We ask that you send us two copies of written 
comments.

Background

    On November 17, 2005, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 
issued Notice No. 05-14, Reduction of Fuel Tank Flammability in 
Transport Category Airplanes (70 FR 70922, November 23, 2005). The 
comment period for the NPRM ends on March 23, 2006.
    We received requests from a number of entities to extend the 
comment period on this NPRM by 60 days. These entities noted that 
information contained in a report prepared for the FAA by Sandia 
National Laboratories, that assesses the effectiveness of previous 
actions resulting from SFAR 88 at reducing the occurrence of ignition 
sources and associated accident rate resulting from fuel tank 
explosions, has only recently been placed in the public docket and they 
requested additional time to consider this information in their 
comments. In addition, the FAA will include copies of independent peer 
reviews of the Sandia Report and the Fuel Tank Flammability Assessment 
User's Manual, in the public docket for the NPRM.
    The FAA agrees with the petitioners' requests for an extension of 
the comment period. We recognize the NPRM's contents are significant 
and complex. Also, the original comment period is insufficient because 
the additional information was not available in the public docket 
earlier in the comment period. Further, we understand that additional 
requests for extensions will be filed shortly by some entities that 
will be directly affected by the proposals in the NPRM. We have 
determined that an additional 45 days will be sufficient to allow for 
all commenters to collect and send information they believe necessary 
for the FAA to understand their concerns on the proposed rules and the 
additional information recently added to the NPRM public docket as 
previously discussed. Absent unusual circumstances, the FAA does not 
anticipate any further extension of the comment period for the NPRM.
    On November 18, 2005, we issued a Notice of availability of 
proposed AC 25.981-2A, Fuel Tank Flammability, and request for comments 
(70 FR 71365; November 28, 2005). This Notice announced the 
availability of and requested comments on a proposed AC which sets 
forth an acceptable means, but not the only means, of demonstrating 
compliance with the provisions of the airworthiness standards in the 
NPRM. The comment period for the proposed AC ends on March 23, 2006 and 
is also being extended by 45 days. The extension of the comment period 
for the proposed AC is being published concurrently with this 
extension.

Extension of Comment Period

    In accordance with 14 CFR 11.47(c), the FAA has reviewed the 
requests of a number of entities for an extension of the comment period 
to the NPRM. The FAA finds that an extension of the comment period for 
Notice No. 05-14 is consistent with the public interest, and that good 
cause exists for taking this action.
    Accordingly, the comment period for Notice No. 05-14 is extended 
until May 8, 2006.


[[Page 14123]]


    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 14, 2006.
John J. Hickey,
Director, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E6-4025 Filed 3-20-06; 8:45 am]
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