[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 246 (Friday, December 21, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 75600-75601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-30701]



[[Page 75600]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Parts 91, 121, 125, and 135

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0953]


Policy Statement on Occupational Safety and Health Standards for 
Aircraft Cabin Crewmembers; Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability; Extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: This action extends the comment period for a notice of 
availability that was published in the Federal Register on December 7, 
2012. In that document, the FAA announced a proposed policy statement 
regarding the regulation of some occupational safety and health 
conditions affecting cabin crewmembers on aircraft by the Occupational 
Safety and Health Administration. The comment period is scheduled to 
close on January 7, 2013. Several airline associations have requested 
that the FAA extend the comment period for an additional 30 days to 
allow time for their members to evaluate the impacts and implications 
of the proposed policy and prepare comments.

DATES: The comment period for the Notice of availability published on 
December 7, 2012, was scheduled to close on January 7, 2013, and is 
extended until January 22, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments identified by docket number FAA-2012-
0953 using any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S. 
Department of Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Room 
W12-140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket 
Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202-493-2251.
    Privacy: The FAA will post all comments it receives, without 
change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal 
information the commenter provides. Using the search function of the 
docket Web site, anyone can find and read the electronic form of all 
comments received into any FAA docket, including the name of the 
individual sending the comment (or signing the comment for an 
association, business, labor union, etc.). DOT's complete Privacy Act 
Statement can be found in the Federal Register published on April 11, 
2000 (65 FR 19477-19478), as well as at http://DocketsInfo.dot.gov.
    Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at 
http://www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions 
for accessing the docket or Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of the 
West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 
DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gene Kirkendall, Part 121 Air Carrier 
Operations Branch (AFS-200), Flight Standards Service, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591, 
telephone (202) 267-8166; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: See the ``Additional Information'' section 
for information on how to comment on this proposal and how the FAA will 
handle comments received.

Background

    On November 29, 2012, the FAA issued a Notice entitled ``Policy 
Statement on Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Aircraft 
Cabin Crewmembers'' that published in the Federal Register on December 
7, 2012 (77 FR 72998). Comments to that document were to be received on 
or before January 7, 2013.
    By letter dated December 7, 2012, the Regional Airline Association 
(RAA), on behalf of its member airlines, requested that the FAA extend 
the comment period for a minimum of 30 days. The petitioner stated that 
the additional time is necessary so that their members can assess the 
extent of the proposed changes, as well as develop questions and 
comments.
    By letter dated December 10, 2012, Airlines for America (A4A), the 
RAA, and the National Air Carrier Association (NACA) also requested an 
extension of the comment period, as the 30-day comment period over the 
holiday season will make it extremely difficult for their respective 
members to evaluate the impacts and implications of the proposed policy 
and provide meaningful input to the FAA.
    While the FAA concurs with the petitioners' requests for an 
extension of the comment period, it does not support a 30-day 
extension. The FAA finds that providing additional time until January 
22, 2013 is sufficient for these petitioners to analyze the proposed 
policy statement and provide meaningful comment.
    Absent unusual circumstances, the FAA does not anticipate any 
further extension of the comment period for this notice.

Extension of Comment Period

    In accordance with Sec.  11.47(c) of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations, the FAA has reviewed the petitions made by A4A, RAA, and 
NACA for extension of the comment period. These petitioners have shown 
a substantive interest in the proposed policy statement and good cause 
for the extension. The FAA has determined that extension of the comment 
period is consistent with the public interest, and that good cause 
exists for taking this action.
    Accordingly, the comment period is extended until January 22, 2013.

Additional Information

A. Comments Invited

    The FAA invites interested persons to participate by submitting 
written comments, data, or views on the policy statement. The most 
helpful comments reference a specific portion of the policy statement, 
explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting 
data. To ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, 
commenters should send only one copy of written comments, or if 
comments are filed electronically, commenters should submit only one 
time.
    The FAA will file in the docket all comments it receives, as well 
as a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this notice. The FAA will consider all comments it 
receives on or before the closing date for comments. The FAA will 
consider comments filed after the comment period has closed if it is 
possible to do so without incurring expense or delay. The agency may 
change this proposal in light of the comments it receives.

B. Availability of Notice

    An electronic copy of the notice may be obtained from the Internet 
by--
    1. Searching the Federal eRulemaking Portal (http://www.regulations.gov); or
    2. Accessing the Government Printing Office's Web page at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html.

[[Page 75601]]

    Copies may also be obtained by sending a request to the Federal 
Aviation Administration, Office of Rulemaking, ARM-1, 800 Independence 
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591, or by calling (202) 267-9680. 
Commenters must identify the docket of this notice.
    All documents the FAA considered in developing this proposed policy 
statement, may be accessed from the Internet through the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal referenced in item (1) above.

    Issued in Washington, DC, December 14, 2012.
John M. Allen,
Director, Flight Standards Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-30701 Filed 12-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P