Appendix to Part 801 - Fee Schedule

1. Fees (pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 483a). Upon request, services relating to public documents are available at the following fees:

A. Publications

(1) The response to public requests for the following NTSB publications are handled by the National Technical Information Service (NTIS). The following publications are available through single copies or annual subscriptions and may be purchased in paper copy or 98 page per film microfiche (fees are subject to change by NTIS):

Single copiesCalendar year subscriptionMicrofichePB84-910400 Aircraft Accident Reports $5.00 $55.00 (1)PB84-916200 Highway Accident Reports (1) 50.00 (1)PB84-916300 Railroad Accident Reports (1) 55.00 (1)PB84-916400 Marine Accident Reports (1) 60.00 (1)PB84-916500 Pipeline Accident Reports (1) 45.00 (1)PB84-916900 Aviation Accident Briefs (1) 160.00 (1)PB84-917100 Highway Accident Briefs 12.50 (2) (1)PB84-917200 Railroad Accident Briefs 12.50 (2) (1)PB84-917300 Marine Accident Briefs 10.00 (2) (1)PB84-917400 Pipeline Accident Briefs 10.00 (2) (1)PB84-916600 Transportation Safety Recommendations (1) 55.00 (1)PB84-916700 Transportation Initial Decisions and Orders and Board Opinions & Orders (1) 200.00 (1)PB84-917000 Transportation Special Reports 3(1) 50.00 (1)1 Variable prices based on number of pages; contact NTIS for price quote.2 Highway, Railroad, Marine and Pipeline brief subscriptions are available by standing order only and require an NTIS deposit account (they are issued at irregular intervals, and charges at single copy rates will be made only as reports are distributed).3 Transportation Special Reports [this category includes all forms of Safety Studies (formerly titled Special Studies, and Safety Effectiveness Evaluations), Special Investigation Reports, and Railroad/Highway Accident Reports].

(2) Send publication orders for the above documents to the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia 22161, identifying each subscription by the NTSB Report Number or the NTIS accession number. Telephone [phone] (annual subscriptions) or [phone] (single copies or microfiche). The NTSB Report Number and the NTIS accession number can be obtained from the NTSB Public Inquiries Section.

B. Access to transportation accident files (all modes). All files dated prior to January 1, 1978, are in hard copy form and are maintained in the Federal Records Center. Files dated January 1, 1978, to present are maintained in microfiche at the NTSB headquarters. All documents in the Board's public files may be examined, without charge, in the Board's public reference room, located in the Public Inquiries Section, Room 805F, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC, telephone [phone]. A self-service duplicator in the reference room is available for use by the public at a nominal cost. Usually, two weeks’ time is required to service a request for reproduction. Filling any request for reproduction of a file that must be retrieved from the Federal Records Center will require two additional weeks.

(1) Availability of accident files. All transportation mode accident files are retained in accordance with the following schedule:

a. Air carrier accident files and all public hearing files are retained for a period of fifteen (15) years and then destroyed.

b. All other transportation accident files are retained for a period of seven (7) years and then destroyed.

(2) Reproduction of accident files. Reproduction of accident files (statements, photographs, hearing transcripts, and other material contained in the Board's accident investigation files) is provided by commercial contractor. Reproduction of printed matter and photographs are made from the best copy available. Requests must be forwarded to the Public Inquiries Section, National Transportation Safety Board, Washington, DC 20594. The contractor may bill and/or require full payment before duplicating the requested documents. Fees are subject to change depending upon the terms of the Board's annual contract.

Current fees are:

a. Microfiche Duplicate, $1.65 b. Microfiche Blowback, .11 c. Aperture Card Blowback, 1.40 d. Photographs (from aperture card): 8″x10″ B&W Glossy Print, 1.65 8″x10″ Color Prints, 2.75 5″x7″ Color Prints, 2.47 31/2″x5″ Color Prints, 2.47 e. Hardcopy Reproduction: 81/2″x11″ .14 81/2″x14″ .10 10″x14″ .05 Oversized Pages (Larger than 10″x14″), .03/sq. in. f. Photographs (from prints): 8″x10″ B&W Glossy Prints, 1.65 8″x10″ Color Prints, 2.75 5″x7″ Color Prints, 2.47 31/2″x5″ Color Prints, 2.47 2″x2″ Color Slides, 2.47 g. Minimum Order Complete File, 1.00 h. Preliminary Report (only), 1.35 i. Probable Cause (only), 1.35

C. Request for other Board information. Requests for any other Board information such as files on safety recommendations, safety studies, Board orders, Board opinions and orders, and initial decisions are available at a cost of 14 cents per page(s) ($1.00 minimum charge). These services are provided by a public contractor who may pre-bill or require full payment before duplicating the requested documents. Requests must be forwarded to the Public Inquiries Section, National Transportation Safety Board, Washington, DC 20594.

D. Reproduction services through the commercial contractor are handled as follows:

Step 1: Requestor places written or telephone order with the Board's Public Inquiries Section for desired documents.

Step 2: The Public Inquiries Section identifies the documents and forwards the request to the contractor.

Step 3: The contractor provides the requestor with an invoice showing the actual costs for the service requested plus postage.

Step 4: Requestor returns a copy of the contractor's invoice with full payment enclosed. Requestor has the option of opening a charge account with the contractor, and contractor will accept major credit cards. (Contractor must respond to request within five working days after receipt of payment.)

Step 5: Contractor reproduces documents and mails them directly to the requestor.

E. Expedited service. A $2.25 surcharge will be made for expedited service which will be provided within 2 working days commencing when the contractor receives advance payment or other arrangements have been made with the contractor.

F. A fee of $4.00 will be charged for certification of documents under the Board's seal.

G. Computer tapes and services for aviation accidents. The duplication of computer tapes (or a portion thereof) will be made on requestor supplied magnetic tape for a fee of $40.00. The requestor must provide a 2,400-foot magnetic tape certified to at least 1,600 bits per inch. Computer tape requests should be addressed to the Public Inquiries Section, National Transportation Safety Board, Washington, DC 20594.

H. The basic fees set forth provide for ordinary first-class postage prepaid. If registered, certified, air, or special delivery mail is requested, postal fees therefor will be added to the basic fee. Also, if special handling or packaging is required, the cost will be added to the basic fee.

2. Services available free of charge.

A. The following documents are available without commercial reproduction cost until limited supplies are exhausted:

(1) Press releases, (2) Safety Board regulations (chapter VIII of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations), (3) Indexes to initial decisions, Board orders, opinion and orders, and staff manuals and instructions, (4) Safety recommendations, and (5) NTSB Annual Report.

B. NTSB News Digest. The News Digest describes NTSB activities and summarizes certain publications. The News Digest is free, and anyone who is interested in being added to this mailing list should contact the Public Inquiries Section, National Transportation Safety Board, Washington, DC 20594.

3. Documents search fee—The Board has determined that it is in the public interest to eliminate fees for the first hour of search time. For all time expended in locating documents beyond the initial hour, the fee is $5.00 per hour.

4. Publication, reproduction, and search fees are waived for qualifying foreign countries, international organizations, nonprofit public safety entities, State and Federal transportation agencies, and colleges and universities, after approval by the Director, Bureau of Administration. In addition, fees may be waived or reduced for other requestors not in any of the foregoing categories, when it is determined by the Director, Bureau of Administration that a waiver is appropriate and would contribute to the Board's programs.