95-21018. Review of Existing Rules

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 164 (Thursday, August 24, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 44142]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-21018]




[[Page 44141]]

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Part III





Department of Transportation





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Federal Aviation Administration



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14 CFR Chapter I



Review of Existing Rules; Proposed Rule

Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 164 / Thursday, August 24, 1995 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 44142]]


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Chapter I

[Docket No. 28311]


Review of Existing Rules

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Proposed Regulatory Review Program; Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: To make the regulatory process more responsive to the needs of 
the public and regulated industry, the FAA has included in its 
strategic plan to undertake periodic reviews of its existing 
regulations. This document sets forth the Federal Aviation 
Administration's (FAA) plan to perform future reviews and solicits 
comments.

DATES: Comments concerning this program must be received on or before 
November 22, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this notice in triplicate, to: Federal 
Aviation Administration, Office of Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules 
Docket (AGC-200), Docket No. 28311, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC, 20591, or faxed to [phone]. Comments also may be 
submitted via the Internet to [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Chris A. Christie, Director, Office of Rulemaking, 800 Independence 
Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20591, telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In recent years, the FAA has conducted 
several regulatory reviews.
    On January 10, 1994, the FAA published in the Federal Register (59 
FR 1362) a notice that it was initiating a short-term regulatory review 
in response to a recommendation from the President's National 
Commission to Ensure a Strong Competitive Airline Industry. The notice 
requested each commenter to limit himself/herself in identifying only 
the top three issues/regulations/or problems that needed attention. In 
response to this notice, the FAA received more than 400 comments from 
184 commenters. The agency reviewed, analyzed, published a summary and 
disposition of all comments, and revised its regulatory agenda based on 
them.
    Similarly, in early 1992, pursuant to an Executive Order issued by 
then-President Bush, the Department of Transportation (DOT) and each of 
its modal administrations reviewed all existing regulations. Following 
a solicitation for public comments published in the Federal Register 
(57 FR 4744, February 7, 1992), the FAA received more than 300 comments 
from 30 commenters. The agency reviewed the Federal Aviation 
Regulations taking into consideration the comments received and revised 
its regulatory agenda and priorities accordingly.
    Our experience with the above two reviews has shown that there is 
great value in obtaining public input to the agency's regulatory agenda 
and priorities regardless of whether such input is an affirmation of 
the direction the agency is going or an indication of a need to alter 
course. A public agency must keep itself informed of public need as 
well as the impact its activities have on those regulated. For the 
reasons stated, the FAA would like to continue to obtain public input 
on its regulatory agenda and priorities. Accordingly, the agency 
intends to, on a periodic basis, request public comments for the 
purpose of assistance in determining its future regulatory agenda and 
priorities. In both the 1992 and 1994 efforts, the agency determined 
the public deserved some type of response by the agency to its 
comments. As a result, in each case, the FAA published a summary of the 
comments received with an agency disposition of each comment. The 
summary, analysis, and disposition proved to be resource intensive. 
Since the agency's resources are limited, the expenditure of resources 
in such reviews must be kept under control if they are not to have a 
negative impact on our efforts to keep regulations current. In 
addition, rulemaking actions normally require anywhere from 18 to 36 
months to complete. For these reasons, the FAA proposes to hold such 
reviews every 3 years, and as in the 1994 review limit the commenters 
input to the three issues he/she considers most urgent.

FAA Plan for Periodic Regulatory Reviews

    Beginning January 1997, and every 3 years thereafter, the FAA 
proposes to conduct comprehensive regulatory reviews. The review will 
be initiated with a published announcement in the Federal Register 
inviting the public to identify those regulations, issues, or subject 
areas that should be reviewed by the FAA. In order to focus on those 
areas of greatest interest and to effectively manage agency resources, 
commenters will be expected to limit their input to the three issues 
they consider most urgent. The FAA will review the issues addressed by 
the commenters against its regulatory agenda and rulemaking program 
efforts, and adjust its regulatory priorities consistent with its 
statutory authority and responsibilities.
    At the end of this process, the FAA will publish a summary and 
general disposition of the comments and indicate, where appropriate, 
how its regulatory priorities will be adjusted.

Comments Invited

    The FAA is currently soliciting comments on this periodic 
regulatory review plan. Specifically, the FAA would like to receive 
comment on:
    1. The frequency of the reviews (i.e., every 3 years);
    2. The method for concluding the review (publication of a document 
containing the summary and disposition of comments received); and
    3. Limiting each commenter in identifying the three most important 
issues or areas that he/she believes are appropriate for attention.
    The FAA seeks comments on the above issues to facilitate the 
adoption of a continuing regulatory review process that is responsive 
to concerns raised by the public, assists the agency in setting its 
priorities for future regulatory action, and considers available 
regulatory resources.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 18, 1995.
Anthony J. Broderick,
Associate Administrator for Regulation and Certification.
[FR Doc. 95-21018 Filed 8-23-95; 8:45 am]
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