
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 189 (Monday, October 2, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67683-67684]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-21581]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Parts 25, 27, 29, 91, 121, 125, and 135

[Docket No.: FAA-2019-0491; Notice No. 23-12]
RIN 2120-AK34


Interior Parts and Components Fire Protection for Transport 
Category Airplanes; Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM); Extension 
of comment period.

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SUMMARY: This action extends the comment period for a SNPRM titled 
``Interior Parts and Components Fire Protection for Transport Category 
Airplanes'' that was published on August 17, 2023. In that document, 
the FAA provided additional information on its proposed elimination of 
a smoke emissions testing requirement. The FAA also changed its 
calculations related to the proposed rule's costs and benefits. The FAA 
is extending the comment period closing date to allow commenters

[[Page 67684]]

additional time to analyze the proposed rule and prepare a response.

DATES: The comment period for the SNPRM published on August 17, 2023, 
at 88 FR 55941, is extended. Comments should be received on or before 
November 30, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2019-0491 
using any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 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: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments 
from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts 
these comments, without edit, including any personal information the 
commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system 
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 
www.dot.gov/privacy.
    Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at 
www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions for 
accessing the docket or go to the 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: Jeff Gardlin, AIR-20, Office of Senior 
Technical Experts, Aircraft Certification Service, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; 
telephone (206) 231-3146; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

A. Comments Invited

    The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this 
rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. The agency 
also invites comments relating to the economic, environmental, energy, 
or federalism impacts that might result from adopting the proposals in 
this document. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion 
of the proposal, 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 proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this 
proposal, 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 Rulemaking Documents

    An electronic copy of rulemaking documents may be obtained from the 
internet by--
    1. Searching the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov;
    2. Visiting the FAA's Regulations and Policies web page at 
www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/; or
    3. Accessing the Government Printing Office's web page at 
www.GovInfo.com.
    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 or notice number of this 
rulemaking.
    All documents the FAA considered in developing this proposed rule, 
including economic analyses and technical reports, may be accessed from 
the internet through the Federal eRulemaking Portal referenced in item 
(1) above.

Background

    On August 17, 2023, the FAA published a SNPRM titled ``Interior 
Parts and Components Fire Protection for Transport Category Airplanes'' 
in the Federal Register (88 FR 55941; Notice No. 23-12). In the SNPRM, 
the FAA provided additional information on its proposed elimination of 
a smoke emissions testing requirement. The FAA also changed its 
calculations related to the proposed rule's costs and benefits. 
Although the rule language is repeated in the SNPRM for completeness, 
there are no changes to the rule language as originally proposed in the 
associated NPRM. The FAA is extending the comment period closing date 
to allow commenters additional time to analyze the proposed rule and 
prepare a response. Commenters were instructed to provide comments on 
or before October 2, 2023 (i.e., 45 days from the date of publication 
of the SNPRM).
    Since publication, the FAA has received five requests to extend the 
comment period by an additional one hundred and twenty (120) days. The 
commenters requested more time to review the proposed rule and develop 
comments and recommendations.
    The FAA grants the petitioners' request for an extension of the 
comment period. The FAA recognizes the importance of the proposed rule 
and that an extension would help commenters craft complete and 
thoughtful responses. However, the FAA believes that an additional 
sixty (60) days provides sufficient opportunity to review the SNPRM and 
provide comments. With this extension, the comment period will now 
close on November 30, 2023. This will provide the public with a total 
of one hundred and five (105) days to conduct its review and submit 
comments to the docket.
    The FAA will not grant any additional requests to further extend 
the comment period for this rulemaking.

Extension of Comment Period

    In accordance with Sec.  11.47(c) of Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations, the FAA has reviewed the petitions for extension of the 
comment period for this notice. The petitioners have shown a 
substantive interest in the proposed policy and good cause for the 
extension of the comment period. The FAA has determined that an 
extension of the comment period for an additional sixty (60) days to 
November 30, 2023 is consistent with the public interest, and that good 
cause exists for taking this action.
    Accordingly, the comment period for Notice No. 23-12 is extended 
until November 30, 2023.

    Issued under authority provided by 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 44701(a), 
and 44703 in Washington, DC.
Brandon Roberts,
Executive Director, Office of Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 2023-21581 Filed 9-29-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


