Congestion Management Rule for LaGuardia Airport, 62217-62219 [E6-17818]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 205 / Tuesday, October 24, 2006 / Proposed Rules ECU overhaul, 147 engines would have the software installed during ECU repair, and 73 engines would have the software installed, not due to ECU overhaul or repair. It would take about six work-hours per engine to perform the proposed actions (ECU overhauls not included) and the average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of the proposed AD to U.S. operators to be $283,740. GE may provide the software at no cost to the operators, and reimburse the six work-hours labor cost until December 31, 2010. rmajette on PROD1PC67 with PROPOSALS1 Authority for This Rulemaking Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA’s authority to issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section 106, describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the Agency’s authority. We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, ‘‘General requirements.’’ Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on engines identified in this rulemaking action. Regulatory Findings We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would not have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the national Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the proposed regulation: 1. Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory action’’ under Executive Order 12866; 2. Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under the DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and 3. Would not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to comply with this proposed AD. See the ADDRESSES section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation. VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:24 Oct 23, 2006 Jkt 211001 List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety. The Proposed Amendment Under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows: PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES 1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. § 39.13 [Amended] 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive: General Electric Company: Docket No. FAA– 2006–25738; Directorate Identifier 2006– NE–27–AD. Comments Due Date (a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) action by December 26, 2006. Affected ADs (b) None. Applicability (c) This AD applies to General Electric Company (GE) CF6–80C2B1F, –80C2B2F, –80C2B4F, –80C2B5F, –80C2B6F, –80C2B6FA, –80C2B7F, and –80C2B8F turbofan engines with electronic control units (ECUs), installed on Boeing 747 and 767 airplanes. Unsafe Condition (d) This AD results from reports of engine flameout events during flight, including reports of events where all engines simultaneously experienced a flameout or other adverse operation. We are issuing this AD to provide increased margin to flameout and to minimize the potential of an allengine flameout event, due to ice accretion and shedding during flight. Exposure to ice crystals during flight is believed to be associated with these flameout events. Compliance (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions have already been done. Engine ECU Software Installation (f) For Boeing 767 airplanes, within 24 months after the effective date of this AD, install software version 8.2.Q1 to the engine ECU on at least one of the airplane’s affected turbofan engines. (g) For all other affected turbofan engines, install software version 8.2.Q1 to the engine ECU at the next shop visit of the ECU or engine, whichever occurs first, not to exceed five years after the effective date of this AD. (h) Use paragraphs 3.A. through 3.B.(3)(f)4. of the Accomplishment Instructions of GE PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 62217 Service Bulletin No. CF6–80C2 S/B 73–0339, dated November 17, 2005, to do the installation. Definitions (i) For the purposes of this AD: (1) Next shop visit of the engine ECU is when the ECU is removed from the engine for overhaul or for maintenance. (2) Next shop visit of the engine is when the engine is removed from the airplane for maintenance in which a major engine flange is disassembled after the effective date of this AD. The following engine maintenance actions, either separately or in combination with each other, are not considered a next engine shop visit: (i) Removal of the upper high pressure compressor (HPC) stator case solely for airfoil maintenance. (ii) Module-level inspection of the HPC rotor 3–9 spool. (iii) Replacement of stage 5 HPC variable stator vane bushings or lever arms. (iv) Removal of the accessory gearbox. (v) Replacement of the inlet gearbox Teflon seal. Alternative Methods of Compliance (j) The Manager, Engine Certification Office, has the authority to approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. (k) Installation of later FAA-approved ECU software versions that follow version 8.2.Q1, are acceptable alternative methods of compliance to this AD. Special Flight Permits (l) Under 14 CFR part 39.23, special flight permits are prohibited. Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on October 18, 2006. Thomas A. Boudreau, Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. E6–17742 Filed 10–23–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–13–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 93 [Docket No. FAA–2006–25709; Notice No. 06–13] RIN 2120–AI70 Congestion Management Rule for LaGuardia Airport Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); extension of comment period. AGENCY: SUMMARY: This action extends the comment period for the NPRM published August 29, 2006 (71 FR 51360). Under the NPRM, the FAA proposed to establish an operational E:\FR\FM\24OCP1.SGM 24OCP1 rmajette on PROD1PC67 with PROPOSALS1 62218 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 205 / Tuesday, October 24, 2006 / Proposed Rules limit on the number of aircraft landing and taking off at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. This extension is a result of requests from the Airports Council International—North America (ACI– NA), the Air Transport Association of America (ATA) and the Regional Airline Association (RAA), and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (Port Authority) for additional time to comment on the proposal. DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 29, 2006. ADDRESSES: You may send comments to Docket No. FAA–2006–25709 using any of the following methods: • DOT Docket Web site: Go to https:// dms.dot.gov and follow the instructions for sending your comments electronically. • Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to https://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– 001. • 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 this document. Privacy: We will post all comments we receive, without change, to https:// dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. For more information, see the Privacy Act discussion in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. Docket: To read background documents or comments received, go to https://dms.dot.gov at any time or to 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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Molly W. Smith, Office of Aviation Policy and Plans, APO–001, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267–3275; e-mail molly.w.smith@faa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments Invited The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:24 Oct 23, 2006 Jkt 211001 views. We also invite 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. We ask that you send us two copies of written comments. We will file in the docket all comments we receive, as well as a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. The docket is available for public inspection before and after the comment closing date. If you wish to review the docket in person, go to the address in the ADDRESSES section of this preamble between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also review the docket using the Internet at the web address in the ADDRESSES section. Privacy Act: Using the search function of our docket Web site, anyone can find and read the comments received into any of our dockets, including the name of the individual sending the comment (or signing the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477–78) or you may visit https://dms.dot.gov. Before acting on this proposal, we will consider all comments we receive on or before the closing date for comments. We will consider comments filed late if it is possible to do so without incurring expense or delay. We may change this proposal in light of the comments we receive. If you want the FAA to acknowledge receipt of your comments on this proposal, include with your comments a pre-addressed, stamped postcard on which the docket number appears. We will stamp the date on the postcard and mail it to you. Proprietary or Confidential Business Information Do not file in the docket information that you consider to be proprietary or confidential business information. Send or deliver this information directly to the person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document. You must mark the information that you consider proprietary or confidential. If you send the information on a disk or CD ROM, mark the outside of the disk or CD ROM and also identify electronically within the disk or CD ROM the specific PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 information that is proprietary or confidential. Under 14 CFR 11.35(b), when we are aware of proprietary information filed with a comment, we do not place it in the docket. We hold it in a separate file to which the public does not have access, and place a note in the docket that we have received it. If we receive a request to examine or copy this information, we treat it as any other request under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). We process such a request under the DOT procedures found in 49 CFR part 7. Background On August 29, 2006, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued Notice No. 06–13, ‘‘Congestion Management Rule for LaGuardia Airport’’ (71 FR 51360). The comment period for the NPRM was 60 days, scheduled to end on October 30, 2006. In a comment submitted to the docket assigned to the NPRM (Docket No. FAA–2006–25709), the Airports Council International—North America (ACI–NA) requested we extend the comment period an additional 30 days. In a letter dated September 22, 2006, ACI–NA stated that the NPRM is a highly significant rulemaking that will affect its members, including the Port Authority. ACI–NA stated that the comment period was too short to adequately examine and address all potential effects on its members, especially effects on smallhub and non-hub airports. ACI–NA requested the FAA extend the comment period to expire on November 29, 2006. On October 3, 2006, the Air Transport Association of America (ATA) and Regional Airline Association (RAA) submitted a joint comment requesting extension of the comment period. ATA and RAA requested an extension of the comment period to consider, research, and understand the operational consequences and the legal and policy implications of the NPRM. Additionally, ATA and RAA feel an extension of the comment period would not delay the rulemaking since the FAA is still seeking legislative authority to complete it and has published a proposal to place temporary limitations on operations through an Order.1 ATA and RAA stated that the NPRM raises significant policy and legal questions, including issues under the Administrative Procedures Act, FAA’s authority to regulate aircraft size and service, authority to withdraw operating rights, and economic and 1 Proposed Order, ‘‘Operating Limitations at New York LaGuardia Airport,’’ published in the Federal Register on September 14, 2006. (71 FR 54331) (Docket FAA–2006–25755). E:\FR\FM\24OCP1.SGM 24OCP1 rmajette on PROD1PC67 with PROPOSALS1 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 205 / Tuesday, October 24, 2006 / Proposed Rules financial impacts on airlines operating at the airport. Additionally, ATA stated that the FAA has had years to consider and develop an economic analysis to support the proposed rule, and 60 days is not enough time for its staff to review the FAA’s Regulatory Evaluation properly and produce its own report. ATA and RAA feel that since the final rule is dependent on legislative authority they believe may not be granted until 2008, and the FAA’s own proposed Order will maintain current operations through September 2007, promulgation of the final rule will not be delayed by extending the comment period until January 22, 2007. On October 6, 2006, the Port Authority requested that the comment period for the NPRM be extended an additional 180 days until April 27, 2007. The Port Authority, as the operator of the airport, requests the extension to research, consider, and thoroughly understand the operational consequences and the legal and policy implications of the proposal. The Port Authority also states that it is concurrently preparing a response to the FAA’s proposed Order and will be able to focus more time on responding to the NPRM if the comment period is extended through April 2007. On October 10, 2006, ATA and RAA submitted a joint letter of support for the Port Authority’s request that the comment period be extended until April 27, 2007. We have considered the requests for extension presented by ACI, ATA and RAA, and the Port Authority and weighed the requests against the interest of proceeding with the comment period closing on the originally intended date. We agree there are important legal, policy, and operational issues involved in the NPRM, and we wish to provide adequate time for all affected parties to evaluate the proposal in its entirety. To date, we have received three specific requests for extension and consider their merits equal. The FAA agrees that an extension for the comment period is in the public interest; however, we feel that sufficient justification has not been given for an extension beyond 60 days. ATA and RAA’s request for a 90-day extension is based, in part, on an apparent misunderstanding that FAA must obtain legislative authority to complete the proposed rule. At a meeting FAA attended at ATA on September 19th, to answer clarifying technical questions related to the NPRM, FAA made clear its intentions to issue a Final rule prior to receiving any legislative authority to implement market based mechanisms such as auctions or congestion pricing at VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:24 Oct 23, 2006 Jkt 211001 LaGuardia. (A summary of this meeting is being placed in the docket.) The NPRM states that subsequent rulemaking would be required to address the reallocation of expired Operating Authorizations or to implement any new legislative authority. Similarly, the Port Authority does not provide a compelling rationale as to why they would need a 180-day extension to the comment period. An eight-month comment period is not warranted even granted the complexity of this NPRM. Therefore, the comment period for Notice No. 06–13 is extended an additional 60 days and will expire on December 29, 2006. This extension should provide commenters with sufficient time to complete any review and submit comment. Absent unusual circumstances, the FAA does not anticipate any further extension of the comment period for this rulemaking. Extension of Comment Period In accordance with § 11.29(c) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, the FAA has reviewed the petitions made by the Airports Council International— North America, Air Transport Association and Regional Airline Association, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for extension of the comment period to Notice No. 06–13. The petitioners have a substantive interest in the proposed rule and the FAA has determined that an extension of the comment period is consistent with the public interest. Accordingly, the comment period for Notice No. 06–13 is extended until December 29, 2006. Issued in Washington, DC, October 17, 2006. Nan Shellabarger, Director, Office of Aviation Policy and Plans. [FR Doc. E6–17818 Filed 10–23–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–13–P DEPARTMENT OF STATE 22 CFR Part 72 [Public Notice 5582] RIN: 1400–AC24 Deaths and Estates Department of State. Proposed rule with request for comments. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: The Department of State is proposing to update and amend its regulations on deaths and estates in 22 CFR part 72. The existing regulations were originally issued in 1957. They needed to be redrafted in plain language PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 62219 and changed to reflect changes in State Department statutory authority and current practice. Sections 234 and 235 of the James W. Nance and Meg Donovan Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2000 and 2001 made some changes to consular officer and State Department responsibilities with respect to the deaths and personal estates of United States citizens and non-citizen nationals abroad that must be reflected in the regulations. DATES: The State Department will accept comments on this proposed regulation until December 26, 2006. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods (no duplicates, please): • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • Electronically: You may submit electronic comments to AskPRI@state.gov. Attachments must be in Microsoft Word. • Mail: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, CA/OCS/ PRI, 2100 Pennsylvania Avenue (SA– 29), 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20037. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward A. Betancourt, Monica Gaw or Michael Meszaros, Overseas Citizens Services, Department of State, 2100 Pennsylvania Avenue, 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20037, 202–736–9110, fax number 202–736–9111. Hearing or speech-impaired persons may use the Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDD) by contacting the Federal Information Relay Service at 1–800– 877–8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Legal Authority Sections 234 and 235 of the James W. Nance and Meg Donovan Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2000 and 2001 (Pub. L. 106–113), (hereinafter ‘‘the Act’’), as codified in 22 U.S.C. 2715b and 2715c. II. Introduction This proposed rule details the handling of deaths and estates of American citizens who die abroad by the U.S. State Department. Legislation was passed in the year 2000 amending many of the statutes authorizing the State Department to perform this function. Many of the CFR provisions are unchanged since 1957. Some need revision because of the legislation; others are out of date. This proposed rule amends the existing regulations in 22 CFR part 72 and implements Sections 234 and 235 of the James W. Nance and Meg Donovan E:\FR\FM\24OCP1.SGM 24OCP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 205 (Tuesday, October 24, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 62217-62219]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-17818]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 93

[Docket No. FAA-2006-25709; Notice No. 06-13]
RIN 2120-AI70


Congestion Management Rule for LaGuardia Airport

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); extension of comment 
period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This action extends the comment period for the NPRM published 
August 29, 2006 (71 FR 51360). Under the NPRM, the FAA proposed to 
establish an operational

[[Page 62218]]

limit on the number of aircraft landing and taking off at New York's 
LaGuardia Airport. This extension is a result of requests from the 
Airports Council International--North America (ACI-NA), the Air 
Transport Association of America (ATA) and the Regional Airline 
Association (RAA), and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey 
(Port Authority) for additional time to comment on the proposal.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 29, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments to Docket No. FAA-2006-25709 using any 
of the following methods:
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to https://dms.dot.gov and 
follow the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to https://
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 20590-001.
     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 this document.
    Privacy: We will post all comments we receive, without change, to 
https://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. For 
more information, see the Privacy Act discussion in the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this document.
    Docket: To read background documents or comments received, go to 
https://dms.dot.gov at any time or to 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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Molly W. Smith, Office of Aviation 
Policy and Plans, APO-001, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-
3275; e-mail molly.w.smith@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this 
rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. We also 
invite 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. We ask that you send us two copies of written 
comments.
    We will file in the docket all comments we receive, as well as a 
report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel 
concerning this proposed rulemaking. The docket is available for public 
inspection before and after the comment closing date. If you wish to 
review the docket in person, go to the address in the ADDRESSES section 
of this preamble between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. You may also review the docket using the 
Internet at the web address in the ADDRESSES section.
    Privacy Act: Using the search function of our docket Web site, 
anyone can find and read the comments received into any of our dockets, 
including the name of the individual sending the comment (or signing 
the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal 
Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78) or you may visit 
https://dms.dot.gov.
    Before acting on this proposal, we will consider all comments we 
receive on or before the closing date for comments. We will consider 
comments filed late if it is possible to do so without incurring 
expense or delay. We may change this proposal in light of the comments 
we receive.
    If you want the FAA to acknowledge receipt of your comments on this 
proposal, include with your comments a pre-addressed, stamped postcard 
on which the docket number appears. We will stamp the date on the 
postcard and mail it to you.

Proprietary or Confidential Business Information

    Do not file in the docket information that you consider to be 
proprietary or confidential business information. Send or deliver this 
information directly to the person identified in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document. You must mark the 
information that you consider proprietary or confidential. If you send 
the information on a disk or CD ROM, mark the outside of the disk or CD 
ROM and also identify electronically within the disk or CD ROM the 
specific information that is proprietary or confidential.
    Under 14 CFR 11.35(b), when we are aware of proprietary information 
filed with a comment, we do not place it in the docket. We hold it in a 
separate file to which the public does not have access, and place a 
note in the docket that we have received it. If we receive a request to 
examine or copy this information, we treat it as any other request 
under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). We process such a 
request under the DOT procedures found in 49 CFR part 7.

Background

    On August 29, 2006, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 
issued Notice No. 06-13, ``Congestion Management Rule for LaGuardia 
Airport'' (71 FR 51360). The comment period for the NPRM was 60 days, 
scheduled to end on October 30, 2006.
    In a comment submitted to the docket assigned to the NPRM (Docket 
No. FAA-2006-25709), the Airports Council International--North America 
(ACI-NA) requested we extend the comment period an additional 30 days. 
In a letter dated September 22, 2006, ACI-NA stated that the NPRM is a 
highly significant rulemaking that will affect its members, including 
the Port Authority. ACI-NA stated that the comment period was too short 
to adequately examine and address all potential effects on its members, 
especially effects on small-hub and non-hub airports. ACI-NA requested 
the FAA extend the comment period to expire on November 29, 2006.
    On October 3, 2006, the Air Transport Association of America (ATA) 
and Regional Airline Association (RAA) submitted a joint comment 
requesting extension of the comment period. ATA and RAA requested an 
extension of the comment period to consider, research, and understand 
the operational consequences and the legal and policy implications of 
the NPRM. Additionally, ATA and RAA feel an extension of the comment 
period would not delay the rulemaking since the FAA is still seeking 
legislative authority to complete it and has published a proposal to 
place temporary limitations on operations through an Order.\1\ ATA and 
RAA stated that the NPRM raises significant policy and legal questions, 
including issues under the Administrative Procedures Act, FAA's 
authority to regulate aircraft size and service, authority to withdraw 
operating rights, and economic and

[[Page 62219]]

financial impacts on airlines operating at the airport. Additionally, 
ATA stated that the FAA has had years to consider and develop an 
economic analysis to support the proposed rule, and 60 days is not 
enough time for its staff to review the FAA's Regulatory Evaluation 
properly and produce its own report. ATA and RAA feel that since the 
final rule is dependent on legislative authority they believe may not 
be granted until 2008, and the FAA's own proposed Order will maintain 
current operations through September 2007, promulgation of the final 
rule will not be delayed by extending the comment period until January 
22, 2007.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Proposed Order, ``Operating Limitations at New York 
LaGuardia Airport,'' published in the Federal Register on September 
14, 2006. (71 FR 54331) (Docket FAA-2006-25755).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On October 6, 2006, the Port Authority requested that the comment 
period for the NPRM be extended an additional 180 days until April 27, 
2007. The Port Authority, as the operator of the airport, requests the 
extension to research, consider, and thoroughly understand the 
operational consequences and the legal and policy implications of the 
proposal. The Port Authority also states that it is concurrently 
preparing a response to the FAA's proposed Order and will be able to 
focus more time on responding to the NPRM if the comment period is 
extended through April 2007. On October 10, 2006, ATA and RAA submitted 
a joint letter of support for the Port Authority's request that the 
comment period be extended until April 27, 2007.
    We have considered the requests for extension presented by ACI, ATA 
and RAA, and the Port Authority and weighed the requests against the 
interest of proceeding with the comment period closing on the 
originally intended date. We agree there are important legal, policy, 
and operational issues involved in the NPRM, and we wish to provide 
adequate time for all affected parties to evaluate the proposal in its 
entirety. To date, we have received three specific requests for 
extension and consider their merits equal. The FAA agrees that an 
extension for the comment period is in the public interest; however, we 
feel that sufficient justification has not been given for an extension 
beyond 60 days. ATA and RAA's request for a 90-day extension is based, 
in part, on an apparent misunderstanding that FAA must obtain 
legislative authority to complete the proposed rule. At a meeting FAA 
attended at ATA on September 19th, to answer clarifying technical 
questions related to the NPRM, FAA made clear its intentions to issue a 
Final rule prior to receiving any legislative authority to implement 
market based mechanisms such as auctions or congestion pricing at 
LaGuardia. (A summary of this meeting is being placed in the docket.) 
The NPRM states that subsequent rulemaking would be required to address 
the reallocation of expired Operating Authorizations or to implement 
any new legislative authority. Similarly, the Port Authority does not 
provide a compelling rationale as to why they would need a 180-day 
extension to the comment period. An eight-month comment period is not 
warranted even granted the complexity of this NPRM. Therefore, the 
comment period for Notice No. 06-13 is extended an additional 60 days 
and will expire on December 29, 2006. This extension should provide 
commenters with sufficient time to complete any review and submit 
comment. Absent unusual circumstances, the FAA does not anticipate any 
further extension of the comment period for this rulemaking.

Extension of Comment Period

    In accordance with Sec.  11.29(c) of Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations, the FAA has reviewed the petitions made by the Airports 
Council International--North America, Air Transport Association and 
Regional Airline Association, and the Port Authority of New York and 
New Jersey for extension of the comment period to Notice No. 06-13. The 
petitioners have a substantive interest in the proposed rule and the 
FAA has determined that an extension of the comment period is 
consistent with the public interest.
    Accordingly, the comment period for Notice No. 06-13 is extended 
until December 29, 2006.

    Issued in Washington, DC, October 17, 2006.
Nan Shellabarger,
Director, Office of Aviation Policy and Plans.
 [FR Doc. E6-17818 Filed 10-23-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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