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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 145 (Wednesday, July 29, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 45051]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18502]

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Rules and Regulations
                                                Federal Register
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to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published 
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 145 / Wednesday, July 29, 2015 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 45051]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Parts 401, 413, and 414

[Docket No.: FAA-2015-1745; Amdt. Nos 413-11 and 414-3]
RIN 2120-AK58

Electronic Applications for Licenses, Permits, and Safety 
Approvals

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Direct final rule; confirmation of effective date and response 
to public comments.

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SUMMARY: This action confirms the effective date of the direct final 
rule, request for comments, published on May 27, 2015, and dispositions 
the one public comment received. The rule amends commercial space 
transportation regulations to allow an applicant for a license, 
experimental permit, or safety approval the option of submitting an 
application electronically.

DATES: The effective date of July 27, 2015, for the direct final rule 
published on May 27, 2015 (80 FR 30147), is confirmed.

ADDRESSES: For information on where to obtain copies of rulemaking 
documents and other information related to this action, see ``How To 
Obtain Additional Information'' in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical questions concerning 
this action, contact Shirley McBride, Office of Commercial Space 
Transportation, Regulations and Analysis Division, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; 
telephone (202) 267-7470; email Shirley.McBride@faa.gov.
    For legal questions concerning this action, contact Alex Zektser, 
Office of Chief Counsel, International Law, Legislation, and 
Regulations Division, AGC-250, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-
3073; email Alex.Zektser@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Before publication of the direct final rule on May 27, 2015 
(Electronic Applications for Licenses, Permits, and Safety Approvals, 
80 FR 30147), applications for a license, an experimental permit, or a 
safety approval made under 14 CFR part 413 or 414 had to be submitted 
to the FAA in paper form. The FAA determined that this paper-based 
submission process was unduly burdensome because an electronically-
submitted application would provide the FAA with the same information 
as a paper application. In addition, the Government Paperwork 
Elimination Act (GPEA) requires that, when practicable, a federal 
agency must provide the public with an option to transact with the 
agency electronically.\1\ Accordingly, the FAA published a direct final 
rule, request for comments, amending the application process under 14 
CFR part 413 for a license or experimental permit, and under part 414 
for a safety approval to allow applicants to submit their applications 
electronically.
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    \1\ Office of Management and Budget, Implementation of the 
Government Paperwork Elimination Act, http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/fedreg_gpea2 (explaining implementation of Pub. Law 105-277, sec. 
1704).
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    The comment period on the direct final rule closed on June 26, 
2015. Only one commenter submitted a comment document.

Discussion of Comments

    The FAA only received one comment on June 3, 2015, from an 
individual commenter supporting the final rule. The commenter also 
recommended that in addition to this rulemaking, the FAA also institute 
a practice of providing an electronic response acknowledging receipt of 
the application.

Conclusion

    Because there were no adverse comments submitted on this rulemaking 
and the only comment submitted on the rule supported the agency action, 
the FAA has determined that no further rulemaking action is necessary. 
The direct final rule is effective on July 27, 2015. The FAA will 
consider the additional suggestion submitted by the individual 
commenter separately from this rulemaking action, as the suggestion was 
that the FAA institute a practice in addition to the one that is the 
subject of this rulemaking.

    Issued under authority provided by 49 U.S.C. 160(f), and 51 
U.S.C. 50901-50923 in Washington, DC, on July 23, 2015.
Lirio Liu,
Director, Office of Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 2015-18502 Filed 7-28-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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