552 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 3 / Tuesday, January 6, 2004 / Proposed Rules 

2002–6717 by any of the following 

methods: 

• Web site: http://dms.dot.gov.

Follow the instructions for submitting 

comments on the DOT electronic docket 

site. 

• Fax: 1–202–493–2251. 

• Mail: Docket Management Facility; 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 

Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 

Room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590–

001. 

• 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. 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

online instructions for submitting 

comments. 

Instructions: All submissions must 

include the agency name and docket 

number or Regulatory Identification 

Number (RIN) for this rulemaking. For 

detailed instructions on submitting 

comments and additional information 

on the rulemaking process, see the 

Public Participation heading of the 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of 

this document. Note that all comments 

received will be posted without change 

to http://dms.dot.gov including any 

personal information provided. Please 

see the Privacy Act heading under 

Regulatory Notices. 

Docket: For access to the docket to 

read background documents or 

comments received, go to http://

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: Eric 

vanOpstal, Flight Standards Service, Air 

Transportation Division, AFS–200, 

Federal Aviation Administration, 800 

Independence Avenue SW., 

Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 

267–3774; facsimile (202) 267–5229.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

The FAA invites interested persons to 

participate in this proposed rulemaking 

by submitting written comments, data, 

or views. We also invite comments 

relating to the economic, environmental, 

energy, or federalism impact 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. 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. 

Regulatory Notices 

Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search 

the electronic form of all comments 

received into any of our dockets by the 

name of the individual submitting the 

comment (or signing the comment, if 

submitted 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 (Volume 

65, Number 70; Pages 19477–78) or you 

may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Availability of Rulemaking Documents 

You can get an electronic copy using 

the Internet by taking the following 

steps: 

(1) Go to the search function of the 

Department of Transportation’s 

electronic Docket Management System 

(DMS) Web page (http://dms.dot.gov/

search).

(2) On the search page type in the last 

five digits of the Docket number shown 

at the beginning of this notice. Click on 

‘‘search.’’

(3) On the next page, which contains 

the Docket summary information for the 

Docket you selected, click on the 

document number of the item you wish 

to view. 

You can also get an electronic copy 

using the Internet through FAA’s Web 

page at http://www.faa.gov/avr/arm/

nprm/nprm.htm or the Federal 

Register’s Web page at http://

www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/

aces140.html.

You can also get a copy by submitting 

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. Make sure to 

identify the docket number, notice 

number, or amendment number of this 

rulemaking. 

Background 

The FAA published a notice (68 FR 

64730, November 14, 2003) proposing to 

issue regulations governing the design, 

maintenance, and operations of 

airplanes and engines for flights that go 

beyond certain distances from an 

adequate airport. The notice provided 

for a 60-day comment period, ending on 

January 13, 2004. 

Extension of Comment Period 

In accordance with § 11.47 of Title 14, 

Code of Federal Regulations, the FAA 

has reviewed the petitions submitted to 

the docket by several commenters 

requesting an extension of the comment 

period to Notice No. 03–11 (68 FR 

64730). These petitioners requested an 

extension of time to adequately respond 

to the notice of proposed rulemaking. 

To allow additional time for a more 

thorough review of applicable issues 

and drafting of responsive comments, 

the FAA finds that there is good cause 

and it is in the public interest to extend 

the comment period for an additional 60 

days beyond the 60 days already 

provided. Accordingly, the comment 

period for Notice No. 03–11 is extended 

until March 15, 2004.

Issued in Washington, DC, on December 

31, 2003. 

John M. Allen, 

Acting Director, Flight Standards Service.

[FR Doc. 03–32335 Filed 12–31–03; 2:31 pm] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 73 

[Docket No. FAA–2003–16438; Airspace 

Docket No. 03–ASW–02] 

RIN 2120–AA66 

Proposed Modification of Restricted 

Areas 3801A, 3801B, and 3801C, Camp 

Claiborne, LA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY: This action proposes to revise 

Restricted Area 3801A (R–3801A), 

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 3 / Tuesday, January 6, 2004 / Proposed Rules 553

3801B (R–3801B), and 3801C (R–

3801C), at Camp Claiborne, LA. The 

United States Air Force (USAF) 

requested that the FAA take action to 

eliminate the area currently designated 

as R–3801A; expand the vertical limits 

of the areas currently designated as R–

3801B and R–3801C; and reconfigure R–

3801B and R–3801C into a new R–

3801A, R–3801B, and R–3801C. 

Additionally, the USAF has requested 

that the FAA take action to change the 

controlling agency of R–3801A, R–

3801B, and R–3801C from the FAA, 

Houston Air Route Traffic Control 

Center (ARTCC), to the U.S. Army, Fort 

Polk Approach Control. These 

modifications are proposed to fulfill 

new USAF training requirements for the 

practice of high altitude release 

bombing.

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before February 20, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this 

proposal to the Docket Management 

System, U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Room Plaza 401, 400 

Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 

20590–0001. You must identify ‘‘FAA 

Docket No. FAA–2003–16438 and 

Airspace Docket No. 03-ASW–02,’’ at 

the beginning of your comments. You 

may also submit comments on the 

Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Steve Rohring, Airspace and Rules 

Division, ATA–400, Office of Air Traffic 

Airspace Management, Federal Aviation 

Administration, 800 Independence 

Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; 

telephone: (202) 267–8783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

Interested parties are invited to 

participate in this proposed rulemaking 

by submitting such written data, views, 

or arguments as they may desire. 

Comments that provide the factual basis 

supporting the views and suggestions 

presented are particularly helpful in 

developing reasoned regulatory 

decisions on the proposal. Comments 

are specifically invited on the overall 

regulatory, aeronautical, economic, 

environmental, and energy-related 

aspects of the proposal. 

Communications should identify both 

docket numbers (FAA Docket No. FAA–

2003–16438 and Airspace Docket No. 

03–ASW–02) and be submitted in 

triplicate to the Docket Management 

System (see ADDRESSES section for 

address and phone number). You may 

also submit comments through the 

Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

Commenters wishing the FAA to 

acknowledge receipt of their comments 

on this notice must submit with those 

comments a self-addressed, stamped 

postcard on which the following 

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to FAA 

Docket No. FAA–2003–16438 and 

Airspace Docket No. 03–ASW–02.’’ The 

postcard will be date/time stamped and 

returned to the commenter. 

All communications received on or 

before the specified closing date for 

comments will be considered before 

taking action on the proposed rule. The 

proposal contained in this action may 

be changed in light of comments 

received. All comments submitted will 

be available for examination in the 

public docket both before and after the 

closing date for comments. A report 

summarizing each substantive public 

contact with FAA personnel concerned 

with this rulemaking will be filed in the 

docket. 

Availability of NPRMs 

An electronic copy of this document 

may be downloaded through the 

Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. Recently 

published rulemaking documents can 

also be accessed through the FAA’s Web 

page at http://www.faa.gov or the 

Federal Register’s Web page at http://

www.gpo.access.gov/fr/index.html

You may review the public docket 

containing the proposal, any comments 

received, and any final disposition in 

person at the Dockets Office (see 

ADDRESSES section for address and 

phone number) between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. An informal docket 

may also be examined during normal 

business hours at the office of the 

Regional Air Traffic Division, Federal 

Aviation Administration, 2601 

Meacham Blvd; Fort Worth, TX 76193–

0500. 

Persons interested in being placed on 

a mailing list for future NPRM’s should 

call the FAA’s Office of Rulemaking, 

(202) 267–9677, for a copy of Advisory 

Circular No. 11–2A, Notice of Proposed 

Rulemaking Distribution System, which 

describes the application procedure. 

The Proposal 

As a result of new USAF training 

requirements, the FAA is proposing an 

amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 

Regulations (14 CFR) part 73 (part 73) to 

revise R–3801A, R–3801B, and R–

3801C, at Camp Claiborne, LA. The 

USAF requested that the FAA take 

action to eliminate the area currently 

designated as R–3801A; expand the 

vertical limits of the areas currently 

designated as R–3801B and R–3801C 

from 14,000 feet MSL to FL 230; and 

reconfigure R–3801B and R–3801C into 

a new R–3801A, R–3801B, and R–

3801C. The lateral boundaries of the 

new R–3801A, R–3801B, and R–3801C 

would be the same as the current R–

3801B and R–3801C. The altitude 

structure for the revised airspace areas 

would be from the surface to 10,000 feet 

MSL for R–3801A; 10,000 feet MSL to 

FL180 for R–3801B; and FL180 to FL230 

for R–3801C. The additional airspace is 

required to fulfill new USAF training 

requirements. Specifically, the new 

training requirements call for practicing 

the release of bombs from higher 

altitudes than are currently available 

within the existing airspace areas. 

Additionally, the USAF has requested 

that the FAA take action to change the 

controlling agency of R–3801A, R–

3801B, and R–3801C from the FAA, 

Houston ARTCC, to the U.S. Army, Fort 

Polk Approach Control. 

The FAA has determined that this 

proposed regulation only involves an 

established body of technical 

regulations for which frequent and 

routine amendments are necessary to 

keep them operationally current. 

Therefore, this proposed regulation: (1) 

Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory action’’

under Executive Order 12866; (2) is not 

a ‘‘significant rule’’ under DOT 

Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 

FR 11034; February 26, 1979); and (3) 

does not warrant preparation of a 

regulatory evaluation as the anticipated 

impact is so minimal. Since this is a 

routine matter that will only affect air 

traffic procedures and air navigation, it 

is certified that this rule, when 

promulgated, will not have a significant 

economic impact on a substantial 

number of small entities under the 

criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. 

Environmental Review 

This proposal will be subjected to an 

environmental analysis in accordance 

with FAA Order 1050.1D, Procedures 

for Handling Environmental Impacts, 

prior to any FAA final regulatory action.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 73 

Airspace, Navigation (air).

The Proposed Amendment 

In consideration of the foregoing, the 

Federal Aviation Administration 

proposes to amend 14 CFR part 73 as 

follows:

PART 73—SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE 

1. The authority citation for part 73 

continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40103, 40113, 

40120; E.O. 10854, 24 FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959–

1963 Comp., p. 389.

554 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 3 / Tuesday, January 6, 2004 / Proposed Rules 

§ 73.63 [Amended] 

2. § 73.63 is amended as follows:

* * * * *

R–3801A Camp Claiborne, LA (Amended) 

By removing the current boundaries, 

designated altitudes, and controlling agency, 

and substituting the following: 

Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 31°11′46′′ N., 

long. 92°30′16′′ W.; to lat. 31°05′16′′ N., long. 

92°34′51′′ W.; to lat. 31°13′56′′ N., long. 

92°49′46′′ W.; to lat. 31°18′01′′ N., long. 

92°46′31′′ W.; to lat. 31°15′16′′ N., long. 

92°41′46′′ W.; to lat. 31°17′11′′ N., long. 

92°40′11′′ W.; to the point of beginning. 

Designated altitudes. Surface to, but not 

including, 10,000 feet MSL. 

Controlling agency. U.S. Army, Fort Polk 

Approach Control.

* * * * *

R–3801B Camp Claiborne, LA (Amended) 

By removing the current boundaries, 

designated altitudes, and controlling agency 

and substituting the following: 

Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 31°11′46′′ N., 

long. 92°30′16′′ W.; to lat. 31°05′16′′ N., long. 

92°34′51′′ W.; to lat. 31°13′56′′ N., long. 

92°49′46′′ W.; to lat. 31°18′01′′ N., long. 

92°46′31′′ W.; to lat. 31°15′16′′ N., long. 

92°41′46′′ W.; to lat. 31°17′11′′ N., long. 

92°40′11′′ W.; to the point of beginning. 

Designated altitudes. 10,000 feet MSL to, 

but not including, FL 180. 

Controlling agency. U.S. Army, Fort Polk 

Approach Control.

* * * * *

R–3801C Camp Claiborne, LA (Amended) 

By removing the current boundaries, 

designated altitudes, and controlling agency 

and substituting the following: 

Boundaries. Beginning at lat. 31°11′46′′ N., 

long. 92°30′16′′ W.; to lat. 31°05′16′′ N., long. 

92°34′51′′ W.; to lat. 31°13′56′′ N., long. 

92°49′46′′ W.; to lat. 31°18′01′′ N., long. 

92°46′31′′ W.; to lat. 31°15′16′′ N., long. 

92°41′46′′ W.; to lat. 31°17′11′′ N., long. 

92°40′11′′ W.; to the point of beginning. 

Designated altitudes. FL 180 to FL 230. 

Controlling agency. U.S. Army, Fort Polk 

Approach Control.

* * * * *

Issued in Washington, DC, on December 

30, 2003. 

Paul Gallant, 

Acting Manager, Airspace and Rules Division.

[FR Doc. 04–238 Filed 1–5–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

20 CFR Part 416 

RIN 0960–AF84 

Determining Income and Resources 

under the Supplemental Security 

Income (SSI) Program

AGENCY: Social Security Administration.

ACTION: Proposed rules.

SUMMARY: We propose to revise our 

regulations that explain how we 

determine an individual’s income and 

resources under the supplemental 

security income (SSI) program in order 

to achieve three program 

simplifications. First, we propose to 

eliminate clothing from the definition of 

income and from the definition of inkind support and maintenance. As a 

result, we generally will not count gifts 

of clothing as income when we decide 

whether a person can receive SSI 

benefits or when we compute the 

amount of the benefits. Second, we 

propose to change our resourcecounting rules in the SSI program by 

eliminating the dollar value limit for the 

exclusion of household goods and 

personal effects. As a result, we would 

not count household goods and personal 

effects as resources when we decide 

whether a person can receive SSI 

benefits. Third, we propose to change 

our rules for excluding an automobile in 

determining the resources of an SSI 

applicant or recipient. We propose to 

exclude one automobile (the ‘‘first’’

automobile) from resources if it is used 

for transportation for the individual or 

a member of the individual’s household, 

without consideration of its value. 

These changes will simplify our rules, 

making them less cumbersome to 

administer and easier for the public to 

understand and follow. Our experience 

of nearly 30 years of processing SSI 

claims indicates that these 

simplifications would have minimal 

effect on the outcome of SSI eligibility 

determinations.

DATES: To be sure that we consider your 

comments, we must receive them by 

March 8, 2004.

ADDRESSES: You may give us your 

comments by: using our Internet site 

facility (i.e., Social Security Online) at 

http://policy.ssa.gov/pnpublic.nsf/

LawsRegs or the Federal eRulemaking 

Portal: http://www.regulations.gov; email to regulations@ssa.gov; telefax to 

(410) 966–2830; or letter to the 

Commissioner of Social Security, P.O. 

Box 17703, Baltimore, Maryland 21235–

7703. You may also deliver them to the 

Office of Regulations, Social Security 

Administration, 100 Altmeyer Building, 

6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, 

Maryland 21235–6401, between 8 a.m. 

and 4:30 p.m. on regular business days. 

Comments are posted on our Internet 

site, or you may inspect them on regular 

business days by making arrangements 

with the contact person shown in this 

preamble. 

Electronic Version 

The electronic file of this document is 

available on the date of publication in 

the Federal Register at http://

www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html. It is 

also available on the Internet site for 

SSA, Social Security Online, at http://

policy.ssa.gov/pnpublic.nsf/LawsRegs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Robert Augustine, Social Insurance 

Specialist, Office of Regulations, Social 

Security Administration, 100 Altmeyer 

Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, 

Baltimore, MD 21235–6401, (410) 965–

0020 or TTY (410) 966–5609. For 

information on eligibility or filing for 

benefits, call our national toll-free 

number, 1–800–772–1213 or TTY 1–

800–325–0778, or visit our Internet site, 

Social Security Online, at http://

www.socialsecurity.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

The basic purpose of the SSI program 

(title XVI of the Social Security Act (the 

Act)) is to ensure a minimum level of 

income to people who are age 65 or 

older, or blind or disabled, and who 

have limited income and resources. The 

law provides that payments can be 

made only to people who have income 

and resources below specified amounts. 

Therefore, the amount of income and 

resources a person has is a major factor 

in deciding whether the person can 

receive SSI benefits and in computing 

the amount of the benefits. 

The General Accounting Office (GAO) 

has reported that annual costs to the 

Federal government for administering 

means-tested Federal programs are 

significant and that eligibility 

determination activities make up a 

substantial portion of these costs 

(Means-Tested Programs: Determining 

Financial Eligibility is Cumbersome and 

Can Be Simplified, GAO–02–58,

November 2, 2001 available at http://

www.gao.gov). In particular, the GAO 

cited the variations and complexity of 

Federal financial eligibility rules as 

contributing to processes that are often 

duplicative and cumbersome for staff 

workers (including state and local 

caseworkers) and for those who apply 

for assistance. In order to streamline our 

eligibility determination process, as 

well as make our financial eligibility 

rules more consistent with those of 

other means-tested Federal programs, 

we propose to make the following 

changes to our rules on determining 

income and resources under the SSI 

program.