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###### Department of Transportation

###### Federal Aviation Administration

          - 14 CFR Part 193
          - [Docket No.: FAA-2014-0142]
          - RIN 2120-AA66

# AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

# ACTION:

Notice of Proposed Order Designating Safety Information as Protected from Disclosure

# SUMMARY:

The FAA is proposing that safety information provided to it by Federal Contract Tower employees (hereinafter “Vendor”) under the SAFER-FCT Program or by Air Traffic Organization Engineers & Architects, Staff Support Specialists, Aviation Technical System Specialists (Series 2186) and Flight Procedures Team (hereinafter “Region X”) under the ATSAP-X program be designated by an FAA Order as protected from public disclosure in accordance with the provisions of 14 CFR part 193. The designation is intended to encourage persons to voluntarily provide information to the FAA under the SAFER-FCT or the ATSAP-X safety reporting programs, so the FAA can learn about and address aviation safety hazards of which it was unaware or more fully understand and implement corrective measures for events known by it through other means. Under 49 U.S.C. 40123, the FAA is required to protect information from disclosure to the public, including disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) or other laws, following the issuance of such Order.

# DATES:

Comments must be received on or before May 4, 2015.

# ADDRESSES:

                        You may send comments identified by docket number FAA-2014-0142 using any of the following methods: via mail to U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington DC 20590-0339; telephone (202) 366-9826. You must identify the FAA Docket No. FAA-2014-0142 at the beginning of your comments. You may also submit comments through the Internet at                         *http://www.regulations.gov.*

      ( print page 18169)    

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

                        Coleen Hawrysko—Group Manager, ATO Safety Programs, Federal Aviation Administration, 490 L'Enfant Plaza, Suite 7200, Washington, DC 20024 or via email at                         *coleen.hawrysko@faa.gov*                         or phone at 202-267-8807.                    

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

## Comments Invited

Interested parties are invited to participate in this proposed designation 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 clearly identify docket number FAA-2014-0142 and be submitted in triplicate to the Docket Management System (see                     **ADDRESSES**                     section for address and phone number). Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments on this action must submit with those comments a self-addressed stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: “Comments to FAA-2014-0142. The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.                

All communications received on or before the 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 proposed designation will be filed in the docket.

## Availability of This Proposed Designation

                    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the Internet at                     *http://www.regulations.gov.*                     Recently published rulemaking documents can also be accessed through the FAA's Web page at                     *http://www.gov/​airports_​airtraffic/​air_​traffic/​publications.*

                    You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any comments received, and any final disposition in person in the Dockets Office (see the                     **ADDRESSES**                     section for the address and phone number) between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. An informal docket may also be examined during normal business hours at the Northwest Mountain Regional Office of the Federal Aviation Administration, Air Traffic Organization, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057.                

You can get an electronic copy using the Internet by:

                    1. Searching the Department of Transportation's electronic Docket Management System (DMS) Web page);                     *http://www.regulations.gov;*

                    2. Visiting the FAA's Regulations and Polices Web page at                     *http://www.faa.gov/​regulations_​policies;*                     or                

                    3. Accessing the Government Publishing Office's Web page at                     *http://www.gpo.gov/​fdsys/​browse/​collection.action?​collectionCode=​FR.*

*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) or you may visit                     *http://www.regulations.gov.*

## Background

Under Title 49 of the United States Code (49 U.S.C.), section 40123, certain voluntarily provided safety and security information is protected from disclosure in order to encourage persons to provide the information. The FAA must first issue an Order that specifies why the agency finds that the information should be protected in accordance with 49 U.S.C., section 40123. The FAA's rules for implementing that section are in 14 CFR part 193. If the Administrator issues an Order designating information as protected under 49 U.S.C., section 40123, that information will not be disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act (Title 5 of the United States Code (5 U.S.C.), section 552) or other laws, except as provided in 49 U.S.C. 40123, 14 CFR part 193, and the Order designating the information as protected. This Order is issued under part 193, section 193.11, which sets out the notice procedure for designating information as protected.

## 2. Applicability

This proposed designation is applicable to any FAA office that receives information covered under this designation from the SAFER-FCT Program or the ATSAP-X Program, both of which will be incorporated in FAA Order 7200.20, Voluntary Safety Reporting Programs. The proposed designation would also apply to any other government agency that receives such information from the FAA. For any other government agency to receive SAFER-FCT or ATSAP-X information covered under the proposed designation from the FAA, each such agency must first stipulate, in writing, that it will abide by the provisions of part 193 and the Order designating the SAFER-FCT and ATSAP-X information as protected from public disclosure under 14 CFR part 193.

## 3. Summary

                    a.                     *Qualified Participants.*                     Region X employees who are covered under the Consolidated Collective Bargaining agreement (CBA) between NATCA and the FAA effective May 22, 2013, or its successor, and other employees identified in FAA Order 7200.22 which will be incorporated in FAA Order 7200.20, are eligible to complete a ATSAP-X report for events that occur while acting in that capacity. Vendor employees Union or Non-Union who are covered under the FAA and the Federal Contract Tower September 2011 contract, or its successor, and other employees identified in FAA Order 7200.20 are eligible to complete a SAFER-FCT report for events that occur while acting in that capacity.                

### b. Voluntarily-Provided Information Protected From Disclosure Under the Proposed Designation

Except for SAFER-FCT or ATSAP-X reports that involve possible criminal conduct, substance abuse, controlled substances, alcohol, or intentional falsification, the following information would be protected from disclosure:

(1) the content of any report concerning an aviation safety or security matter that is submitted by a qualified participant under the SAFER-FCT or ATSAP-X that is accepted into either program, including the SAFER-FCT or ATSAP-X report, and the name of the submitter of the report. Notwithstanding the foregoing, mandatory information about occurrences that are required to be reported under FAA Orders or ATO guidance is not protected under this designation, unless the same information has also been submitted or reported under other procedures prescribed by the Agency. The exclusion is necessary to assure that the information protected under this designation has been voluntarily submitted. It also permits changes to ATO Orders and guidance without requiring a change to this designation.

                    (2) Any evidence gathered by the Event Review Committee during its investigation of a safety- or security-                          ( print page 18170)                        related event reported under SAFER-FCT or ATSAP-X, including the SAFER-FCT or ATSAP-X investigative file.                

# Note: 

The type of information or circumstances under which the information listed above would not be protected from disclosure is discussed in paragraph 3.b of this Order. 

                    c.                     *Ways to Participate.*                     FAA employees who are qualified participants register for, and submit a report into, the system.                

                    d.                     *Duration of This Information-Sharing Program.*                     This program continues as long as it is provided for by Order or a collective bargaining agreement.                

## 4. Findings

The FAA designates information received from a SAFER-FCT or ATSAP-X submission as protected under 49 U.S.C. 40123 and 14 CFR 193.7, based on the following findings:

                    a.                     *Summary of why the FAA finds that the information will be provided voluntarily.*                     The FAA finds that the information will be provided voluntarily. This finding is supported by the significant increase in reports of safety-related matters since the implementation of voluntary safety reporting programs. No FAA or Vendor employee is required to participate in the SAFER-FCT or ATSAP-X.                

                    b.                     *Description of the type of information that may be voluntarily provided under the program and a summary of why the FAA finds that the information is safety- related.*

(1) The following types of reports are ordinarily submitted under the SAFER-FCT or ATSAP-X:

                    i.                     *Noncompliance reports.*                     Noncompliance reports identify specific instances of a failure to follow FAA directives.                

                    ii.                     *Aviation safety concern reports.*                     Aviation safety concerns that do not involve specific noncompliance with FAA directives. These may include, but are not limited to potential safety events or perceived problems with policies, procedures, and equipment.                

(2) Region X employees support the design, delivery and efficiency of flight services throughout the National Airspace System (NAS) facilities, systems and equipment. Reports submitted by these employees under ATSAP-X ordinarily involve matters or observations occurring during the performance of their job responsibilities, and therefore the information submitted is inherently safety related. Vendor employees provide and support the provision of air traffic services at Federal Contract Tower facilities throughout the NAS. Reports submitted by these employees under SAFER-FCT ordinarily involve occurrences or problems identified or experienced during the performance of their job responsibilities which directly affect safety.

                    c.                     *Summary of why the FAA finds that the disclosure of the information would inhibit persons from voluntarily providing that type of information.*

The FAA finds that disclosure of the information would inhibit the voluntary provision of that type of information. Employees are unwilling to voluntarily provide detailed information about safety events and concerns, including those that might involve their own failures to follow Agency directives and policies, if such information could be released publicly. If information is publicly disclosed, there is a strong likelihood that the information could be misused for purposes other than to address and resolve the reported safety concern. Unless the FAA can provide assurance that safety-related reports will be withheld from public disclosure, employees will not participate in the programs.

                    d.                     *Summary of why the receipt of that type of information aids in fulfilling the FAA's safety responsibilities.*

The FAA finds that receipt of information in SAFER-FCT or ATSAP-X reports aids in fulfilling the FAA's safety responsibilities. Because of its capacity to provide early identification of needed safety improvements, this information offers significant potential for addressing hazards that could lead to incidents or accidents. In particular, one of the benefits of both the SAFER-FCT and ATSAP-X is that they encourage the submission of narrative descriptions of occurrences that provide more detailed information than is otherwise available. The SAFER-FCT and ATSAP-X have produced safety-related data that is not available from any other source. Receipt of this previously unavailable information has provided the FAA with an improved basis for modifying procedures, policies, and regulations to improve safety and efficiency.

                    e.                     *Consistencies and inconsistencies with FAA safety responsibilities.*

The FAA finds that withholding SAFER-FCT and ATSAP-X information from public release is consistent with the FAA's safety responsibilities, because it encourages individuals to provide important safety information that it otherwise might not receive.

(1) Withholding SAFER-FCT and ATSAP-X information from disclosure, as described in this designation, is consistent with the FAA's safety responsibilities. Without the Agency's ability to assure that the detailed information reported under these programs, which often explains why the event occurred or describes underlying problems, will not be disclosed, the information will not be provided to the FAA. Employees are concerned that public release of the information could result in potential misuses of the information that could affect them negatively. If the FAA does not receive the information, the FAA and the public will be deprived of the opportunity to make the safety improvements that receipt of the information otherwise enables. Corrective action under SAFER-FCT and ATSAP-X can be accomplished without disclosure of protected information. For example, for acceptance under both programs, the reporting employee must comply with Event Review Committee recommendations for corrective action, such as additional training for an employee. If the employee fails to complete corrective action in a manner satisfactory to all members of the Event Review Committee, the event may be referred to an appropriate office within the FAA for any additional investigation, reexamination, and/or action, as appropriate.

                    (2) The FAA may release SAFER-FCT or ATSAP-X information submitted to the agency, as specified in Part 193 and this Order. For example, to explain the need for changes in FAA policies, procedures, and regulations, the FAA may disclose de-identified, summarized information that has been derived from SAFER-FCT or ATSAP-X reports or extracted from the protected information listed under paragraph 5b. The FAA may disclose de-identified, summarized SAFER-FCT or ATSAP-X information that identifies a systemic problem in the NAS, when a party needs to be advised of the problem in order to take corrective action. Under the current version of FAA Order N JO 7200.20, reported events and possible violations may be subject to investigation, reexamination, and/or action. Although the report itself and the content of the report are not used as evidence, the FAA may use the knowledge of the event or possible violation to generate an investigation, and, in that regard, the information is not protected from disclosure. To withhold information from such limited release would be inconsistent with the FAA's safety responsibilities. In addition, reports that appear to involve possible criminal activity, substance abuse, controlled substances, alcohol, or                           ( print page 18171)                        intentional falsification will be referred to an appropriate FAA office for further handling. The FAA may use such reports for enforcement purposes, and will refer such reports to law enforcement agencies, if appropriate. To withhold information in these circumstances would be inconsistent with the agency's safety responsibilities because it could prevent, or at least diminish the FAA's ability to effectively address egregious misconduct.                

                    f.                     *Summary of how the FAA will distinguish information protected under part 193 from information the FAA receives from other sources.*

All employee SAFER-FCT and ATSAP-X reports are clearly labeled as such. Each employee must submit their own report.

## 5. Designation

The FAA designates the information described in paragraph 5b to be protected from disclosure in accordance with 49 U.S.C., section 40123 and 14 CFR part 193.

Issued in Washington, DC on March 27, 2015.

Michael P. Huerta,

Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration.

[FR Doc. 2015-07743 Filed 4-2-15; 8:45 am]

 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P