Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration: Reduction of Fuel Tank Flammability in Transport Category Airplanes, GAO-09-164R, November 12, 2008
The Honorable Daniel
K. Inouye
Chairman
The Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison
Ranking Minority Member
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
The Honorable James L.
Oberstar
Chairman
The Honorable John L. Mica
Ranking Minority Member
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
House of Representatives
Subject: Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration: Reduction of Fuel Tank Flammability in Transport Category Airplanes
Pursuant to section
801(a)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code, this is our report on a major rule
promulgated by the Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), entitled “Reduction of Fuel Tank Flammability in
Transport Category Airplanes” (RIN: 2120-AI23).
We received the rule on
The final rule amends FAA regulations to require operators and manufacturers of transport category airplanes to take steps that, in combination with other required actions, should reduce the chances of a catastrophic fuel tank explosion. The final rule does not direct the adoption of specific inerting technology either by manufacturers or operators, but establishes a performance-based set of requirements that set acceptable flammability exposure values in tanks most prone to explosion or require the installation of an ignition mitigation means in an affected fuel tank.
The final rule has an effective date of
Enclosed is our assessment of the FAA’s compliance with the procedural steps required by section 801(a)(1)(B)(i) through (iv) of title 5 with respect to the rule. Our review indicates that, except for the delay in the effective date, FAA complied with the applicable requirements.
If you have any questions about this report or wish to contact GAO officials responsible for the evaluation work relating to the subject matter of the rule, please contact Michael R. Volpe, Assistant General Counsel, at (202) 512-8236.
signed
Robert J. Cramer
Associate General Counsel
Enclosure
cc: Nancy
Molitor
Program Analyst
Department of Transportation
ENCLOSURE
REPORT UNDER 5 U.S.C. sect. 801(a)(2)(A) ON A MAJOR
RULE
ISSUED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
ENTITLED
"REDUCTION OF FUEL TANK FLAMMABILITY IN
TRANSPORT CATEGORY AIRPLANES"
(RIN: 2120-AI23)
(i) Cost-benefit analysis
FAA conducted a cost-benefit analysis and determined that this final rule has benefits that justify its costs. FAA notes that when modeling discrete rare events such as fuel tank explosions, it is important to evaluate the distribution around the mean value rather than to rely only on a single point estimated value. This variability analysis indicates there is a substantial (23 percent) probability that the quantified benefits will be greater than the costs.
(ii) Agency actions relevant to the Regulatory
Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. sections 603-605, 607, and 609
FAA concluded that this final rule will have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities and conducted a
regulatory flexibility analysis for this final rule. FAA detailed in the final rule alternatives
considered to minimize adverse impacts on small entities. FAA concluded that the final rule provided the
best balance of cost and benefits for the
(iii) Agency actions relevant to sections 202-205 of
the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. sections 1532-1535
FAA concluded that the final rule contains a federal mandate that will impose expenditures of $136.1 million or more in any one year by state, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector. FAA evaluated the costs and benefits of eight alternatives to the final rule.
(iv) Other relevant information or requirements under
acts and executive orders
Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. sections 551 et seq.
The final rule was issued using the notice and comment
procedures found at 5 U.S.C. sect. 553. On
Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. sections 3501-3520
The final rule contains new or modified information collection requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. FAA submitted a copy of these collection requirements to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. OMB approved the information collection and assigned OMB Control Number 2120-0710.
Statutory authorization for the rule
The final rule is promulgated under the authority in 49 U.S.C.sections 106(g), 40113, 44701, 44702, and 44704.
Executive Order No. 12,866
The final rule was reviewed by OMB and found to be an “economically significant” regulatory action under the order.
Executive Order No. 13,132 (Federalism)
FAA determined that this final rule will 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. Therefore, it will not have federalism implications.