80_FR_15559 80 FR 15503 - Prohibition Against Certain Flights Within the Tripoli (HLLL) Flight Information Region (FIR); Extension of Expiration Date

80 FR 15503 - Prohibition Against Certain Flights Within the Tripoli (HLLL) Flight Information Region (FIR); Extension of Expiration Date

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 56 (March 24, 2015)

Page Range15503-15507
FR Document2015-06697

This action extends the prohibition of flight operations within the Tripoli (HLLL) Flight Information Region (FIR) by all: U.S. air carriers; U.S. commercial operators; persons exercising the privileges of an airman certificate issued by the FAA, except when such persons are operating a U.S.-registered aircraft for a foreign air carrier; and operators of U.S.-registered civil aircraft, except operators of such aircraft that are foreign air carriers. The extension of the expiration date is necessary to address a potential hazard to persons and aircraft engaged in such flight operations. Additionally, the FAA is amending the prohibition to make clear that operations by sub-contractors under a U.S. Government department, agency, or instrumentality's contract, grant, or cooperative agreement may be included in an approval request and to remove an obsolete reference to paragraph 8 of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1973. The FAA is also revising the approval conditions that will apply to operations authorized by other U.S. Government departments, agencies, and instrumentalities that are approved by the FAA, and the information about requests for exemption, to reflect the termination of statutory authorization for the FAA premium war risk insurance program.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 56 (Tuesday, March 24, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 56 (Tuesday, March 24, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15503-15507]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06697]



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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 56 / Tuesday, March 24, 2015 / Rules 
and Regulations

[[Page 15503]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 91

[Docket No.: FAA-2011-0246; Amdt. No. 91-321B]
RIN 2120-AK70


Prohibition Against Certain Flights Within the Tripoli (HLLL) 
Flight Information Region (FIR); Extension of Expiration Date

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule and extension of expiration date.

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

SUMMARY: This action extends the prohibition of flight operations 
within the Tripoli (HLLL) Flight Information Region (FIR) by all: U.S. 
air carriers; U.S. commercial operators; persons exercising the 
privileges of an airman certificate issued by the FAA, except when such 
persons are operating a U.S.-registered aircraft for a foreign air 
carrier; and operators of U.S.-registered civil aircraft, except 
operators of such aircraft that are foreign air carriers. The extension 
of the expiration date is necessary to address a potential hazard to 
persons and aircraft engaged in such flight operations. Additionally, 
the FAA is amending the prohibition to make clear that operations by 
sub-contractors under a U.S. Government department, agency, or 
instrumentality's contract, grant, or cooperative agreement may be 
included in an approval request and to remove an obsolete reference to 
paragraph 8 of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1973. 
The FAA is also revising the approval conditions that will apply to 
operations authorized by other U.S. Government departments, agencies, 
and instrumentalities that are approved by the FAA, and the information 
about requests for exemption, to reflect the termination of statutory 
authorization for the FAA premium war risk insurance program.

DATES: The final rule is effective March 20, 2015. This action extends 
the period during which Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) No. 
112, scheduled to expire on March 20, 2015, will remain in effect. The 
expiration date is extended until March 20, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical questions concerning 
this action, contact Will Gonzalez, Air Transportation Division, AFS-
220, Flight Standards Service Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone 202-267-8166; 
email [email protected].
    For legal questions concerning this action, contact Mary Mason, 
Office of the Chief Counsel, AGC-200, Federal Aviation Administration, 
800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-
8018; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Good Cause for Immediate Adoption

    Section 553(b)(3)(B) of title 5, U.S. Code, authorizes agencies to 
dispense with notice and comment procedures for rules when the agency 
for ``good cause'' finds that those procedures are ``impracticable, 
unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.'' In this instance, 
the FAA finds that notice and public comment to this immediately 
adopted final rule, as well as any delay in the effective date of this 
rule, are contrary to the public interest due to the immediate need to 
address the continued potential hazard to civil aviation that exists in 
the Tripoli (HLL) FIR, as described in the Background section of this 
rule.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    The FAA is responsible for the safety of flight in the United 
States (U.S.) and for the safety of U.S. civil operators, U.S.-
registered civil aircraft, and U.S.-certificated airmen throughout the 
world. The FAA's authority to issue rules on aviation safety is found 
in title 49, U.S. Code. Subtitle I, section 106(f), describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII of title 49, Aviation 
Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the agency's authority. 
Section 40101(d)(1) provides that the Administrator shall consider in 
the public interest, among other matters, assigning, maintaining, and 
enhancing safety and security as the highest priorities in air 
commerce. Section 40105(b)(1)(A) requires the Administrator to exercise 
his authority consistently with the obligations of the U.S. Government 
under international agreements.
    This rulemaking is promulgated under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, subpart III, section 44701, General requirements. 
Under that section, the FAA is charged broadly with promoting safe 
flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing, among other 
things, regulations and minimum standards for practices, methods, and 
procedures that the Administrator finds necessary for safety in air 
commerce and national security. This regulation is within the scope of 
that authority, because it extends the prohibition against the persons 
subject to paragraph (a) of SFAR No. 112, 14 CFR 91.1603, conducting 
flight operations in the Tripoli (HLLL) FIR due to the continued 
potential hazard to the safety of such persons' flight operations, as 
described in the Background section of this document.

I. Executive Summary

    This action extends the prohibition of flight operations in the 
Tripoli (HLLL) FIR by all: U.S. air carriers; U.S. commercial 
operators; persons exercising the privileges of a U.S. airman 
certificate, except when such persons are operating a U.S.-registered 
aircraft for a foreign air carrier; and operators of U.S.-registered 
civil aircraft, except when such operators are foreign air carriers. 
The FAA finds this action necessary to address potential hazards to 
persons and aircraft engaged in such flight operations. The 
prohibition, which is scheduled to expire on March 20, 2015, is hereby 
extended to March 20, 2017.

II. Background

    As a result of safety and national security concerns regarding 
flight operations in the Tripoli (HLLL) FIR, the FAA issued Sec.  
91.1603 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, SFAR No. 112, in 
March 2011 (76 FR 16238, March 23, 2011). SFAR No. 112 prohibits all 
U.S. air carriers; U.S. commercial operators; persons exercising the 
privileges of an airman

[[Page 15504]]

certificate issued by the FAA, except when such persons are operating a 
U.S.-registered aircraft for a foreign air carrier; and operators of 
U.S.-registered civil aircraft, except operators of such aircraft that 
are foreign air carriers, from conducting flight operations in the 
Tripoli (HLLL) FIR, except as provided in paragraphs (c) and (d) of the 
SFAR.
    When SFAR No. 112 was issued, an armed conflict was ongoing in 
Libya and presented a potential hazard to civil aviation. The FAA was 
concerned that runways at Libya's international airports, including the 
main international airports serving Benghazi (HLLB) and Tripoli (HLLT), 
might be damaged or degraded. There was also concern that air 
navigation services in the Tripoli FIR might be unavailable or 
degraded. In addition, the proliferation of air defense weapons, 
including Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems (MANPADS), and the presence 
of military operations, including Libyan aerial bombardments and 
unplanned military flights entering and departing the Tripoli (HLLL) 
FIR, posed a potential hazard to U.S. operators, U.S.-registered 
aircraft, and FAA-certificated airmen that might operate within the 
Tripoli (HLLL) FIR. Additionally, the United Nations Security Council 
adopted Resolution 1973 on March 18, 2011, which mandated a ban on all 
flights in the airspace of Libya, with certain exceptions.
    By March 2014, although the Gadhafi regime had been overthrown and 
the UN-mandated ban on flights in Libyan airspace had been lifted, the 
FAA continued to have significant security concerns for Libya and for 
the safety of U.S. civil aviation operations in that country. On March 
20, 2014, the FAA extended the expiration date of SFAR No. 112, Sec.  
91.1603, to March 20, 2015. The FAA considered that, on December 12, 
2013, the Department of State had issued a Travel Warning strongly 
advising against all non-essential travel to Libya. Various groups had 
called for attacks against U.S. citizens and U.S. interests in Libya. 
Many military-grade weapons remained in the hands of private 
individuals and groups, among them anti-aircraft weapons that could be 
used against civil aviation, including MANPADS. The Travel Warning also 
warned that closures or threats of closures of the international 
airports occurred regularly for maintenance, labor, or security-related 
reasons. For those reasons, on March 21, 2014, the FAA published a 
final rule (79 FR 15679; corrected at 79 FR 19288, April 8, 2014) 
extending the expiration date of SFAR No. 112, Sec.  91.1603, to March 
20, 2015.
    The FAA continues to have significant concerns regarding the safety 
of U.S. civil aviation operations in the Tripoli (HLLL) FIR at all 
altitudes due to the hazardous situation created by the ongoing 
fighting involving various militant groups and Libyan military forces 
in various areas of Libya, including some near Tripoli and Benghazi. 
Islamist militant groups hold and control significant portions of 
Western Libya, including Tripoli International Airport (HLLT). Militant 
groups, such as Libyan Dawn, possess a variety of anti-aircraft 
weapons, which give them the capability to target aircraft upon landing 
and departure and at higher altitudes.
    Civil aviation infrastructure is at risk from indirect fire from 
mortars and rockets targeting Libyan airports during the ongoing 
fighting. Civil aviation in the Tripoli FIR is also at risk from aerial 
combat operations and other military activity conducted by Libyan 
forces.
    Furthermore, the security situation in the Tripoli (HLLL) FIR 
continues to be unpredictable and unstable. Therefore, since there is a 
significant continuing risk to the safety of U.S. civil aviation in the 
Tripoli (HLLL) FIR, the FAA hereby extends the expiration date of SFAR 
No. 112, Sec.  91.1603, for an additional two years.
    The FAA will continue to actively evaluate the area to determine to 
what extent U.S. civil operators may be able to safely operate therein. 
Adjustments to this SFAR may be appropriate if the risk to aviation 
safety and security changes. The FAA may amend or rescind this SFAR as 
necessary prior to its expiration date.
    Additionally, the FAA is amending paragraph (c), Permitted 
operations, of SFAR No. 112, Sec.  91.1603, to make clear that 
operations by sub-contractors under a U.S. Government department, 
agency, or instrumentality's contract, grant, or cooperative agreement 
may be included in an approval request and to remove an obsolete 
reference to paragraph 8 of UNSCR 1973. UNSCR 2016 (2011) terminated 
paragraphs 6 to 12 of UNSCR 1973, effective 23:59 p.m. Libyan local 
time on October 31, 2011. The FAA is also revising the approval 
conditions that will apply to operations authorized by other U.S. 
Government departments, agencies, and instrumentalities and approved by 
the FAA, and the information about requests for exemption, to reflect 
the termination of statutory authorization for the FAA premium war risk 
insurance program. Section 102 of Division L of the Consolidated and 
Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235, 
December 16, 2014, inter alia, amended 49 U.S.C. 44302(f) and 44310(a) 
to specify the termination dates in those sections as December 11, 
2014. The effect was to terminate coverage under FAA's premium war risk 
insurance program as of December 11, 2014.
    Because the circumstances described herein warrant immediate action 
by the FAA, I find that notice and public comment under 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(3)(B) are impracticable and contrary to the public interest. 
Further, I find that good cause exists under 5 U.S.C. 553(d) for making 
this rule effective immediately upon issuance. I also find that this 
action is fully consistent with the obligations under 49 U.S.C. 40105 
to ensure that I exercise my duties consistently with the obligations 
of the United States under international agreements.

Revised Approval Conditions

    As noted above, Congress terminated coverage under FAA's premium 
war risk insurance program as of December 11, 2014. Consequently, the 
FAA is revising the approval conditions that will apply to any 
approvals that the FAA may grant for flight operations authorized by 
another U.S. Government department, agency or instrumentality in the 
Tripoli (HLLL) FIR to remove material related to this program. When the 
FAA approves such operations, the FAA's Aviation Safety Organization 
(AVS) will send a letter to the requesting department, agency, or 
instrumentality confirming that the FAA's approval is subject to the 
following conditions:
    (1) Any approval will stipulate those procedures and conditions 
that limit, to the greatest degree possible, the risk to the operator, 
while still allowing the operator to achieve its operational 
objectives.
    (2) Before any approval takes effect, the operator must submit to 
the FAA:
    (a) a written release of the U.S. Government from all damages, 
claims, and liabilities, including without limitation legal fees and 
expenses; and
    (b) the operator's agreement to indemnify the U.S. Government with 
respect to any and all third-party damages, claims, and liabilities, 
including without limitation legal fees and expenses, relating to any 
event arising from or related to the approved operations in the Tripoli 
(HLLL) FIR; and
    (3) Other conditions that the FAA may specify, including those that 
may be imposed in OpSpecs.
    The release and agreement to indemnify do not preclude an operator 
from raising a claim under an applicable non-premium war risk insurance 
policy

[[Page 15505]]

issued by the FAA under chapter 443 of title 49, United States Code.
    If the proposed operation or operations are approved, the FAA will 
issue OpSpecs to the certificate holder authorizing these operations 
and will notify the department, agency, or instrumentality that 
requested FAA approval of civil flight operations to be conducted by 
one or more persons described in paragraph (a) of SFAR No. 112, Sec.  
91.1603, of any additional conditions beyond those contained in the 
approval letter. The requesting department, agency, or instrumentality 
must have a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement (or its prime 
contractor must have a subcontract) with the person(s) described in 
paragraph (a) of SFAR No. 112, Sec.  91.1603, on whose behalf the 
department, agency, or instrumentality requests FAA approval.

Requests for Exemption

    Any operations not conducted under the approval process set forth 
above must be conducted under an exemption from SFAR No. 112, Sec.  
91.1603. A request by any person covered under this SFAR for an 
exemption must comply with 14 CFR part 11 and will require exceptional 
circumstances beyond those contemplated by the approval process set 
forth above. In addition to the information required by 14 CFR 11.81, 
at a minimum, the requestor must describe in its submission to the 
FAA--
     The proposed operation(s), including the nature of the 
operation;
     The service to be provided by the person(s) covered by the 
SFAR;
     The specific locations within the Tripoli FIR where the 
proposed operation(s) will be conducted; and
     The method by which the operator will obtain current 
threat information, and an explanation of how the operator will 
integrate this information into all phases of its proposed operations 
(e.g., the pre-mission planning and briefing, in-flight, and post-
flight phases).
    Additionally, the release and agreement to indemnify, as referred 
to above, will be required as a condition of any exemption issued under 
this SFAR. The FAA recognizes that operations that may be affected by 
SFAR No. 112, Sec.  91.1603, may be planned for the governments of 
other countries with the support of the U.S. Government. While these 
operations will not be permitted through the approval process, the FAA 
will process exemption requests for such operations on an expedited 
basis and prior to any private exemption requests.

III. Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    Changes to Federal regulations must undergo several economic 
analyses. First, Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct that each 
Federal agency shall propose or adopt a regulation only upon a reasoned 
determination that the benefits of the intended regulation justify its 
costs. Second, the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-354), 
as codified in 5 U.S.C. 603 et seq., requires agencies to analyze the 
economic impact of regulatory changes on small entities. Third, the 
Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (Pub. L. 96-39), as amended, 19 U.S.C. 
Chapter 13, prohibits agencies from setting standards that create 
unnecessary obstacles to the foreign commerce of the United States. In 
developing U.S. standards, the Trade Agreements Act requires agencies 
to consider international standards and, where appropriate, that they 
be the basis of U.S. standards. Fourth, the Unfunded Mandates Reform 
Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4), as codified in 2 U.S.C. 1532, requires 
agencies to prepare a written assessment of the costs, benefits, and 
other effects of proposed or final rules that include a Federal mandate 
likely to result in the expenditure by State, local, or tribal 
governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 
million or more annually (adjusted for inflation with a base year of 
1995). This portion of the preamble summarizes the FAA's analysis of 
the economic impacts of this final rule.
    Department of Transportation (DOT) Order 2100.5 prescribes policies 
and procedures for simplification, analysis, and review of regulations. 
If the expected cost impact is so minimal that a proposed or final rule 
does not warrant a full evaluation, this order permits that a statement 
to that effect and the basis for it to be included in the preamble if a 
full regulatory evaluation of the cost and benefits is not prepared. 
Such a determination has been made for this final rule. The reasoning 
for this determination follows:
    This rule extends, by an additional two years, the prohibition by 
SFAR No. 112 of flight operations within the Tripoli (HLLL) Flight 
Information Region (FIR) by all: U.S. air carriers, U.S. commercial 
operators; persons exercising the privileges of an airman certificate 
issued by the FAA, except when such persons are operating a U.S.-
registered aircraft for a foreign air carrier; and operators of U.S.-
registered civil aircraft, except operators of such aircraft that are 
foreign air carriers. Because of the civil war that was ongoing in 
Libya when SFAR No. 112 was issued, the FAA believed that few, if any, 
operators were operating in the Tripoli (HLLL) FIR. Consequently, the 
FAA found the costs of SFAR No. 112 to be minimal. Given the continuing 
threats to civil aviation in the Tripoli (HLLL) FIR described in the 
Background section of this final rule, including but not limited to 
ongoing fighting involving various groups, the FAA has determined that 
the costs of continuing to prohibit U.S. civil flights in the Tripoli 
FIR are still minimal. These minimal costs are exceeded by the benefits 
of avoiding the significant hazards to civil aviation detailed above in 
the Background section of this preamble.
    In conducting these analyses, FAA has determined this final rule is 
a ``significant regulatory action,'' as defined in section 3(f) of 
Executive Order 12866, because it raises novel policy issues 
contemplated under that executive order. The rule is also 
``significant'' as defined in DOT's Regulatory Policies and Procedures. 
The final rule, if adopted, will not have a significant economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities, will not create unnecessary 
obstacles to international trade and will not impose an unfunded 
mandate on state, local, or tribal governments, or on the private 
sector.

A. Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-354, ``RFA'') 
establishes ``as a principle of regulatory issuance that agencies shall 
endeavor, consistent with the objectives of the rule and of applicable 
statutes, to fit regulatory and informational requirements to the scale 
of the businesses, organizations, and governmental jurisdictions 
subject to regulation. To achieve this principle, agencies are required 
to solicit and consider flexible regulatory proposals and to explain 
the rationale for their actions to assure that such proposals are given 
serious consideration.'' The RFA covers a wide-range of small entities, 
including small businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and small 
governmental jurisdictions.
    Agencies must perform a review to determine whether a rule will 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. If the agency determines that it will, the agency must 
prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis as described in the RFA.
    However, if an agency determines that a rule is not expected to 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities, section 605(b) of the RFA provides that

[[Page 15506]]

the head of the agency may so certify and a regulatory flexibility 
analysis is not required. The certification must include a statement 
providing the factual basis for this determination, and the reasoning 
should be clear.
    As discussed above, the FAA estimates the costs of this rule will 
be minimal. Therefore, as provided in section 605(b), the head of the 
FAA certifies that this rulemaking will not result in a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

B. International Trade Impact Assessment

    The Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (Pub. L. 96-39), as amended, 
prohibits Federal agencies from establishing standards or engaging in 
related activities that create unnecessary obstacles to the foreign 
commerce of the United States. Pursuant to this Act, the establishment 
of standards is not considered an unnecessary obstacle to the foreign 
commerce of the United States, so long as the standard has a legitimate 
domestic objective, such as the protection of safety, and does not 
operate in a manner that excludes imports that meet this objective. The 
statute also requires consideration of international standards and, 
where appropriate, that they be the basis for U.S. standards. The FAA 
has assessed the potential effect of this final rule and determined 
that its purpose is to protect the safety of U.S. civil aviation from 
potential hazards outside the U.S. Therefore, the rule is in compliance 
with the Trade Agreements Act.

C. Unfunded Mandates Assessment

    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-
4) requires each Federal agency to prepare a written statement 
assessing the effects of any Federal mandate in a proposed or final 
agency rule that may result in an expenditure of $100 million or more 
(in 1995 dollars) in any one year by State, local, and tribal 
governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector; such a mandate 
is deemed to be a ``significant regulatory action.'' The FAA currently 
uses an inflation-adjusted value of $151.0 million in lieu of $100 
million.
    This final rule does not contain such a mandate; therefore, the 
requirements of Title II of the Act do not apply.

D. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)) requires 
that the FAA consider the impact of paperwork and other information 
collection burdens imposed on the public. The FAA has determined that 
there is no new requirement for information collection associated with 
this immediately adopted final rule.

E. International Compatibility and Cooperation

    In keeping with U.S. obligations under the Convention on 
International Civil Aviation, it is FAA policy to conform to 
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and 
Recommended Practices to the maximum extent practicable. The FAA has 
determined that there are no ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices 
that correspond to this regulation.

F. Environmental Analysis

    FAA Order 1050.1E identifies FAA actions that are categorically 
excluded from preparation of an environmental assessment or 
environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) in the absence of extraordinary circumstances. The FAA has 
determined this rulemaking action qualifies for the categorical 
exclusion identified in paragraph 312f of this order and involves no 
extraordinary circumstances.
    The FAA has reviewed the implementation of the SFAR and determined 
it is categorically excluded from further environmental review 
according to FAA Order 1050.1E, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies and 
Procedures,'' paragraph 312f. The FAA has examined possible 
extraordinary circumstances and determined that no such circumstances 
exist. After careful and thorough consideration of the action, the FAA 
finds that this Federal action does not require preparation of an 
Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement in 
accordance with the requirements of NEPA, Council on Environmental 
Quality (CEQ) regulations, and FAA Order 1050.1E.

IV. Executive Order Determinations

A. Executive Order 13132, Federalism

    The FAA has analyzed this immediately adopted final rule under the 
principles and criteria of Executive Order 13132, Federalism. The 
agency has determined that this action would not have a substantial 
direct effect on the States, or the relationship between the Federal 
Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government, and, 
therefore, would not have Federalism implications.

B. Executive Order 13211, Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy 
Supply, Distribution, or Use

    The FAA analyzed this immediately adopted final rule under 
Executive Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations that 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use (May 18, 
2001). The agency has determined that it would not be a ``significant 
energy action'' under the executive order and would not be likely to 
have a significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use 
of energy.

C. Executive Order 13609, Promoting International Regulatory 
Cooperation

    Executive Order 13609, Promoting International Regulatory 
Cooperation, (77 FR 26413, May 4, 2012) promotes international 
regulatory cooperation to meet shared challenges involving health, 
safety, labor, security, environmental, and other issues and to reduce, 
eliminate, or prevent unnecessary differences in regulatory 
requirements. The FAA has analyzed this action under the policies and 
agency responsibilities of Executive Order 13609, and has determined 
that this action would have no effect on international regulatory 
cooperation.

V. Additional Information

A. Availability of Rulemaking Documents

    An electronic copy of rulemaking documents may be obtained from the 
Internet by--
     Searching the Federal eRulemaking Portal (http://www.regulations.gov);
     Visiting the FAA's Regulations and Policies Web page at 
http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies or
     Accessing the Government Printing Office's Web page at 
http://www.fdsys.gov.
    Copies may also be obtained by sending 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. Please 
identify the docket or amendment number of this rulemaking in your 
request.
    All documents the FAA considered in developing this rule, including 
economic analyses and technical reports, may be accessed from the 
Internet through the Federal eRulemaking Portal referenced above.

B. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

    The Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996

[[Page 15507]]

(SBREFA) requires FAA to comply with small entity requests for 
information or advice about compliance with statutes and regulations 
within its jurisdiction. A small entity with questions regarding this 
document may contact its local FAA official, or the person listed under 
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT heading at the beginning of the 
preamble. To find out more about SBREFA on the Internet, visit http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/rulemaking/sbre_act/.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 91

    Air traffic control, Aircraft, Airmen, Airports, Aviation safety, 
Freight, Libya.

The Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration amends chapter I of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations as follows:

PART 91--GENERAL OPERATING AND FLIGHT RULES

0
1. The authority citation for part 91 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g), 1155, 40101, 40103, 40105, 
40113, 40120, 44101, 44111, 44701, 44704, 44709, 44711, 44712, 
44715, 44716, 44717, 44722, 46306, 46315, 46316, 46504, 46506-46507, 
47122, 47508, 47528-47531, 47534, articles 12 and 29 of the 
Convention on International Civil Aviation (61 Stat. 1180), (126 
Stat. 11).


0
2. In Sec.  91.1603, revise paragraphs (c) and (e) to read as follows:


Sec.  91.1603  Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 112--Prohibition 
Against Certain Flights Within the Tripoli (HLLL) Flight Information 
Region (FIR).

* * * * *
    (c) Permitted operations. This section does not prohibit persons 
described in paragraph (a) of this section from conducting flight 
operations within the Tripoli (HLLL) FIR under the following 
conditions:
    (1) Flight operations are conducted under a contract, grant, or 
cooperative agreement with a department, agency, or instrumentality of 
the U.S. government (or under a subcontract between the prime 
contractor of the department, agency, or instrumentality, and the 
person described in paragraph (a) of this section), with the approval 
of the FAA, or under an exemption issued by the FAA. The FAA will 
process requests for approval or exemption in a timely manner, with the 
order of preference being: First, for those operations in support of 
U.S. government-sponsored activities; second, for those operations in 
support of government-sponsored activities of a foreign country with 
the support of a U.S. government department, agency, or 
instrumentality; and third, for all other operations.
    (2) [Reserved]
* * * * *
    (e) Expiration. This Special Federal Aviation Regulation will 
remain in effect until March 20, 2017. The FAA may amend, rescind, or 
extend this Special Federal Aviation Regulation as necessary.

    Issued in Washington, DC, under the authority of 49 U.S.C. 
106(f), 40101(d)(1), 40105(b)(1)(A), and 44701(a)(5), on March 19, 
2015.
Michael P. Huerta,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015-06697 Filed 3-20-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P



                                                                                                                                                                                              15503

                                            Rules and Regulations                                                                                         Federal Register
                                                                                                                                                          Vol. 80, No. 56

                                                                                                                                                          Tuesday, March 24, 2015



                                            This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER                    requests for exemption, to reflect the                that the Administrator shall consider in
                                            contains regulatory documents having general            termination of statutory authorization                the public interest, among other matters,
                                            applicability and legal effect, most of which           for the FAA premium war risk                          assigning, maintaining, and enhancing
                                            are keyed to and codified in the Code of                insurance program.                                    safety and security as the highest
                                            Federal Regulations, which is published under                                                                 priorities in air commerce. Section
                                            50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.                   DATES: The final rule is effective March
                                                                                                    20, 2015. This action extends the period              40105(b)(1)(A) requires the
                                            The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by              during which Special Federal Aviation                 Administrator to exercise his authority
                                            the Superintendent of Documents. Prices of              Regulation (SFAR) No. 112, scheduled                  consistently with the obligations of the
                                            new books are listed in the first FEDERAL               to expire on March 20, 2015, will                     U.S. Government under international
                                            REGISTER issue of each week.                            remain in effect. The expiration date is              agreements.
                                                                                                    extended until March 20, 2017.                          This rulemaking is promulgated
                                                                                                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
                                                                                                                                                          under the authority described in
                                            DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION                                                                                  Subtitle VII, Part A, subpart III, section
                                                                                                    technical questions concerning this
                                                                                                                                                          44701, General requirements. Under
                                            Federal Aviation Administration                         action, contact Will Gonzalez, Air
                                                                                                                                                          that section, the FAA is charged broadly
                                                                                                    Transportation Division, AFS–220,
                                                                                                                                                          with promoting safe flight of civil
                                            14 CFR Part 91                                          Flight Standards Service Federal
                                                                                                                                                          aircraft in air commerce by prescribing,
                                                                                                    Aviation Administration, 800
                                                                                                                                                          among other things, regulations and
                                            [Docket No.: FAA–2011–0246; Amdt. No.                   Independence Avenue SW.,
                                            91–321B]                                                                                                      minimum standards for practices,
                                                                                                    Washington, DC 20591; telephone 202–
                                                                                                                                                          methods, and procedures that the
                                                                                                    267–8166; email will.gonzalez@faa.gov.
                                            RIN 2120–AK70                                                                                                 Administrator finds necessary for safety
                                                                                                      For legal questions concerning this
                                                                                                                                                          in air commerce and national security.
                                            Prohibition Against Certain Flights                     action, contact Mary Mason, Office of
                                                                                                                                                          This regulation is within the scope of
                                            Within the Tripoli (HLLL) Flight                        the Chief Counsel, AGC–200, Federal
                                                                                                                                                          that authority, because it extends the
                                            Information Region (FIR); Extension of                  Aviation Administration, 800
                                                                                                                                                          prohibition against the persons subject
                                            Expiration Date                                         Independence Avenue SW.,
                                                                                                                                                          to paragraph (a) of SFAR No. 112, 14
                                                                                                    Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202)
                                            AGENCY:  Federal Aviation                                                                                     CFR 91.1603, conducting flight
                                                                                                    267–8018; email mary.mason@faa.gov.
                                            Administration (FAA), DOT.                                                                                    operations in the Tripoli (HLLL) FIR
                                                                                                    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            due to the continued potential hazard to
                                            ACTION: Final rule and extension of                                                                           the safety of such persons’ flight
                                            expiration date.                                        Good Cause for Immediate Adoption
                                                                                                                                                          operations, as described in the
                                                                                                       Section 553(b)(3)(B) of title 5, U.S.
                                            SUMMARY:    This action extends the                                                                           Background section of this document.
                                                                                                    Code, authorizes agencies to dispense
                                            prohibition of flight operations within                 with notice and comment procedures                    I. Executive Summary
                                            the Tripoli (HLLL) Flight Information                   for rules when the agency for ‘‘good                     This action extends the prohibition of
                                            Region (FIR) by all: U.S. air carriers;                 cause’’ finds that those procedures are               flight operations in the Tripoli (HLLL)
                                            U.S. commercial operators; persons                      ‘‘impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary             FIR by all: U.S. air carriers; U.S.
                                            exercising the privileges of an airman                  to the public interest.’’ In this instance,           commercial operators; persons
                                            certificate issued by the FAA, except                   the FAA finds that notice and public                  exercising the privileges of a U.S.
                                            when such persons are operating a U.S.-                 comment to this immediately adopted                   airman certificate, except when such
                                            registered aircraft for a foreign air                   final rule, as well as any delay in the               persons are operating a U.S.-registered
                                            carrier; and operators of U.S.-registered               effective date of this rule, are contrary             aircraft for a foreign air carrier; and
                                            civil aircraft, except operators of such                to the public interest due to the                     operators of U.S.-registered civil aircraft,
                                            aircraft that are foreign air carriers. The             immediate need to address the                         except when such operators are foreign
                                            extension of the expiration date is                     continued potential hazard to civil                   air carriers. The FAA finds this action
                                            necessary to address a potential hazard                 aviation that exists in the Tripoli (HLL)             necessary to address potential hazards
                                            to persons and aircraft engaged in such                 FIR, as described in the Background                   to persons and aircraft engaged in such
                                            flight operations. Additionally, the FAA                section of this rule.                                 flight operations. The prohibition,
                                            is amending the prohibition to make                                                                           which is scheduled to expire on March
                                            clear that operations by sub-contractors                Authority for This Rulemaking
                                                                                                                                                          20, 2015, is hereby extended to March
                                            under a U.S. Government department,                       The FAA is responsible for the safety               20, 2017.
                                            agency, or instrumentality’s contract,                  of flight in the United States (U.S.) and
                                            grant, or cooperative agreement may be                  for the safety of U.S. civil operators,               II. Background
                                            included in an approval request and to                  U.S.-registered civil aircraft, and U.S.-                As a result of safety and national
                                            remove an obsolete reference to                         certificated airmen throughout the                    security concerns regarding flight
                                            paragraph 8 of United Nations Security                  world. The FAA’s authority to issue                   operations in the Tripoli (HLLL) FIR,
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                                            Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1973. The                    rules on aviation safety is found in title            the FAA issued § 91.1603 of title 14,
                                            FAA is also revising the approval                       49, U.S. Code. Subtitle I, section 106(f),            Code of Federal Regulations, SFAR No.
                                            conditions that will apply to operations                describes the authority of the FAA                    112, in March 2011 (76 FR 16238,
                                            authorized by other U.S. Government                     Administrator. Subtitle VII of title 49,              March 23, 2011). SFAR No. 112
                                            departments, agencies, and                              Aviation Programs, describes in more                  prohibits all U.S. air carriers; U.S.
                                            instrumentalities that are approved by                  detail the scope of the agency’s                      commercial operators; persons
                                            the FAA, and the information about                      authority. Section 40101(d)(1) provides               exercising the privileges of an airman


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                                            15504              Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 56 / Tuesday, March 24, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

                                            certificate issued by the FAA, except                      The FAA continues to have                          amended 49 U.S.C. 44302(f) and
                                            when such persons are operating a U.S.-                 significant concerns regarding the safety             44310(a) to specify the termination
                                            registered aircraft for a foreign air                   of U.S. civil aviation operations in the              dates in those sections as December 11,
                                            carrier; and operators of U.S.-registered               Tripoli (HLLL) FIR at all altitudes due               2014. The effect was to terminate
                                            civil aircraft, except operators of such                to the hazardous situation created by the             coverage under FAA’s premium war risk
                                            aircraft that are foreign air carriers, from            ongoing fighting involving various                    insurance program as of December 11,
                                            conducting flight operations in the                     militant groups and Libyan military                   2014.
                                            Tripoli (HLLL) FIR, except as provided                  forces in various areas of Libya,                        Because the circumstances described
                                            in paragraphs (c) and (d) of the SFAR.                  including some near Tripoli and                       herein warrant immediate action by the
                                               When SFAR No. 112 was issued, an                     Benghazi. Islamist militant groups hold               FAA, I find that notice and public
                                            armed conflict was ongoing in Libya                     and control significant portions of                   comment under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B) are
                                            and presented a potential hazard to civil               Western Libya, including Tripoli                      impracticable and contrary to the public
                                            aviation. The FAA was concerned that                    International Airport (HLLT). Militant                interest. Further, I find that good cause
                                            runways at Libya’s international                        groups, such as Libyan Dawn, possess a                exists under 5 U.S.C. 553(d) for making
                                            airports, including the main                            variety of anti-aircraft weapons, which               this rule effective immediately upon
                                            international airports serving Benghazi                 give them the capability to target aircraft           issuance. I also find that this action is
                                            (HLLB) and Tripoli (HLLT), might be                     upon landing and departure and at                     fully consistent with the obligations
                                            damaged or degraded. There was also                     higher altitudes.                                     under 49 U.S.C. 40105 to ensure that I
                                            concern that air navigation services in                    Civil aviation infrastructure is at risk           exercise my duties consistently with the
                                            the Tripoli FIR might be unavailable or                 from indirect fire from mortars and                   obligations of the United States under
                                            degraded. In addition, the proliferation                rockets targeting Libyan airports during              international agreements.
                                            of air defense weapons, including Man-                  the ongoing fighting. Civil aviation in
                                            Portable Air-Defense Systems                            the Tripoli FIR is also at risk from aerial           Revised Approval Conditions
                                            (MANPADS), and the presence of                          combat operations and other military                     As noted above, Congress terminated
                                            military operations, including Libyan                   activity conducted by Libyan forces.                  coverage under FAA’s premium war risk
                                            aerial bombardments and unplanned                          Furthermore, the security situation in             insurance program as of December 11,
                                            military flights entering and departing                 the Tripoli (HLLL) FIR continues to be                2014. Consequently, the FAA is revising
                                            the Tripoli (HLLL) FIR, posed a                         unpredictable and unstable. Therefore,                the approval conditions that will apply
                                            potential hazard to U.S. operators, U.S.-               since there is a significant continuing               to any approvals that the FAA may grant
                                            registered aircraft, and FAA-certificated               risk to the safety of U.S. civil aviation             for flight operations authorized by
                                            airmen that might operate within the                    in the Tripoli (HLLL) FIR, the FAA                    another U.S. Government department,
                                            Tripoli (HLLL) FIR. Additionally, the                   hereby extends the expiration date of                 agency or instrumentality in the Tripoli
                                            United Nations Security Council                         SFAR No. 112, § 91.1603, for an                       (HLLL) FIR to remove material related to
                                            adopted Resolution 1973 on March 18,                    additional two years.                                 this program. When the FAA approves
                                            2011, which mandated a ban on all                          The FAA will continue to actively
                                                                                                                                                          such operations, the FAA’s Aviation
                                            flights in the airspace of Libya, with                  evaluate the area to determine to what
                                                                                                                                                          Safety Organization (AVS) will send a
                                            certain exceptions.                                     extent U.S. civil operators may be able
                                                                                                    to safely operate therein. Adjustments to             letter to the requesting department,
                                               By March 2014, although the Gadhafi
                                                                                                    this SFAR may be appropriate if the risk              agency, or instrumentality confirming
                                            regime had been overthrown and the
                                                                                                    to aviation safety and security changes.              that the FAA’s approval is subject to the
                                            UN-mandated ban on flights in Libyan
                                                                                                    The FAA may amend or rescind this                     following conditions:
                                            airspace had been lifted, the FAA
                                            continued to have significant security                  SFAR as necessary prior to its                           (1) Any approval will stipulate those
                                            concerns for Libya and for the safety of                expiration date.                                      procedures and conditions that limit, to
                                            U.S. civil aviation operations in that                     Additionally, the FAA is amending                  the greatest degree possible, the risk to
                                            country. On March 20, 2014, the FAA                     paragraph (c), Permitted operations, of               the operator, while still allowing the
                                            extended the expiration date of SFAR                    SFAR No. 112, § 91.1603, to make clear                operator to achieve its operational
                                            No. 112, § 91.1603, to March 20, 2015.                  that operations by sub-contractors under              objectives.
                                            The FAA considered that, on December                    a U.S. Government department, agency,                    (2) Before any approval takes effect,
                                            12, 2013, the Department of State had                   or instrumentality’s contract, grant, or              the operator must submit to the FAA:
                                            issued a Travel Warning strongly                        cooperative agreement may be included                    (a) a written release of the U.S.
                                            advising against all non-essential travel               in an approval request and to remove an               Government from all damages, claims,
                                            to Libya. Various groups had called for                 obsolete reference to paragraph 8 of                  and liabilities, including without
                                            attacks against U.S. citizens and U.S.                  UNSCR 1973. UNSCR 2016 (2011)                         limitation legal fees and expenses; and
                                            interests in Libya. Many military-grade                 terminated paragraphs 6 to 12 of UNSCR                   (b) the operator’s agreement to
                                            weapons remained in the hands of                        1973, effective 23:59 p.m. Libyan local               indemnify the U.S. Government with
                                            private individuals and groups, among                   time on October 31, 2011. The FAA is                  respect to any and all third-party
                                            them anti-aircraft weapons that could be                also revising the approval conditions                 damages, claims, and liabilities,
                                            used against civil aviation, including                  that will apply to operations authorized              including without limitation legal fees
                                            MANPADS. The Travel Warning also                        by other U.S. Government departments,                 and expenses, relating to any event
                                            warned that closures or threats of                      agencies, and instrumentalities and                   arising from or related to the approved
                                            closures of the international airports                  approved by the FAA, and the                          operations in the Tripoli (HLLL) FIR;
                                            occurred regularly for maintenance,                     information about requests for                        and
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                                            labor, or security-related reasons. For                 exemption, to reflect the termination of                 (3) Other conditions that the FAA
                                            those reasons, on March 21, 2014, the                   statutory authorization for the FAA                   may specify, including those that may
                                            FAA published a final rule (79 FR                       premium war risk insurance program.                   be imposed in OpSpecs.
                                            15679; corrected at 79 FR 19288, April                  Section 102 of Division L of the                         The release and agreement to
                                            8, 2014) extending the expiration date of               Consolidated and Further Continuing                   indemnify do not preclude an operator
                                            SFAR No. 112, § 91.1603, to March 20,                   Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law                  from raising a claim under an applicable
                                            2015.                                                   113–235, December 16, 2014, inter alia,               non-premium war risk insurance policy


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                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 56 / Tuesday, March 24, 2015 / Rules and Regulations                                         15505

                                            issued by the FAA under chapter 443 of                  III. Regulatory Notices and Analyses                  was issued, the FAA believed that few,
                                            title 49, United States Code.                              Changes to Federal regulations must                if any, operators were operating in the
                                               If the proposed operation or                         undergo several economic analyses.                    Tripoli (HLLL) FIR. Consequently, the
                                            operations are approved, the FAA will                   First, Executive Orders 12866 and 13563               FAA found the costs of SFAR No. 112
                                            issue OpSpecs to the certificate holder                 direct that each Federal agency shall                 to be minimal. Given the continuing
                                            authorizing these operations and will                   propose or adopt a regulation only upon               threats to civil aviation in the Tripoli
                                            notify the department, agency, or                       a reasoned determination that the                     (HLLL) FIR described in the Background
                                            instrumentality that requested FAA                      benefits of the intended regulation                   section of this final rule, including but
                                            approval of civil flight operations to be               justify its costs. Second, the Regulatory             not limited to ongoing fighting
                                            conducted by one or more persons                        Flexibility Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96–354),             involving various groups, the FAA has
                                            described in paragraph (a) of SFAR No.                  as codified in 5 U.S.C. 603 et seq.,                  determined that the costs of continuing
                                            112, § 91.1603, of any additional                       requires agencies to analyze the                      to prohibit U.S. civil flights in the
                                            conditions beyond those contained in                                                                          Tripoli FIR are still minimal. These
                                                                                                    economic impact of regulatory changes
                                            the approval letter. The requesting                                                                           minimal costs are exceeded by the
                                                                                                    on small entities. Third, the Trade
                                            department, agency, or instrumentality                                                                        benefits of avoiding the significant
                                                                                                    Agreements Act of 1979 (Pub. L. 96–39),
                                            must have a contract, grant, or                                                                               hazards to civil aviation detailed above
                                                                                                    as amended, 19 U.S.C. Chapter 13,
                                            cooperative agreement (or its prime                                                                           in the Background section of this
                                                                                                    prohibits agencies from setting
                                            contractor must have a subcontract)                                                                           preamble.
                                                                                                    standards that create unnecessary                        In conducting these analyses, FAA
                                            with the person(s) described in                         obstacles to the foreign commerce of the
                                            paragraph (a) of SFAR No. 112,                                                                                has determined this final rule is a
                                                                                                    United States. In developing U.S.                     ‘‘significant regulatory action,’’ as
                                            § 91.1603, on whose behalf the                          standards, the Trade Agreements Act
                                            department, agency, or instrumentality                                                                        defined in section 3(f) of Executive
                                                                                                    requires agencies to consider                         Order 12866, because it raises novel
                                            requests FAA approval.                                  international standards and, where                    policy issues contemplated under that
                                            Requests for Exemption                                  appropriate, that they be the basis of                executive order. The rule is also
                                                                                                    U.S. standards. Fourth, the Unfunded                  ‘‘significant’’ as defined in DOT’s
                                               Any operations not conducted under                   Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L.
                                            the approval process set forth above                                                                          Regulatory Policies and Procedures. The
                                                                                                    104–4), as codified in 2 U.S.C. 1532,                 final rule, if adopted, will not have a
                                            must be conducted under an exemption                    requires agencies to prepare a written
                                            from SFAR No. 112, § 91.1603. A                                                                               significant economic impact on a
                                                                                                    assessment of the costs, benefits, and                substantial number of small entities,
                                            request by any person covered under                     other effects of proposed or final rules
                                            this SFAR for an exemption must                                                                               will not create unnecessary obstacles to
                                                                                                    that include a Federal mandate likely to              international trade and will not impose
                                            comply with 14 CFR part 11 and will                     result in the expenditure by State, local,
                                            require exceptional circumstances                                                                             an unfunded mandate on state, local, or
                                                                                                    or tribal governments, in the aggregate,              tribal governments, or on the private
                                            beyond those contemplated by the                        or by the private sector, of $100 million
                                            approval process set forth above. In                                                                          sector.
                                                                                                    or more annually (adjusted for inflation
                                            addition to the information required by                 with a base year of 1995). This portion               A. Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
                                            14 CFR 11.81, at a minimum, the                         of the preamble summarizes the FAA’s                     The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980
                                            requestor must describe in its                          analysis of the economic impacts of this              (Pub. L. 96–354, ‘‘RFA’’) establishes ‘‘as
                                            submission to the FAA—                                  final rule.                                           a principle of regulatory issuance that
                                               • The proposed operation(s),                            Department of Transportation (DOT)                 agencies shall endeavor, consistent with
                                            including the nature of the operation;                  Order 2100.5 prescribes policies and                  the objectives of the rule and of
                                               • The service to be provided by the                  procedures for simplification, analysis,              applicable statutes, to fit regulatory and
                                            person(s) covered by the SFAR;                          and review of regulations. If the                     informational requirements to the scale
                                               • The specific locations within the                  expected cost impact is so minimal that               of the businesses, organizations, and
                                            Tripoli FIR where the proposed                          a proposed or final rule does not                     governmental jurisdictions subject to
                                            operation(s) will be conducted; and                     warrant a full evaluation, this order                 regulation. To achieve this principle,
                                               • The method by which the operator                   permits that a statement to that effect               agencies are required to solicit and
                                            will obtain current threat information,                 and the basis for it to be included in the            consider flexible regulatory proposals
                                            and an explanation of how the operator                  preamble if a full regulatory evaluation              and to explain the rationale for their
                                            will integrate this information into all                of the cost and benefits is not prepared.             actions to assure that such proposals are
                                            phases of its proposed operations (e.g.,                Such a determination has been made for                given serious consideration.’’ The RFA
                                            the pre-mission planning and briefing,                  this final rule. The reasoning for this               covers a wide-range of small entities,
                                            in-flight, and post-flight phases).                     determination follows:                                including small businesses, not-for-
                                               Additionally, the release and                           This rule extends, by an additional                profit organizations, and small
                                            agreement to indemnify, as referred to                  two years, the prohibition by SFAR No.                governmental jurisdictions.
                                            above, will be required as a condition of               112 of flight operations within the                      Agencies must perform a review to
                                            any exemption issued under this SFAR.                   Tripoli (HLLL) Flight Information                     determine whether a rule will have a
                                            The FAA recognizes that operations that                 Region (FIR) by all: U.S. air carriers,               significant economic impact on a
                                            may be affected by SFAR No. 112,                        U.S. commercial operators; persons                    substantial number of small entities. If
                                            § 91.1603, may be planned for the                       exercising the privileges of an airman                the agency determines that it will, the
                                            governments of other countries with the                 certificate issued by the FAA, except                 agency must prepare a regulatory
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                                            support of the U.S. Government. While                   when such persons are operating a U.S.-               flexibility analysis as described in the
                                            these operations will not be permitted                  registered aircraft for a foreign air                 RFA.
                                            through the approval process, the FAA                   carrier; and operators of U.S.-registered                However, if an agency determines that
                                            will process exemption requests for                     civil aircraft, except operators of such              a rule is not expected to have a
                                            such operations on an expedited basis                   aircraft that are foreign air carriers.               significant economic impact on a
                                            and prior to any private exemption                      Because of the civil war that was                     substantial number of small entities,
                                            requests.                                               ongoing in Libya when SFAR No. 112                    section 605(b) of the RFA provides that


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                                            15506              Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 56 / Tuesday, March 24, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

                                            the head of the agency may so certify                   new requirement for information                       B. Executive Order 13211, Regulations
                                            and a regulatory flexibility analysis is                collection associated with this                       That Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
                                            not required. The certification must                    immediately adopted final rule.                       Distribution, or Use
                                            include a statement providing the                                                                                The FAA analyzed this immediately
                                            factual basis for this determination, and               E. International Compatibility and
                                                                                                    Cooperation                                           adopted final rule under Executive
                                            the reasoning should be clear.                                                                                Order 13211, Actions Concerning
                                              As discussed above, the FAA                             In keeping with U.S. obligations                    Regulations that Significantly Affect
                                            estimates the costs of this rule will be
                                                                                                    under the Convention on International                 Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
                                            minimal. Therefore, as provided in
                                                                                                    Civil Aviation, it is FAA policy to                   (May 18, 2001). The agency has
                                            section 605(b), the head of the FAA
                                                                                                    conform to International Civil Aviation               determined that it would not be a
                                            certifies that this rulemaking will not
                                                                                                    Organization (ICAO) Standards and                     ‘‘significant energy action’’ under the
                                            result in a significant economic impact
                                                                                                    Recommended Practices to the                          executive order and would not be likely
                                            on a substantial number of small
                                                                                                    maximum extent practicable. The FAA                   to have a significant adverse effect on
                                            entities.
                                                                                                    has determined that there are no ICAO                 the supply, distribution, or use of
                                            B. International Trade Impact                           Standards and Recommended Practices                   energy.
                                            Assessment                                              that correspond to this regulation.                   C. Executive Order 13609, Promoting
                                              The Trade Agreements Act of 1979                      F. Environmental Analysis                             International Regulatory Cooperation
                                            (Pub. L. 96–39), as amended, prohibits
                                                                                                                                                            Executive Order 13609, Promoting
                                            Federal agencies from establishing                         FAA Order 1050.1E identifies FAA
                                                                                                                                                          International Regulatory Cooperation,
                                            standards or engaging in related                        actions that are categorically excluded
                                                                                                                                                          (77 FR 26413, May 4, 2012) promotes
                                            activities that create unnecessary                      from preparation of an environmental
                                                                                                                                                          international regulatory cooperation to
                                            obstacles to the foreign commerce of the                assessment or environmental impact                    meet shared challenges involving
                                            United States. Pursuant to this Act, the                statement under the National                          health, safety, labor, security,
                                            establishment of standards is not                       Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in the                environmental, and other issues and to
                                            considered an unnecessary obstacle to                   absence of extraordinary circumstances.               reduce, eliminate, or prevent
                                            the foreign commerce of the United                      The FAA has determined this                           unnecessary differences in regulatory
                                            States, so long as the standard has a                   rulemaking action qualifies for the                   requirements. The FAA has analyzed
                                            legitimate domestic objective, such as                  categorical exclusion identified in                   this action under the policies and
                                            the protection of safety, and does not                  paragraph 312f of this order and                      agency responsibilities of Executive
                                            operate in a manner that excludes                       involves no extraordinary                             Order 13609, and has determined that
                                            imports that meet this objective. The                   circumstances.                                        this action would have no effect on
                                            statute also requires consideration of
                                                                                                       The FAA has reviewed the                           international regulatory cooperation.
                                            international standards and, where
                                                                                                    implementation of the SFAR and
                                            appropriate, that they be the basis for                                                                       V. Additional Information
                                                                                                    determined it is categorically excluded
                                            U.S. standards. The FAA has assessed
                                                                                                    from further environmental review                     A. Availability of Rulemaking
                                            the potential effect of this final rule and
                                                                                                    according to FAA Order 1050.1E,                       Documents
                                            determined that its purpose is to protect
                                                                                                    ‘‘Environmental Impacts: Policies and                   An electronic copy of rulemaking
                                            the safety of U.S. civil aviation from
                                                                                                    Procedures,’’ paragraph 312f. The FAA                 documents may be obtained from the
                                            potential hazards outside the U.S.
                                                                                                    has examined possible extraordinary                   Internet by—
                                            Therefore, the rule is in compliance
                                            with the Trade Agreements Act.                          circumstances and determined that no                    • Searching the Federal eRulemaking
                                                                                                    such circumstances exist. After careful               Portal (http://www.regulations.gov);
                                            C. Unfunded Mandates Assessment                         and thorough consideration of the                       • Visiting the FAA’s Regulations and
                                               Title II of the Unfunded Mandates                    action, the FAA finds that this Federal               Policies Web page at http://
                                            Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4)                      action does not require preparation of                www.faa.gov/regulations_policies or
                                            requires each Federal agency to prepare                 an Environmental Assessment or                          • Accessing the Government Printing
                                            a written statement assessing the effects               Environmental Impact Statement in                     Office’s Web page at http://
                                            of any Federal mandate in a proposed or                 accordance with the requirements of                   www.fdsys.gov.
                                            final agency rule that may result in an                 NEPA, Council on Environmental                          Copies may also be obtained by
                                            expenditure of $100 million or more (in                 Quality (CEQ) regulations, and FAA                    sending a request to the Federal
                                            1995 dollars) in any one year by State,                 Order 1050.1E.                                        Aviation Administration, Office of
                                            local, and tribal governments, in the                                                                         Rulemaking, ARM–1, 800 Independence
                                                                                                    IV. Executive Order Determinations
                                            aggregate, or by the private sector; such                                                                     Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591, or
                                            a mandate is deemed to be a ‘‘significant               A. Executive Order 13132, Federalism                  by calling (202) 267–9680. Please
                                            regulatory action.’’ The FAA currently                                                                        identify the docket or amendment
                                            uses an inflation-adjusted value of                       The FAA has analyzed this                           number of this rulemaking in your
                                            $151.0 million in lieu of $100 million.                 immediately adopted final rule under                  request.
                                               This final rule does not contain such                the principles and criteria of Executive                All documents the FAA considered in
                                            a mandate; therefore, the requirements                  Order 13132, Federalism. The agency                   developing this rule, including
                                            of Title II of the Act do not apply.                    has determined that this action would                 economic analyses and technical
                                                                                                    not have a substantial direct effect on               reports, may be accessed from the
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                                            D. Paperwork Reduction Act                              the States, or the relationship between               Internet through the Federal
                                              The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995                   the Federal Government and the States,                eRulemaking Portal referenced above.
                                            (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)) requires that the                   or on the distribution of power and
                                            FAA consider the impact of paperwork                    responsibilities among the various                    B. Small Business Regulatory
                                            and other information collection                        levels of government, and, therefore,                 Enforcement Fairness Act
                                            burdens imposed on the public. The                      would not have Federalism                               The Small Business Regulatory
                                            FAA has determined that there is no                     implications.                                         Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996


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                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 56 / Tuesday, March 24, 2015 / Rules and Regulations                                                   15507

                                            (SBREFA) requires FAA to comply with                    department, agency, or instrumentality;               SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                            small entity requests for information or                and third, for all other operations.
                                            advice about compliance with statutes                     (2) [Reserved]                                      I. Background
                                            and regulations within its jurisdiction.                *     *     *     *     *                                On October 30, 2013, the Commission
                                            A small entity with questions regarding                   (e) Expiration. This Special Federal                amended Regulation 1.22 to enhance the
                                            this document may contact its local                     Aviation Regulation will remain in                    safety of funds deposited by customers
                                            FAA official, or the person listed under                effect until March 20, 2017. The FAA                  with FCMs as margin for futures
                                            the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT                     may amend, rescind, or extend this                    transactions.1 The amendments require
                                            heading at the beginning of the                         Special Federal Aviation Regulation as                an FCM to maintain its own capital
                                            preamble. To find out more about                        necessary.                                            (hereinafter referred to as the FCM’s
                                            SBREFA on the Internet, visit http://                     Issued in Washington, DC, under the                 ‘‘Residual Interest’’) in customer
                                            www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/                       authority of 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40101(d)(1),           segregated accounts in an amount equal
                                            rulemaking/sbre_act/.                                   40105(b)(1)(A), and 44701(a)(5), on March 19,         to or greater than its customers’
                                                                                                    2015.
                                            List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 91                                                                            aggregate undermargined amounts.2 The
                                                                                                    Michael P. Huerta,                                    Commission established a phased-in
                                              Air traffic control, Aircraft, Airmen,
                                                                                                    Administrator.                                        compliance schedule for Regulation
                                            Airports, Aviation safety, Freight, Libya.
                                                                                                    [FR Doc. 2015–06697 Filed 3–20–15; 8:45 am]           1.22 with an initial Residual Interest
                                            The Amendment                                           BILLING CODE 4910–13–P                                Deadline of 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time on
                                              In consideration of the foregoing, the                                                                      the date of the settlement referenced in
                                            Federal Aviation Administration                                                                               Regulation 1.22(c)(2)(i) or (c)(4) (the
                                            amends chapter I of title 14, Code of                   COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING                             ‘‘Settlement Date’’), beginning
                                            Federal Regulations as follows:                         COMMISSION                                            November 14, 2014.3 Amended
                                                                                                                                                          Regulation 1.22 also directs staff to host
                                            PART 91—GENERAL OPERATING AND                           17 CFR Part 1                                         a public roundtable and publish a report
                                            FLIGHT RULES                                            RIN 3038–AE22                                         for public comment by May 16, 2016
                                            ■ 1. The authority citation for part 91                                                                       addressing, to the extent information is
                                                                                                    Residual Interest Deadline for Futures                practically available, the practicability
                                            continues to read as follows:
                                                                                                    Commission Merchants                                  (for both FCMs and customers) of
                                              Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g), 1155,                                                                  moving the Residual Interest Deadline
                                            40101, 40103, 40105, 40113, 40120, 44101,               AGENCY:  Commodity Futures Trading
                                            44111, 44701, 44704, 44709, 44711, 44712,               Commission.                                           from 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the
                                            44715, 44716, 44717, 44722, 46306, 46315,                                                                     Settlement Date, to the time of
                                                                                                    ACTION: Final rule.
                                            46316, 46504, 46506–46507, 47122, 47508,                                                                      settlement or to some other time of day.4
                                            47528–47531, 47534, articles 12 and 29 of the           SUMMARY:    The Commodity Futures                     Furthermore, amended Regulation 1.22
                                            Convention on International Civil Aviation              Trading Commission (‘‘Commission’’ or                 provides that, absent Commission
                                            (61 Stat. 1180), (126 Stat. 11).                        ‘‘CFTC’’) is amending its regulations to              action, the phased-in compliance period
                                            ■ 2. In § 91.1603, revise paragraphs (c)                remove the December 31, 2018                          for the Residual Interest Deadline
                                            and (e) to read as follows:                             automatic termination date for the                    automatically terminates on December
                                                                                                    phased-in compliance schedule for                     31, 2018.5 In the case of such automatic
                                            § 91.1603 Special Federal Aviation                                                                            termination, the Residual Interest
                                                                                                    futures commission merchants
                                            Regulation No. 112—Prohibition Against
                                            Certain Flights Within the Tripoli (HLLL)               (‘‘FCMs’’) and provides assurance that                Deadline would change to the time of
                                            Flight Information Region (FIR).                        the residual interest deadline, as                    settlement on the Settlement Date.
                                                                                                    defined in the regulations (‘‘Residual
                                            *     *      *     *     *                                                                                    II. The Proposal
                                              (c) Permitted operations. This section                Interest Deadline’’), will only be revised
                                            does not prohibit persons described in                  through a separate Commission                           On November 3, 2014, the
                                            paragraph (a) of this section from                      rulemaking.                                           Commission proposed to revise
                                            conducting flight operations within the                 DATES: The final rule is effective May                Regulation 1.22 to remove the December
                                            Tripoli (HLLL) FIR under the following                  26, 2015.                                             31, 2018 automatic termination of the
                                            conditions:                                             FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      phase-in compliance period.6 In the
                                              (1) Flight operations are conducted                      Division of Swap Dealer and                        NPRM, the Commission stated the
                                            under a contract, grant, or cooperative                 Intermediary Oversight: Thomas Smith,                 intention to retain the Residual Interest
                                            agreement with a department, agency, or                 Acting Director, 202–418–5495, tsmith@
                                            instrumentality of the U.S. government                  cftc.gov; Jennifer Bauer, Special                        1 Enhancing Protections Afforded Customers and

                                            (or under a subcontract between the                     Counsel, 202–418–5472, jbauer@                        Customer Funds Held by Futures Commission
                                            prime contractor of the department,                                                                           Merchants and Derivatives Clearing Organizations,
                                                                                                    cftc.gov; Joshua Beale, Attorney-                     Final Rule, 78 FR 68506 (Nov. 14, 2013) (amending
                                            agency, or instrumentality, and the                     Advisor, 202–418–5446, jbeale@                        17 CFR parts 1, 3, 22, 30 and 140).
                                            person described in paragraph (a) of this               cftc.gov, Three Lafayette Centre, 1155                   2 See 17 CFR 1.22(c)(3)(i). As defined in

                                            section), with the approval of the FAA,                 21st Street NW., Washington, DC 20581.                Regulation 1.22(c)(1), a customer’s account is
                                            or under an exemption issued by the                        Division of Clearing and Risk: Kirsten             ‘‘undermargined,’’ when the value of the customer
                                                                                                                                                          funds for a customer’s account is less than the total
                                            FAA. The FAA will process requests for                  V.K. Robbins, Associate Chief Counsel,                amount of collateral required by derivatives
                                            approval or exemption in a timely                       202–418–5313, krobbins@cftc.gov,                      clearing organizations for that account’s contracts.
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                                            manner, with the order of preference                    Three Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st Street              See 78 FR 68513, n.30.
                                            being: First, for those operations in                   NW., Washington, DC 20581.                               3 See 17 CFR 1.22(c)(5)(ii); See 78 FR at 68578.
                                                                                                                                                             4 See 17 CFR 1.22(c)(5)(iii)(A).
                                            support of U.S. government-sponsored                       Office of the Chief Economist:
                                                                                                                                                             5 See 17 CFR 1.22(c)(5)(iii)(C).
                                            activities; second, for those operations                Stephen Kane, Research Economist,                        6 Residual Interest Deadline for Futures
                                            in support of government-sponsored                      202–418–5911, skane@cftc.gov, Three                   Commission Merchants, Notice of Proposed
                                            activities of a foreign country with the                Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st Street NW.,               Rulemaking, 79 FR 68148 (Nov. 14, 2014)
                                            support of a U.S. government                            Washington, DC 20581.                                 (amending 17 CFR part 1).



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Document Created: 2015-12-18 11:45:35
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 11:45:35
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionFinal rule and extension of expiration date.
DatesThe final rule is effective March 20, 2015. This action extends the period during which Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) No. 112, scheduled to expire on March 20, 2015, will remain in effect. The expiration date is extended until March 20, 2017.
ContactFor technical questions concerning this action, contact Will Gonzalez, Air Transportation Division, AFS- 220, Flight Standards Service Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone 202-267-8166; email [email protected]
FR Citation80 FR 15503 
RIN Number2120-AK70
CFR AssociatedAir Traffic Control; Aircraft; Airmen; Airports; Aviation Safety; Freight and Libya

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