The following is a Federal Register Notice that suspends the closing date for comment period on an important proposed plan of the FAA to use Market Based approaches to relieve congestion at airports. This was circulated before Sept 11 events. It is noteworthy in that it recognizes that the events of Sept 11 "....have contributed to a significant decrease in airport congestion at formerly busy airports."

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[Federal Register: November 5, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 214)]
[Notices]               
[Page 55978-55979]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05no01-95]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary, Federal Aviation Administration

[Docket No. OST-20001-9849]


Notice of Market-based Actions To Relieve Airport Congestion and 
Delay; Indefinite Suspension of the Closing Date of the Comment Period

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOT, Federal Aviation Administration, 
DOT.

ACTION: Notice to suspend until further notice the closing date of the 
comment period on market-based actions to relieve airport congestion 
and delay.

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SUMMARY: In a notice published on August 21, 2001, the DOT requested 
comments on the possible role, feasibility, and effectiveness of using 
market-based approaches to relieve airline flight delays and congestion 
at busy airports. The comment period is scheduled to close on November 
19, 2001. This notice suspends the closing date of the comment period 
until further notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Phillips, Senior Economic Policy 
Advisor, 202-366-4868 or Nancy Kessler, Senior Attorney-Advisor, 202-
366-9301.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On August 21, 2001, the DOT issued a ``Notice of Market-based 
Actions to Relieve Airport Congestion and Delay'' (66 FR 43947, August 
21, 2001). In that

[[Page 55979]]

notice, respondents were asked to provide comments, information, and/or 
data to address questions illustrative of the types of considerations 
the Department was seeking to evaluate, regarding how market-based 
approaches, as well as administrative actions, could work to relieve 
congestion at busy airports, including the design, implementation, and 
impacts of these approaches or actions.

Suspension of the Closing Date of the Comment Period

    The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 on the World Trade 
Center and the Pentagon caused the FAA to temporarily cease all non-
military flights in the United States and required airports and 
airlines to adopt certain security measures prior to the resumption of 
commercial service. In response to the new security requirements and 
lowered passenger demand, several airlines have reduced the number of 
aircraft operations below previously planned levels throughout the 
national airport system. These factors, at least in the short-run, have 
contributed to a significant decrease in airport congestion at formerly 
busy airports.
    In these circumstances, the Department has determined that it would 
be reasonable and in the public interest to suspend until further 
notice the closing date of the comment period for the notice 66 FR 
43947, August 21, 2001. At the appropriate time, the Department will 
publish an advance notice giving the new closing date for comments.

    Issued on October 31, 2001 in Washington, DC.
Susan McDermott,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs, 
Department of Transportation.
Louise Maillett,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Policy, Planning, and International 
Aviation, Federal Aviation Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-27740 Filed 11-2-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P