This process is used for simple, small changes of technology in the networks; the process just rubber-stamps and approves with no data, analysis or any major announcements or public comments required.
If a SIP revision is required, the public hearing on the revision may be substituted for the normal public comment procedure required for all major sources under 40 CFR 51.18.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has been very vocal in his criticism of the FCC, and is planning a lawsuit on the basis (I gather) that the public comment period — required for new rules although the content of the comments need not inform the result — was inadequately administered and as a result "corrupted" by stolen identities and potentially Russian agents.
A 45-day public comment period -- required under state law -- ends tomorrow.
I say "last minute" because usually new survey questions go through years of research, field-testing and public comment, as required by law and federal regulations.
Still, the administration said, the time elapsed since the bureau published its request for the emergency rule on Dec. 17 would count toward the 60-day public comment period required by normal procedures.
Mathew Nosanchuk, the litigation director for the Violence Policy Center, who formerly worked on gun issues in the Justice Department under Janet Reno, said, "We think they are trying to sneak under the radar, indefinitely delaying the rule so they can repeal it without any public comment, as required by law".
She said the groups are "hopeful we'll hear back from the FAA in the next week or two". Then, she said, the airport, county and city can start the long environmental review and public comment processes required under the California Environmental Quality Act before sending the agreement back to the FAA for final approval.
Today's hearing in the Franklin Circuit Court in Kentucky comes at the end of a public comment period required by the judge, regarding an intent to sue notice filed by affected Kentucky residents and citizens groups including Appalachian Voices, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth KFTCC), the Kentucky Riverkeeper, Waterkeeper Alliance and The Appalachian Citizens Law Centerr last October.
The bill would "require the agency to make SAB's membership 'fairly balanced,' add more public comment opportunities, require more acknowledgment of dissenting panelists' views, bar panelists from discussing their own research, and limit nonscientific advice from the panel".
