The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on August 12, 2014, which proposed to revise 49 CFR part 831. Part 831 contains the NTSB's investigation procedures. The proposed revisions updated various terms and other outdated information; organized the part into mode-specific subparts; and described the investigative party process in a more accurate manner than the descriptions contained in the current version of part 831. Comments concerning the NPRM were due October 31, 2014. The NPRM and all comments the NTSB received, as well as other associated documents, are available at www.regulations.gov.

The NTSB plans to divide revised part 831 into subparts A through E. Subparts A through D, which contain general investigation provisions and mode-specific procedures for aviation, highway, railroad, pipeline, and hazardous materials investigations, will be promulgated in the Final Rule associated with the August 12, 2014 NPRM and this RIN (AA01). The NTSB plans to issue a second NPRM for subpart E, which will contain mode-specific procedures for marine investigations. The NPRM for subpart E and all future activities related to subpart E will be contained in new RIN 3147-AA16.