§ 1135. Secretary of Transportation’s responses to safety recommendations
(a)
General.—
When the National Transportation Safety Board submits a recommendation about transportation safety to the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary shall give a formal written response to each recommendation not later than 90 days after receiving the recommendation. The response shall indicate whether the Secretary intends—
(b)
Timetable for Completing Procedures and Reasons for Refusals.—
A response under subsection (a)(1) or (2) of this section shall include a copy of a proposed timetable for completing the procedures. A response under subsection (a)(2) of this section shall detail the reasons for the refusal to carry out procedures on the remainder of the recommendation. A response under subsection (a)(3) of this section shall detail the reasons for the refusal to carry out procedures.
(c)
Public Availability.—
The Board shall make a copy of each recommendation and response available to the public at reasonable cost.
(d)
Reporting Requirements.—
(1)
Annual secretarial regulatory status reports.—
On February 1 of each year, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress and the Board containing the regulatory status of each recommendation made by the Board to the Secretary (or to an Administration within the Department of Transportation) that is on the Board’s “most wanted list”. The Secretary shall continue to report on the regulatory status of each such recommendation in the report due on February 1 of subsequent years until final regulatory action is taken on that recommendation or the Secretary (or an Administration within the Department) determines and states in such a report that no action should be taken.
(2)
Failure to report.—
If on March 1 of each year the Board has not received the Secretary’s report required by this subsection, the Board shall notify the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate of the Secretary’s failure to submit the required report.
(3)
Compliance report with recommendations.—
Within 90 days after the date on which the Secretary submits a report under this subsection, the Board shall review the Secretary’s report and transmit comments on the report to the Secretary, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.