A B727 FLC ASSESSES THE BOARDING PROC OF THEIR PAX AFTER AN FAA INSPECTOR QUESTIONS THE SAFETY OF THE BOARDING PROC DURING A FUEL SPILL CLEAN-UP ON THE RAMP AT DFW; TX.

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I ARRIVED AT THE ACFT FOR DEP. I WAS THEN ADVISED THAT FUELING HAD BEEN INTERRUPTED DUE TO FUEL VENTING FROM R DUMP MAST. I ADVISED MAINT AND THE GATE AGENT. THE GATE AGENT ASKED HIS SUPVR IF BOARDING SHOULD PROCEED. THE SUPVR SAID TO BOARD THE PAX. AS WE PREPARED THE COCKPIT FOR DEP; AN FAA INSPECTOR ENTERED THE COCKPIT AND TOLD ME THAT HE FELT BOARDING PAX DURING CLEANUP OF A FUEL SPILL WAS UNSAFE. I SO NOTIFIED THE AGENT WHO AGAIN QUERIED HIS SUPVRS. BOARDING PROCEEDED. MAINT REPLACED A FAULTY FUEL GAUGE AND SIGNED OFF MY LOGBOOK WRITE-UP. FUEL WAS COMPLETED AND WE DEPARTED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 475040: I OBSERVED ON THE RAMP THAT A CLEAN-UP CREW WAS WORKING ON THE SPILL. THE FUELER AND RAMP CREW WERE THERE ASSISTING. THE CAPT BRIEFLY DISCUSSED HIS CONVERSATION ABOUT BOARDING WITH THE AGENTS AND THEY SAID IT WAS OK. THE CAPT LEFT THE COCKPIT TO AGAIN VERIFY THE AGENT'S APPROVAL. I NEVER SAW THE FAA REPRESENTATIVE AGAIN PRIOR TO DEP. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 475041: I ARRIVED AT THE ACFT. AS I WAS ABOUT TO DO MY WALKAROUND; I NOTICED ON THE R SIDE OF THE ACFT THAT THERE WAS A LARGE FUEL SPILL. THE CAPT WAS AT THE SPILL LOCATION TALKING WITH A FUELING GND PERSON. I SPOKE TO THE FUELING GND PERSON AND ASKED WHAT CAUSED THE FUEL SPILL. HE SAID HE WAS NOT SURE.