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# Proposed Rules

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of the proposed issuance of rules and -regulations. The purpose of these notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

10 CFR Part 430

[Docket No. EE-RM-94-403)

RIN 1904-AA67
Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Notice of Public Workshop on Clothes Washers Energy Efficiency Standards Rulemaklng

AGENCY: 

### Office ofEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy.
ACTION: 

### Notice ofPublic Workshop.

SUMMARY: 

### The Departmentwill convene

a public workshop to discuss revised analytical tools (e.g., life cycle cost, national energy forecasting, and shipment spreadsheets) and the assumptions to be used for the lifecycle-cost (LCC) analysis including

some sample LCC results if

### available. The Departmentalso will presenta document stating the methodology and assumptions used for the reverse engineering analysis for the typical vertical-axis clothes washers. Additionally, the Departmentwill report a tabulation ofexisting consumer research which it plans to use to address

consumer issues.

DATES: 

### The public workshop will be held on Wednesday, March 11. 1998, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Thursday, March 12, 1998, from 9:00

a.m. to noon. Written comments (3 copies) must be received on orbefore April 15, 1998.

ADDRESSES: 

### The workshop will be held
atthe U.S. DepartmentofEnergy, Room lE-245, on March 11, 1998, and in Room 6E-069 on March 12, 1998, 1000 lndependence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585. Comments should be addressed to Bryan Berringer
atthe address indicated below under FurtherInformation.

Copies ofthe transcript ofthe public workshop, public comments received, and this notice may be read or purchased at the DOE Freedom of Information Reading Room, U.S. DOE, ForrestalBuilding. Room lE-190, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-6020, between the hours of9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday throughFriday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

### Bryan Berringer, U.S. Department of

Energy, Office ofEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Forrestal Building, Mail Station EE-43, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121. (202) 586-0371, E-mail: · Bryan.Berringer@HQ.DOE.GOV Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department

ofEnergy. Office ofGeneral Counsel, ForrestalBuilding. Mail Station GC72, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-3410, (202) 586-9507, E-mail: Eugene.Margolis@HQ.DOE.GOV Ms. Brenda Edwards-Jones, U.S. DepartmentofEnergy, Office ofEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. U.S. DepartmentofEnergy. Mail Station EE43, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586- 2945, E-mail: Brenda.EdwardsJones@HQ. DOE.GOV

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:



### The following topics will be discussed atthis workshop: 1. Overview ofthe current clothes washers rulemaking schedule and process.

2. Discussion ofRevised Analytical Tools, Data and Assumptions: The Departmentseeks input on the revised analytical tools, data, and assumptions
to be used for the life-cycle-cost analysis.

A. 

### Life-Cycle-Cost: The Department will presenta revised life-cycle-cost spreadsheetmodel thathas been developed whichwill accountfor variability ofkey criteria, suchas, energy prices and water heaterfuel type. The spreadsheet includesthe cost and
energy efficiency level data obtained.

B. 

### Price: To obtain prices as an input
to the LCC spreadsheet, the Department will presenta draft discussion paperon the assumptions for mark-ups for clothes washerrulemaking analysis.

C. 

### National Energy Savings Forecasts: The Departmentwill review the spreadsheetdiscussed at the previous workshop. 

# '6 t 

# C.

Federal Register

Vol. 63, No. 42

Wednesday, March 4, 1998 

### 10571

D. 

### ShipmentForecasts: The Departmentwill present alternative approaches to obtain shipment data for the National Energy Savings spreadsheet.

3. 

### ReverseEngineeringApproach:The Departmentwill present a document stating the methodology and assumptions used for the reverse engineering analysis for the typical vertical-axis clothes washers.

4. 

### ConsumerIssues: The Department will report a tabulation ofexisting

consumer research which itplans to use to address consumer issues.

Previously released and distributed information pertainingto this rulemaking include the following: An Advance Notice ofProposed Rulemaking to Amend the Energy Conservation Standardsfor Three CleaningProducts, published on November 14, 1994 (59 FR 56423). and
comments thereon; Draft Report on the Preliminary Engineering Analysis for Clothes Washers (October, 1996); Draft Report on Design Optionsfor Clothes Washers (October, 1996); Draft Clothes Washers RulemakingFramework Ouly 8, 1997); and the transcript from the November 15, 1996, andJuly 23, 1997, Workshops and comments relating to the workshops. Copies ofthese materials may be read orpurchased at the DOE Freedom ofInformation Reading Room. You can contact the Freedom ofInformation Reading Room
at the above address and phone number for further information.

The Departmentalso welcomes written comments on the items to be presented atthe workshop until April 15, 1998. Written comments or recommendations (3 copies) should be submitted to Bryan Berringer atthe above listed address.

Copies ofthe preliminary material for the workshop, including spreadsheets, will be available beginning the week of February 16, 1998, on the Office of Codes and Standards web site which is

as follows: http://www.eren.doe.gov/ buildings/codes standards/index.htm. If

### you have any questions, or plan to attend the workshop, or ifyou are unable to access the web site and wish
to obtain material for the workshop, please contact Ms. BrendaEdwardsJones at {202) 586-2945 or Mr. Bryan Berringer at (202) 586-0371, or (202) 586-4617 by fax.' j 

### '. *"'0:10572 

### Federal Register/Vol. 63, No. 42/Wednesday, March 4, 1998/Proposed Rules

-

## .. Issued in Washington, DC, on February 26, 1998. Dan W. Reicher, AssistantSecretary, EnergyEfficiencyand RenewableEnergy. [FR Doc. 98-5544 Filed 3-3-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 96-NM-103-AD]

RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model A320 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice ofproposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY: This documentproposes the adoption ofa new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Airbus Model A320 series airplanes. This proposal would require installation ofa rubberstrip, and replacement ofconnection sheets and the seal retainer on the avionics compartmentaccess doorwith new parts; and installation ofdrip pans and additional drain gutters on the avionics racks. This proposal fs prompted by issuance ofmandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The actions specified by the proposed AD

are intended to prevent the trickling of
water into the avionics compartment, which could result in avionics computer and equipmentmalfunctions.
DATES: Comments must be received by April 3, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules Docket No. 96-NM103-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federalholidays.

The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be obtained from Airbus Industrie, 1Rand PointMaurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France. This information may be examined at the FAA, TransportAirplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Norman B. Martenson, Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 227-2110; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to participate in the making ofthe proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. Communications shall identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All communications received on or before the closing date for comments, specified above, will be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in light ofthe comments received.

Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report summarizingeach FAA-public contact concerned withthe substance ofthis proposalwill be filed in the Rules Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt oftheir comments submitted in response to this notice
must submita self-addressed, stamped ·postcard onwhich the following
statement is made: "Commentsto Docket Number 96-NM-103-AD." The postcard will be date stamped and returned to the commenter. Availability ofNPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy ofthis NPRM by submittinga request to the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules Docket No. 96-NM-103-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056.

Discussion

The Direction Generale de I'Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the airworthiness authorityforFrance, notified the FAA thatan unsafe condition may exist on certain Airbus Model A320 series airplanes. The DGAC advises that ithas received several reports ofreduced operation ofthe avionics compartmentcomputers due to water spillage in the galley and the trickling ofwater into the electrical
connectors located below the floor panels ofthe galley. This condition, if
not corrected, could result in avionics computer and equipment**malf~nctions.** Explanation ofRelevant Service Information

Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A320-53-1070, Revision 6, datedJuly 18, 1995, which describes procedures for installation ofa rubber strip, and replacement ofconnection sheets and the seal retainer on the avionics compartmentaccess doorwith new parts.

In addition, Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A320-24-1054, Revision 2, dated September 22, 1993, which describes procedures for installation of drip pans and additional drain gutters

on the avionics racks.

Accomplishment ofthe actions specified in the service bulletins is intended to adequatelyaddress the identified unsafe condition. The DGAC classified these service bulletins as mandatory and issued French airworthiness directives 96-0ll-075(B), dated January 3, 1996, and 96-040- 076(B), dated February 14, 1996, in order to assure the continued airworthiness ofthese airplanes in France.

FAA's Conclusions

This airplane model is manufactured in France and is type certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions ofsection 21.29 ofthe Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this bilateral airworthiness agreement, the DGAC has kept the FAA informed ofthe situation described above. The FAA has examined the findings ofthe DGAC, reviewed all available information, and determined that AD action is necessaryfor products ofthis type design that are certificated for operation in the United States. Explanation ofRequirements of Proposed Rule

Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to existor develop on otherairplanes ofthe same type design registered in the United States, the proposed AD would require accomplishment ofthe actions specified in the service bulletins described previously.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 118 airplanes ofU.S. registrywould be affected by this proposed AD.

It would take approximately 3 work hours per airplane to accomplish the actions specified in Airbus Service BulletinA320-53-1070, at an average labor rate of$60 perwork hour. Required parts would cost approximately $1,273 per airplane.