Aw

L a

Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 13 / Wednesday, January 21, 1998 / Proposed Rules

SUMMARY : On December 17, 1997 (62 FR

66038), the Nuclear Regulatory

Commission published a notice of

receipt of an amended petition for

rulemaking filed by Peter G. Crane and

requested public comment on the

amended petition. In the amended

petition for rulemaking, the petitioner

seeks to amend NRC's emergency

planning regulations to require

consideration of sheltering, evacuation,

and the prophylactic use of potassium

iodide for the general public in

developing a range of emergency

planning protective actions. In addition,

the petitioner has filed supplemental

information in support of his amended

petition which is available in the NRC

Public Document Room. The comment

period on the amended petition was to

have expired, on January 16, 1998. In

response to several requests, the NRC

has decided to extend the comment

period for this action.

DATES : The comment period has been

extended and now expires on February

17, 1998. Comments received after this

date will be considered if it is practical

to do so, but assurance of consideration

cannot be given except to those

comments received on or before this

date.

ADDRESSES : Submit comments to:

Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555-

0001, Attention: Rulemakings and

Adjudications Staff.

Deliver comments to 11555 Rockville

Pike, Rockville, Maryland, between 7:30

a.m. and 4:15 p.m. on Federal workdays.

You may also provide comments via

the NRC's interactive rulemaking

website through the NRC home page

(http://www.nrc.gov). This site provides

the availability to upload comments as

files (any format), if your web browser

supports that function. For information

about the interactive rulemaking

website, contact Ms. Carol Gallagher,

301-415-5905; E-mail CAG@nrc.gov.

For a copy of the amended petition,

write: Rules and Directives Branch,

Division of Administrative Services,

Office of Administration, U.S. Nuclear

Regulatory Commission, Washington,

D.C. 20555-0001. A copy of the

amended petition and other

documentation filed by the petitioner

are also available for public inspection,

and copying for a fee, in the NRC Public

Document Room, 2120 L Street NW

(Lower Level), Washington, D.C.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michael Jamgochian, Office of Nuclear

Regulatory Research, U.S. Nuclear

Regulatory Commission, Washington,

D.C. 20555-0001, telephone: 301-415-

6534, E-mail: MTJ1@nrc.gov: or Michael

T. Lesar, Office of Administration, U.S.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission,

Washington, D.C. 20555-0001,

telephone: 301-415-7163 or Toll Free:

1-800-368-5642, E-mail: MTL@nrc.gov.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Dated at Rockville. Maryland, this 14th day

of January, 1998.

Annette Vietti-Cook,

Acting Secretary of the Commission.

[FR Doc. 98-1379 Filed 1-20-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7590-01-P

3053

Forrestal Building, Room 1E-190, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW,

Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-7574,

between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00

p.m., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kathi Epping, U.S. Department of

Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy, EE-43, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW,

Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-

7425, email: Kathi.Epping@hq.doe.gov,

or Edward Levy, Esq., U.S. Department

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy

10 CFR Part 430

Energy Efficiency Test Procedures for

Distribution Transformers

[Docket Number EE-DET-97-550]

RIN 1904-AA85

AGENCY : Office of Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy, Department of

Energy.

ACTION: Notice of public workshop.

SUMMARY : The Department of Energy

(DOE) will hold an informal public

workshop to discuss issues and gather

Information related to test procedures

for electric distribution transformers.

All persons are hereby given notice of

the opportunity to attend this public

workshop and to submit written

comments.

DATES: The public workshop will be

held on Tuesday, February 10, 1998,

from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

ADDRESSES : The workshop will be held

at the U.S. Department of Energy,

Forrestal Building, Room lE-245, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW,

Washington, DC 20585.

Written comments are welcome,

especially following the workshop.

Please submit 10 copies (no faxes) to:

Ms. Kathi Epping, U.S. Department of

Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy, "Energy

Conservation Program for Consumer

Products: Test Procedures for

Distribution Transformers, Docket No.

EE-DET-97-550," EE-43, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW,

Washington, DC 20585-0121.

Telephone: (202) 586-7425; Telefax:

(202) 586-4617.

Copies of the transcript of the public

workshop, public comments received,

and this notice may be read (or copied)

at the Freedom of Information Reading

Room, U.S. Department of Energy,

of Energy, Office of General Counsel,

GC-72, 1000 Independence Avenue,

SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-

9507, email: Edward.Levy@hq.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On

October 22, 1997, the Secretary

determined, based on the best

information currently available, that

energy conservation standards for

electric distribution transformers are

technologically feasible, economically

justified, and would result in a

significant energy savings. This

determination initiated the process of

establishing, by notice and comment

rulemaking, test procedures and energy

conservation standards for this product.

The Department of Energy is drafting

a proposed rule to implement the

provisions of the Energy Policy and

Conservation Act, 42 U.S.C. 6317, for

test procedures for distribution

transformers. However, several issues

have been raised. The purpose of the

public workshop is to discuss the

following issues for developing the

notice of proposed rulemaking:

a. Adoption of national and

international consensus standards in the

test procedures for determining energy

efficiency of distribution transformers;

b. Burden imposed on industry,

especially on manufacturers, by

additional testing and data processing;

c. The definition of "basic model" for

distribution transformers;

d. Sampling plan for units to be

tested;

e. Selection of a measure of energy

consumption for distribution

transformers;

f. Selecting reference temperaturesthe reference temperatures in the

consensus standards lack uniformity;

g. Requirement for applying

corrections to measurement data of both

liquid-immersed and dry-types of

transformers; and

h. Requirement for quality assurance

in testing.

The Department has prepared a paper

entitled "Issues Paper for the

Distribution Transformers Test

Procedures Workshop on February 10,

1998" that explains and discusses these

EE-TP-98-550 COMMENT 01B

Federal Register I Vol. 63. No. 13 I Wednesday. January 21, 1998 I Proposed Rules 3053 

SUMMARY: On December 17, 1997 (62 FR 

66038). the Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission published a notice of 

receipt of an amended petition for 

rulemaking filed by Peter G. Crane and 

requested public comment on the 

amended petition. In the amended 

petition for rulemaking, the petitioner 

seeks to amend NRC's emergency 

planning regulations to require 

consideration of sheltering. evacuation, 

and the prophylactic use of potassium 

iodide for the general public in 

developing a range of emergency 

planning protective actions. In addition, 

the petitioner has filed supplemental 

information in support of his amended 

petition which is available in the NRC 

Public Document Room. The comment 

period on the amended petition was to 

have expired'on]anuary 16. 1998. In 

response to several requests, the NRC 

has decided to extend the comment 

period for this action. 

DATES: The comment period has been 

extended and now expires on February 

17, 1998. Comments received after this 

date will be considered if it is practical 

to do so, but assurance of consideration 

cannot be given except to those 

comments received on or before this 

date. 

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to: 

Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission, Washington. D.C. 20555-

0001. Attention: Rulemakings and 

Adjudications Staff. 

Deliver comments to 11555 Rockville 

Pike, Rockville, Maryland, between 7:30 

a.m. and 4:15 p.m. on Federal workdays. 

You may also provide comments via 

the NRC's interactive rulemaking 

website through the NRC home page 

(http://www.nrc.gov).This site provides 

the availability to upload comments as files (any format). if your web browser 

supports that function. For information 

about the interactive rulemaking 

website. contact Ms. Carol Gallagher, 

301-415-5905; E-mail CAG@nrc.gov. 

For a copy of the amended petition. 

write: Rules and Directives Branch, 

Division of Administrative Services. 

Office of Administration, U.S. Nuclear 

Regulatory Commission, Washington, 

D.C. 20555-0001. A copy of the 

amended petition and other 

documentation filed by the petitioner are also available for public inspection, 

and copying for a fee, in the NRC Public 

Document Room, 2120 L Street NW 

(Lower Level), Washington. D.C. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Michael Jamgochian, Office of Nuclear 

Regulatory Research, U.S. Nuclear 

Regulatory Commission, Washington, 

D.C. 20555-0001, telephone: 301-415-

6534, E-mail: MTJ l@nrc.gov; or Michael 

T. Lesar. Office of Administration, U.S. 

Nuclear Regulatory CommisSion, 

Washington, D.C. 20555-0001. 

telephone: 301-415-7163 or Toll Free: 

1-800-368-5642, E-mail: MTL@nrc.gov. 

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 

Dated at Rockville. Maryland, thiS 14th day 

of January, 1998. 

Annette Vietti-Cook. 

Acting Secretary of the Commission. 

[FR Doc. 98-1379 Filed 1-20-98; 8:45 am) 

BIWNG CODE 7591l-01-P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy 

10 CFR Part 430 

Energy Efficiency Test Procedures for 

Distribution Transformers 

[Docket Number EE-DET -97-550] 

RIN 1904-AA85 

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy. Department of 

Energy. 

ACTION: Notice of public workshop. 

SUMMARY: The Department of Energy 

(DOE) will hold an informal public 

workshop to discuss issues and gather 

information related to test procedures 

for electric distribution transformers. 

All persons are hereby given notice of 

the opportunity to attend this public 

workshop and to submit written 

comments. 

DATES: The public workshop will be 

held on Tuesday. February 10, 1998. 

from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held 

at the U.S. Department of Energy. 

Forrestal BUilding. Room lE-245. 1000 

Independence Avenue. SW. 

Washington, DC 20585. 

Written comments are welcome. 

espeCially following the workshop. 

Please submit 10 copies (no faxes) to: 

Ms. Kathi Epping. U.S. Department of 

Energy. Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy. "Energy 

Cons.ervation Program for Consumer 

Products: Test Procedures for 

Distribution Transformers. Docket No. 

EE-DET-97-550." EE-43. 1000 

Independence Avenue. SW. 

Washington. DC 20585-0121. 

Telephone: (202) 586-7425; Telefax: 

(202) 586-4617. 

Copies of the transcript of the public 

workshop. public comments received. 

and this notice may be read (or copied) 

at the Freedom of Information Reading 

Room. U.S. Department of Energy. 

Forrestal Building. Room lE-190. 1000 

Independence Avenue. SW. 

Washington. DC 20585. (202) 586-7574. 

between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4 :00 

p.m .. Monday through Friday. except 

Federal holidays. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kathi Epping. U.S. Department of 

Energy. Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy. EE-43. 1000 

Independence Avenue. SW. 

Washington. DC 20585-0121. (202) 586-

7425. email: KathLEpping@hq.doe.gov. 

or Edward Levy. Esq .. U.S. Department 

of Energy. Office of General Counsel. 

GC-72. 1000 Independence Avenue. 

SW. Washington, DC 20585. (202) 586-

9507, email: Edward.Levy@hq.doe.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On 

October 22. 1997, the Secretary 

determined. based on the best 

information currently available. that 

energy conservation standards for 

'electric distribution transformers are technologically feasible, economically 

justified, and would result in a Significant energy savings. This 

determination initiated the process of 

establishing. by notice and comment 

rulemaking. test procedures and energy 

conservation standards for this product. 

The Department of Energy is drafting a proposed rule to implement the 

provisions of the Energy Policy and 

Conservation Act, 42 U.S.C. 6317, for 

test procedures for distribution 

transformers. However. several issues 

have been raised. The purpose of the 

public workshop is to discuss the 

following issues for developing the 

notice of proposed rulemaking: a. Adoption of national and 

international consensus standards in the 

test procedures for determining energy 

efficiency of distribution transformers; 

b. Burden imposed on industry, 

especially on manufacturers, by 

additional testing and data processing; c. The definition of "basic model" for 

distribution transformers; 

d. Sampling plan for units to be 

tested; 

e. Selection of a measure of energy 

consumption for distribution 

transformers; 

f. Selecting reference temperaturesthe reference temperatures in the 

consensus standards lack uniformity; 

g. Requirement for applying 

corrections to measurement data of both 

liquid-immersed and dry-types of 

transformers; and 

h. Requirement for quality assurance 

in testing. 

The Department has prepared a paper 

entitled "Issues Paper for the 

Distribution Transfonners Test 

Procedures Workshop on February 10, 

1998" that explains and discusses these 
3054 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 13 / Wednesday, January 21, 1998 / Proposed Rules

issues in greater detail. For many of the

issues, the paper sets forth approaches

that the Department is considering and

may propose in the notice of proposed

rulemaking (NOPR). In addition, the

National Institute of Standards and

Technology (NIST) has prepared a draft

set of test procedures for transformers,

and the Department is considering these

as well in preparing the NOPR. Copies

of the issues paper and the NIST draft

are available upon request.

The Department is particularly

interested in receiving at the workshop

comments and views of interested

parties concerning (1) the above-listed

issues, (2) the approaches the

Department is considering for

addressing these issues, (3) the NIST

draft of test procedures, and (4) possible

alternatives to the approaches the

Department is considering and to the

provisions in NIST's draft test

procedures. The Department encourages

those who wish to participate in the

workshop to obtain the issue paper and

the NIST draft, and to make

presentations that address their

contents. Workshop participants need

not limit their statements to those

topics, however. The Department is

interested in receiving views concerning

other issues that participants believe

would affect the content of distribution

transformer test procedures.

The meeting will be conducted in an

informal, conference style. A court

reporter will be present to record the

minutes of the meeting. There shall be

no discussion of proprietary

information, costs or prices, market

shares, or other commercial matters

regulated by antitrust law. After the

meeting and a period for written

statements, the Department will

consider the views presented in

formulating a Notice of Proposed

Rulemaking regarding energy efficiency

test procedures for distribution

transformers.

If you would like to participate in the

workshop, to receive workshop

materials, or to be added to the DOE

mailing list to receive future notices and

information regarding distribution

transformers, please contact Ms. Brenda

Edwards-Jones at (202) 586-2945.

Issued in Washington, DC, on January 14,

1998.

Dan W. Reicher,

Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy.

[FR Doc. 98 1370 Filed 1-20--98: 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97-CE-127-AD]

RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Stemme

GmbH & Co. KG Models S10 and 810-

V Sailplanes

AGENCY : Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes to

adopt a new airworthiness directive

(AD) that would apply to certain

Stemme GmbH & Co. KG (Stemme)

Models S10 and S10-V sailplanes. The

proposed AD would require replacing

the horizontal stabilizer rear fittings

with parts of improved design, The

proposed AD is the result of mandatory

continuing airworthiness information

(MCAI) issued by the airworthiness

authority for Germany. The actions

specified by the proposed AD are

intended to prevent structural failure of

the horizontal stabilizer caused by

cracked rear fittings, which could result

in reduced sailplane controllability.

DATES : Comments must be received on

or before February 23, 1998.

ADDRESSES : Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Central Region,

Office of the Regional Counsel,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE127-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,

Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments

may be inspected at this location

between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday

through Friday, holidays excepted.

Service information that applies to the

proposed AD may be obtained from

Stemme GmbH & Co. KG, Gustav-MeyerAllee 25, D-13355 Berlin, Germany;

telephone: 49.33.41.31.11.70; facsimile:

49.33.41.31.11.73. This information also

may be examined at the Rules Docket at

the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Mike Kiesov, Aerospace Engineer, Small

Airplane Directorate, Aircraft

Certification Service, FAA, 1201

Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri

64106; telephone (816) 426-6934;

facsimile (816) 426-2169.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to

participate in the making of the

proposed rule by submitting such

written data, views, or arguments as

they may desire . Communications

should 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 of.the 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 that

summarizes each FAA-public contact

concerned with the substance of this

proposal will be filed in the Rules

Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to

acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this notice

must submit a self-addressed, stamped

postcard on which the following

statement is made : "Comments to

Docket No. 97-CE-127-AD." The

postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this

NPRM by submitting a request to the

FAA, Central Region, Office of the

Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules

Docket No. 97-CE-127-AD, Room 1558,

601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri

64106.

Discussion

The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA),

which is the airworthiness authority for

Germany, notified the FAA that an

unsafe condition may exist on certain

Stemme S 10 and S 10-V sailplanes. The

LBA reports that operational loads are

causing internal stress on the welds of

the rear fitting of the horizontal

stabilizer of the above-referenced

sailplanes.

This condition, if not detected and

corrected, could result in failure of the

horizontal stabilizer with possible

reduced sailplane controllability,

Relevant Service Information

Stemme has issued Service Bulletin

No. A31-10-022, dated August 16,

1996, which specifies procedures for

inspecting the horizontal stabilizer rear

fittings for cracks and replacing any

cracked fittings with parts of improved

design obtained from Stemme; and also

specifies revising the maintenance

manual.

EE-TP-98-550 COMMENT 01B

3054 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 13 / Wednesday, January 21, 1998 / Proposed Rules 

issues in greater detail. For many of the 

issues, the paper sets forth approaches 

that the Department is considering and 

may propose in the notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NOPR). In addition, the 

National Institute of Standards and 

Technology (NIST) has prepared a draft 

set of test procedures for transformers, 

and the Department is considering these 

as well in preparing the NOPR. Copies 

of the issues paper and the NIST draft 

are available upon request. 

The Department is particularly 

interested in receiving at the workshop 

comments and views of interested 

parties concerning (1) the above-listed 

issues, (2) the approaches the 

Department is considering for 

addreSSing these issues, (3) the NIST 

draft of test procedures, and (4) possible 

alternatives to the approaches the 

Department is considering and to the 

provisions in NIST's draft test 

procedures. The Department encourages 

those who wish to participate in the 

workshop to obtain the issue paper and 

the NIST draft, and to make 

presentations that address their 

contents. Workshop participants need 

not limit their statements to those 

topics, however. The Department is 

interested in receiving views concerning 

other issues that participants believe 

would affect the content of distribution 

transformer test procedures. 

The meeting will be conducted in an 

informal, conference style. A court 

reporter will be present to record the 

minutes of the meeting. There shall be 

no discussion of proprietary 

information, costs or prices, market 

shares, or other commercial matters 

regulated by antitrust law. After the 

meeting and a period for written 

statements, the Department will 

consider the views presented in 

formulating a Notice of Proposed 

Rulemaking regarding energy efficiency 

test procedures for distribution 

transformers. 

If you would like to participate in the 

workshop, to receive workshop 

materials, or to be added to the DOE 

mailing list to receive future notices and 

information regarding distribution 

transformers, please contact Ms. Brenda 

Edwards-Jones at (202) 586-2945. 

Issued in Washington, DC, on January 14. 

1998. 

Dan W. Reicher, 

Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy. 

[FR Doc. 98 1370 Filed 1-20--98: 8:45 amI 

BILLING CODe 645I}-01-P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. 97-CE-127-AD] 

RIN 2120-AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Stemme 

GmbH & Co. KG Models S10 and S10-

V Sailplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration, DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: This document proposes to 

adopt a new airworthiness directive 

(AD) that would apply to certain 

Stemme GmbH & Co. KG (Stemme) 

Models S10 and S1O-V sailplanes. The 

proposed AD would require replacing 

the horizontal stabilizer rear fittings 

with parts of improved design, The 

proposed AD is the result of mandatory 

continuing airworthiness information 

(MCAI) issued by the airworthiness 

authority for Germany. The actions 

specified by the proposed AD are 

intended to prevent structural failure of 

the horizontal stabilizer caused by 

cracked rear fittings, which could result 

in reduced sailplane controllability. 

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 23, 1998. 

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in 

triplicate to the Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Central Region, 

Office of the Regional Counsel, 

Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE127-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 

Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments 

may be inspected at this location 

between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, holidays excepted. 

Service information that applies to the 

proposed AD may be obtained from 

Stemme GmbH & Co. KG, Gustav-MeyerAllee 25, D-13355 Berlin, Germany; 

telephone: 49.33.41.31.11. 70; facsimile: 

49.33.41.31.11.73. This information also 

may be examined at the Rules Docket at 

the address above. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

Mike Kiesov, Aerospace Engineer, Small 

Airplane Directorate, Aircraft 

Certification Service, FAA, 1201 

Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 

64106; telephone (816) 426-6934; 

facsimile (816) 426-2169. 

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 

should 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 that 

summarizes each FAA-public contact 

concerned with the substance of this 

proposal will be filed in the Rules 

Docket. 

Commenters wishing the FAA to 

acknowledge receipt of their comments 

submitted in response to this notice 

must submit a self-addressed, stamped 

postcard on which the following 

statement is made: "Comments to 

Docket No. 97-CE-127-AD." The 

postcard will be date stamped and 

returned to the commenter. 

Availability of NPRMs 

Any person may obtain a copy of this 

NPRM by submitting a request to the 

FAA, Central Region, Office of the 

Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules 

Docket No. 97-CE-127-AD, Room 1558, 

601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 

64106. 

Discussion 

The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA) , 

which is the airworthiness authority for 

Germany, notified the FAA that an 

unsafe condition may exist on certain 

Stemme SlO and SlO-V sailplanes. The 

LBA reports that operational loads are 

causing internal stress on the welds of 

the rear fitting of the horizontal 

stabilizer of the above-referenced 

sailplanes. 

This condition, if not detected and 

corrected, could result in failure of the 

horizontal stabilizer with possible 

reduced sailplane controllability. 

Relevant Service Information 

Stemme has issued Service Bulletin 

No. A31-1O-022, dated August 16, 

1996, which specifies procedures for 

inspecting the horizontal stabilizer rear fittings for cracks and replacing any 

cracked fittings with parts of improved 

design obtained from Stemme; and also 

specifies revising the maintenance 

manual.