204 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 2 / Tuesday, January 4, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

Final Rule also amended this section to

require that the independent appraisal

be completed by a State certified or

licensed appraiser, as defined in 12 CFR

564.2(j) and (k), in order to ensure a

more accurate evaluation of the property

value. The commenter generally

supported these amendments, but noted

that for projects valued at less than

$250,000, the cost of such an appraisal

may be burdensome in some cases.

The Finance Board believes that the

AHP regulatory appraisal requirement

generally would not impose an

additional cost on AHP projects. First, it

is likely that most projects, regardless of

the value of the projects, would be

required by at least one of their other

funding sources to obtain an appraisal

completed by a State certified or

licensed appraiser. Second, the AHP

regulation does not require that the

appraisal be in narrative form, which

should keep the cost of the appraisal

down. Third, if an appraisal of the

project by a State certified or licensed

appraiser was completed prior to the

six-month period preceding AHP

funding, only an update or addendum to

the original appraisal need be obtained,

which should further limit costs to the

project. Accordingly, no change has

been made to the appraisal requirement

in the final rule.

III. Regulatory Flexibility Act

Because no notice of proposed

rulemaking is required for this final

rule, the provisions of the Regulatory

Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) do

not apply. Moreover, the final rule

applies only to the Banks, which do not

come within the meaning of ‘‘small

entities,’’ as defined in the Regulatory

Flexibility Act. See id. § 601(6).

IV. Paperwork Reduction Act

This final rule does not contain any

collections of information pursuant to

the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

See 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. Therefore, the

Finance Board has not submitted any

information to the Office of

Management and Budget for review.

Accordingly, under the authority of

12 U.S.C. 1430(j) (1994), the Interim

Final Rule amending 12 CFR part 960,

published at 64 FR 24025 (May 5, 1999),

is adopted as final without changes.

Dated: December 20, 1999.

By the Board of Directors of the Federal

Housing Finance Board.

Bruce A. Morrison,

Chairman.

[FR Doc. 00–37 Filed 1–3–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6725–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99–NM–222–AD; Amendment

39–11491; AD 99–27–10]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model

A310 and A300–600 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD),

applicable to certain Airbus Model

A310 and A300–600 series airplanes,

that requires wiring modifications to the

engine and auxiliary power unit (APU)

fire detection system. This amendment

is prompted by issuance of mandatory

continuing airworthiness information by

a foreign civil airworthiness authority.

The actions specified by this AD are

intended to prevent the fire warning

from terminating prematurely, which

could result in an unnoticed,

uncontained engine/APU fire.

DATES: Effective February 8, 2000.

The incorporation by reference of

certain publications listed in the

regulations is approved by the Director

of the Federal Register as of February 8,

2000.

ADDRESSES: The service information

referenced in this AD may be obtained

from Airbus Industrie, 1 Rond Point

Maurice Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex,

France. This information may be

examined at the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, Rules Docket,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington; or at the Office of the

Federal Register, 800 North Capitol

Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

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: A

proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to

include an airworthiness directive (AD)

that is applicable to certain Airbus

Model A310 and A300–600 series

airplanes was published in the Federal

Register on October 6, 1999 (64 FR

54248). That action proposed to require

wiring modifications to the engine and

auxiliary power unit (APU) fire

detection system.

Comments

Interested persons have been afforded

an opportunity to participate in the

making of this amendment. Due

consideration has been given to the

comments received.

Support for the Proposal

One commenter supports the

proposed AD.

Request to Change Material in the

Electrical Cabling

One commenter provides data that

suggest that the FAA should require an

alternative material for the electrical

cabling to the engine’s core wiring

harnesses for the engine/APU fire

detection system, rather than require a

change to the control logic of the fire

detection system. The commenter states

that the presently used wire harness

will degrade rapidly in the high

temperature and vibration environment.

The commenter describes an alternative

material that can withstand these severe

environments without degradation.

Thus, it could prevent damage to the

wire harness in the event of an engine

fire.

The FAA does not concur with the

proposal. The Airbus service bulletins

referenced as the appropriate sources of

service information for accomplishment

of the wiring modifications required by

this AD address the potential for the

APU engine fire warning to terminate

prematurely; these service bulletins

provide a design change to the detection

system control logic that would address

the identified unsafe condition. The

FAA has determined that the

installation of electrical cabling made of

an alternative material, though

increasing the harness resistance,

wound not ensure a reliable fire

detection system control logic. Although

a change in the cabling material may

provide some long-term benefit, it does

not directly correct the unsafe condition

identified and addressed in this AD. No

change to the AD is required.

Conclusion

After careful review of the available

data, including the comments noted

above, the FAA has determined that air

safety and the public interest require the

adoption of the rule as proposed.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 113 airplanes

of U.S. registry will be affected by this

AD, that it will take approximately 5

work hours per airplane to accomplish

the required actions, and that the

average labor rate is $60 per work hour.

Required parts will cost approximately

$408 per airplane. Based on these

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 2 / Tuesday, January 4, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 205

figures, the cost impact of the AD on

U.S. operators is estimated to be

$80,004, or $708 per airplane.

The cost impact figure discussed

above is based on assumptions that no

operator has yet accomplished any of

the requirements of this AD action, and

that no operator would accomplish

those actions in the future if this AD

were not adopted.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations adopted herein will

not have a substantial direct effect on

the States, on the relationship between

the national Government and the States,

or on the distribution of power and

responsibilities among the various

levels of government. Therefore, it is

determined that this final rule does not

have federalism implications under

Executive Order 13132.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that this action (1) is not a

‘‘significant regulatory action’’ under

Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a

‘‘significant rule’’ under DOT

Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44

FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3)

Will not have a significant economic

impact, positive or negative, on a

substantial number of small entities

under the criteria of the Regulatory

Flexibility Act. A final evaluation has

been prepared for this action and it is

contained in the Rules Docket. A copy

of it may be obtained from the Rules

Docket at the location provided under

the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Incorporation by reference,

Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration amends part 39 of the

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

part 39) as follows:

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS

DIRECTIVES

1. The authority citation for part 39

continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

§ 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding the following new airworthiness

directive:

99–27–10 Airbus Industrie: Amendment

39–11491. Docket 99–NM–222–AD.

Applicability: Model A310 and A300–600

series airplanes, certificated in any category;

except those on which Airbus Modifications

06267 and 07340 have been accomplished

during production.

Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane

identified in the preceding applicability

provision, regardless of whether it has been

otherwise modified, altered, or repaired in

the area subject to the requirements of this

AD. For airplanes that have been modified,

altered, or repaired so that the performance

of the requirements of this AD is affected, the

owner/operator must request approval for an

alternative method of compliance in

accordance with paragraph (b) of this AD.

The request should include an assessment of

the effect of the modification, alteration, or

repair on the unsafe condition addressed by

this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not

been eliminated, the request should include

specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless

accomplished previously.

To prevent the fire warning from

terminating prematurely, which could result

in an unnoticed, uncontained engine/

auxiliary power unit (APU) fire, accomplish

the following:

Modifications

(a) Within 24 months after the effective

date of this AD, accomplish the wiring

modifications to the engine and APU fire

detection system in the relay box 282VU and

the electronics rack 90VU in accordance with

Airbus Service Bulletin A310–26–2024,

Revision 04, dated March 5, 1999 (for Model

A310 series airplanes); or A300–26–6038,

dated March 5, 1999, or Revision 1, dated

September 8, 1999 (for Model A300–600

series airplanes); as applicable.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

(b) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the compliance time that

provides an acceptable level of safety may be

used if approved by the Manager,

International Branch, ANM–116, FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators

shall submit their requests through an

appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance

Inspector, who may add comments and then

send it to the Manager, International Branch,

ANM–116.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the International Branch,

ANM–116.

Special Flight Permits

(c) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199

of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to

a location where the requirements of this AD

can be accomplished.

Incorporation by Reference

(d) The modifications shall be done in

accordance with Airbus Service Bulletin

A310–26–2024, Revision 04, dated March 5,

1999; Airbus Service Bulletin A300–26–6038,

dated March 5, 1999; or Airbus Service

Bulletin A300–26–6038, Revision 1, dated

September 8, 1999; as applicable. This

incorporation by reference was approved by

the Director of the Federal Register in

accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR

part 51. Copies may be obtained from Airbus

Industrie, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte,

31707 Blagnac Cedex, France. Copies may be

inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane

Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington; or at the Office of the Federal

Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite

700, Washington, DC.

Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed

in French airworthiness directive 1999–238–

286(B), dated June 2, 1999.

(e) This amendment becomes effective on

February 8, 2000.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on

December 23, 1999.

Vi L. Lipski,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00–12 Filed 1–3–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–NM–241–AD; Amendment

39–11486; AD 99–27–05]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing

Model 767–200, –300, and –300F Series

Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD),

applicable to certain Boeing Model 767–

200, –300, and –300F series airplanes,

that requires replacement of the

hydraulic reducer fitting in the return

port of the alternate brake selector valve

with a new restrictor fitting. This

amendment is prompted by a report

indicating that a brake housing had

fractured due to high loads associated

with brake vibration during landing gear

retraction, which allowed the torque rod

to swing free. The actions specified by

this AD are intended to prevent failure

of the brake housing in the torque rod

region, which could reduce the braking

capability of the airplane and/or prevent

the extension of a main landing gear by

any method.

DATES: Effective February 8, 2000.

The incorporation by reference of

certain publications listed in the

regulations is approved by the Director

of the Federal Register as of February 8,

2000.

ADDRESSES: The service information

referenced in this AD may be obtained

from Boeing Commercial Airplane