26286 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 87 / Monday, May 6, 2013 / Proposed Rules 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0425; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–NM–273–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Supplemental notice of 

proposed rulemaking (NPRM); 

reopening of comment period. 

SUMMARY: We are revising an earlier 

proposed airworthiness directive (AD) 

for all The Boeing Company Model 717– 

200 airplanes. That NPRM proposed 

requiring repetitive inspections for 

cracking of the overwing frames, and 

corrective actions if necessary. That 

NPRM was prompted by multiple 

reports of cracks of overwing frames. 

This action revises that NPRM by 

revising the initial compliance time and 

providing an optional modification that 

would extend the compliance time for 

the next repetitive inspection. We are 

proposing this supplemental NPRM to 

detect and correct such cracking, which 

could sever a frame and increase the 

loading of adjacent frames, and could 

result in damage to the adjacent 

structure and consequent loss of 

structural integrity of the airplane. Since 

certain actions impose an additional 

burden over that proposed in the NPRM, 

we are reopening the comment period to 

allow the public the chance to comment 

on these proposed changes. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this supplemental NPRM by June 20, 

2013. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. 

and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data 

& Services Management, 3855 

Lakewood Boulevard, MC D800–0019, 

Long Beach, CA 90846–0001; telephone 

206–544–5000, extension 2; fax 206– 

766–5683; Internet https:// 

www.myboeingfleet.com. You may 

review copies of the referenced service 

information at the FAA, Transport 

Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue 

SW., Renton, WA. For information on 

the availability of this material at the 

FAA, call 425–227–1221. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov; or in person at the 

Docket Management Facility between 9 

a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 

docket contains this proposed AD, the 

regulatory evaluation, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

street address for the Docket Office 

(phone: 800–647–5527) is in the 

ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 

available in the AD docket shortly after 

receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

George Garrido, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Branch, ANM–120L, FAA, Los 

Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 

3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, 

CA 90712–4137; phone: 562–627–5357; 

fax: 562–627–5210; email: 

george.garrido@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposed AD. Send your comments 

to an address listed under the 

ADDRESSES section. Include ‘‘Docket No. 

FAA–2012–0425; Directorate Identifier 

2011–NM–273–AD’’ at the beginning of 

your comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this proposed AD. We will 

consider all comments received by the 

closing date and may amend this 

proposed AD because of those 

comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http:// 

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. We 

will also post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact we receive 

about this proposed AD. 

Discussion 

We issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 to include an AD that would 

apply to all The Boeing Company Model 

717–200 airplanes. That NPRM 

published in the Federal Register on 

May 9, 2012 (77 FR 27142). That NPRM 

proposed to require repetitive 

inspections for cracking of the overwing 

frames, and corrective actions if 

necessary. 

Actions Since Previous NPRM Was 

Issued 

Since we issued the previous NPRM 

(77 FR 27142, May 9, 2012), we received 

additional reports of overwing frame 

cracks on this model. The cracking 

occurred below the previous NPRM 

initial compliance time of 20,000 total 

flight cycles. Thus, we have determined 

that a shorter compliance time for the 

initial inspection is necessary. 

Relevant Service Information 

We have reviewed Boeing Alert 

Service Bulletin 717–53A0034, Revision 

1, dated November 7, 2012; and Boeing 

Service Bulletin 717–53–0035, dated 

June 8, 2012. For information on the 

procedures and compliance times, see 

this service information at http:// 

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

Docket No. FAA–2012–0425. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

comment on the previous NPRM (77 FR 

27142, May 9, 2012). The following 

presents the comments received on the 

previous NPRM and the FAA’s response 

to each comment. 

Request To Extend Comment Period 

Boeing requested that we revise the 

original NPRM (77 FR 27142, May 9, 

2012) to extend the comment period for 

up to 90 additional days to give time to 

assess the information provided in the 

reports of Model 717 overwing frame 

cracks. 

We do not agree with the commenter’s 

request to extend the comment period 

since we are issuing this supplemental 

NPRM (before issuing the final rule), 

which automatically extends the 

comment period. We have not changed 

the AD in this regard. 

Request To Delay Issuance of AD 

Airtran/Southwest Airlines requested 

a delay in the issuance of this AD until 

Boeing (the original equipment 

manufacturer) had time to build up an 

adequate stock of kits and/or frames 

until frame replacements are required. 

We disagree with the request to delay 

release of the AD since Boeing has 

advised the FAA that the required kits 

will be available in support of the 

compliance time of the AD. We have not 


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changed this supplemental NPRM in 

this regard. 

Request To Add Optional Overwing 

Frames Modification 

Airtran/Southwest Airlines requested 

that we revise the original NPRM (77 FR 

27142, May 9, 2012) to add a paragraph 

stating: 

If Boeing Service Bulletin 717–53–0035, 

dated June 8, 2012 is accomplished, the 

inspection of overwing frame(s) for cracks 

can be extended to 45,000 flight cycles from 

the time of modification of SB 717–53–0035 

and 15,000 flight cycles thereafter. 

We agree with the commenter’s 

request to add a paragraph to add the 

overwing frames modification as an 

option to the AD because the 

modification provides protection against 

cracking of the overwing frame(s). We 

disagree that the initial compliance time 

can be extended to 45,000 flight cycles, 

but agree that the first post-modification 

high frequency eddy current (HFEC) 

repetitive inspection may be extended 

to 45,000 flight cycles. We have added 

paragraph (h) to this supplemental 

NPRM to provide this option. We have 

also revised paragraph (g) in this 

supplemental NPRM to correspond to 

the manufacturer’s recommended initial 

compliance time for the inspections 

before the accumulation of 12,000 total 

flight cycles, with a compliance time of 

24 months or 8,275 flight cycles, 

whichever occurs first. 

FAA’s Determination 

We are proposing this supplemental 

NPRM because we evaluated all the 

relevant information and determined 

the unsafe condition described 

previously is likely to exist or develop 

in other products of the same type 

design. Certain changes described above 

expand the scope of the original NPRM 

(77 FR 27142, May 9, 2012). As a result, 

we have determined that it is necessary 

to reopen the comment period to 

provide additional opportunity for the 

public to comment on this supplemental 

NPRM. 

Proposed Requirements of the 

Supplemental NPRM 

This supplemental NPRM would 

require accomplishing the actions 

specified in the service information 

described previously, except as 

discussed under ‘‘Differences Between 

the Supplemental NPRM and the 

Service Information.’’ 

Differences Between the Supplemental 

NPRM and the Service Information 

Boeing Service Bulletin 717–53–0035, 

dated June 8, 2012, specifies to contact 

the manufacturer for FAA-approved 

repair instructions. This proposed AD 

would require repairing those 

conditions in one of the following ways: 

• Using a method that we approve; or 

• Using data that meet the 

certification basis of the airplane, and 

that have been approved by an 

Authorized Representative for the 

Boeing Commercial Airplanes ODA 

whom we have authorized to make 

those findings. 

Where Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 

717–53A0034, Revision 1, dated 

November 7, 2012, provides a 

compliance time for the initial 

inspection (specified in paragraph (g) of 

this supplemental NPRM) of before 

12,000 total flight cycles or within 8,275 

flight cycles after the effective date of 

this AD, whichever occurs later, this AD 

provides a compliance time of the later 

of either before the accumulation of 

12,000 total flight cycles, or within 

8,275 flight cycles or 24 months after 

the effective date of this AD, whichever 

occurs first. In developing an 

appropriate compliance time for this 

AD, we considered not only the 

manufacturer’s recommendation, but 

the degree of urgency associated with 

addressing the subject unsafe condition, 

the average utilization of the affected 

fleet, and the time necessary to perform 

the inspections. In light of all of these 

factors, we find a minimum compliance 

time of 24 months or 8,275 flight cycles 

after the effective date of this AD for 

completing the required actions to be 

warranted, in that it represents an 

appropriate interval of time for affected 

airplanes to continue to operate without 

compromising safety. This difference 

has been coordinated with Boeing. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

affects 129 airplanes of U.S. registry. 

We estimate the following costs to 

comply with this proposed AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Inspections ................................................. 46 work-hours × $85 per hour = $3,910 

per inspection cycle.

$0 ..................... $3,910 .............. $504,390. 

Installation of optional modification ............ 30 work-hours × $85 per hour = $2,550 

per inspection cycle.

Up to $2,727 .... Up to $5,277 ..... Up to $680,733. 

We estimate the following costs to do 

any necessary replacements/repairs that 

would be required based on the results 

of the proposed inspections. We have no 

way of determining the number of 

aircraft that might need these 

replacements: 

ON-CONDITION COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product 

Blendout repair .......................................................... 12 work-hours × $85 per hour = $1,020 ................... $0 ..................... $1,020. 

Replacement of a frame station ................................ 130 work-hours × $85 per hour = $11,050 ............... Up to $86,977 ... Up to $98,027. 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

Title 49 of the United States Code 

specifies the FAA’s authority to issue 

rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, 

section 106, describes the authority of 

the FAA Administrator. ‘‘Subtitle VII: 

Aviation Programs’’ describes in more 

detail the scope of the Agency’s 

authority. 

We are issuing this rulemaking under 

the authority described in Subtitle VII, 

Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: 

‘‘General requirements.’’ Under that 

section, Congress charges the FAA with 


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26288 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 87 / Monday, May 6, 2013 / Proposed Rules 

promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in 

air commerce by prescribing regulations 

for practices, methods, and procedures 

the Administrator finds necessary for 

safety in air commerce. This regulation 

is within the scope of that authority 

because it addresses an unsafe condition 

that is likely to exist or develop on 

products identified in this rulemaking 

action. 

Regulatory Findings 

We determined that this proposed AD 

would not have federalism implications 

under Executive Order 13132. This 

proposed AD would 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. 

For the reasons discussed above, I 

certify this proposed regulation: 

(1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866, 

(2) Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under 

the DOT Regulatory Policies and 

Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 

1979), 

(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska, and 

(4) 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. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

The Proposed Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA proposes to amend 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. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA– 

2012–0425; Directorate Identifier 2011– 

NM–273–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by June 20, 

2013. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to all The Boeing 

Company Model 717–200 airplanes, 

certificated in any category. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/ 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of America 

Code 53, Fuselage. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by multiple reports 

of cracks of overwing frames. We are issuing 

this AD to detect and correct such cracking 

that could sever a frame, which may increase 

the loading of adjacent frames, and result in 

damage to the adjacent structure and 

consequent loss of structural integrity of the 

airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Inspections and Corrective Actions 

At the later of the times specified in 

paragraphs (g)(1) and (g)(2) of this AD: Do a 

general visual inspection and a high 

frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspection for 

cracking of the left-side and right-side 

overwing frames at stations 674, 696, and 

715; and do all applicable corrective actions; 

in accordance with the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 

717–53A0034, Revision 1, dated November 7, 

2012. Repeat the inspections thereafter at the 

applicable time specified in paragraph 1.E., 

‘‘Compliance,’’ of Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 717–53A0034, Revision 1, dated 

November 7, 2012, except as provided by 

paragraph (h) of this AD. 

(1) Before the accumulation of 12,000 total 

flight cycles. 

(2) Within 24 months or 8,275 flight cycles 

after the effective date of this AD, whichever 

occurs first. 

(h) Optional Terminating Action 

Modification of left-side and right-side 

overwing frames at stations 674, 696, and 

715, in accordance with the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Boeing Service Bulletin 717– 

53–0035, dated June 8, 2012, terminates the 

inspections required by paragraph (g) of this 

AD, and extends the compliance time of the 

modified area for the next repetitive HFEC 

inspection to 45,000 flight cycles after the 

modification, provided that the actions in 

paragraphs (h)(1), (h)(2), and (h)(3) of this AD 

are accomplished, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing Alert 

Service Bulletin 717–53–0035, dated June 8, 

2012. Do the inspections specified in 

paragraph (g) of this AD prior to, or 

concurrently with, the modification specified 

in paragraph (h) of this AD. 

(1) The overwing frame improvement 

modification of left-side and right-side 

overwing frames at stations 674, 696, and 715 

is installed and HFEC inspection is done 

within 45,000 flight cycles from the time the 

modification is installed, in accordance with 

the Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 

Service Bulletin 717–53–0035, dated June 8, 

2012. 

(2) If no crack is found during any 

inspection specified by paragraph (h)(1) of 

this AD, the HFEC inspections at the 

modified area are repeated thereafter at the 

applicable time specified in paragraph 1.E., 

‘‘Compliance,’’ of Boeing Alert Service 

Bulletin 717–53–0035, dated June 8, 2012. 

(3) If any crack is found during any 

inspection specified by paragraph (h)(1) of 

this AD, the frame is repaired or replaced 

using a method approved in accordance with 

the procedures specified in paragraph (j) of 

this AD, before further flight. 

(i) Credit for Previous Actions 

This paragraph provides credit for the 

actions required by paragraph (g) of this AD, 

if the general visual inspection and HFEC 

inspection for cracking of the left-side and 

right-side overwing frames at stations 674, 

696, and 715, and the applicable related 

investigative and corrective actions, were 

performed before the effective date of this AD 

using Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 717– 

53A0034, dated October 5, 2011, which is not 

incorporated by reference in this AD. 

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft 

Certification Office (ACO), FAA, has the 

authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if 

requested using the procedures found in 14 

CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, 

send your request to your principal inspector 

or local Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the manager of the ACO, send it to the 

attention of the person identified in the 

Related Information section of this AD. 

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector, 

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 

of the local flight standards district office/ 

certificate holding district office. 

(3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable 

level of safety may be used for any repair 

required by this AD if it is approved by the 

Boeing Commercial Airplanes Organization 

Designation Authorization (ODA) that has 

been authorized by the Manager, Los Angeles 

ACO to make those findings. For a repair 

method to be approved, the repair must meet 

the certification basis of the airplane and 14 

FR 25.571, Amendment 45, and the approval 

must specifically refer to this AD. 

(k) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact George Garrido, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Branch, ANM–120L, FAA, Los 

Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 

Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712– 

4137; phone: 562–627–5357; fax: 562–627– 

5210; email: george.garrido@faa.gov. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Boeing Commercial 

Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services 

Management, 3855 Lakewood Boulevard, MC 

D800–0019, Long Beach, CA 90846–0001; 

telephone 206–544–5000, extension 2; fax 

206–766–5683; Internet https:// 

www.myboeingfleet.com. You may review 

copies of the referenced service information 

at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 87 / Monday, May 6, 2013 / Proposed Rules 26289 

1 77 FR 39201 (July 2, 2012). 

2The Commission issues industry guides to help 

the industry conduct its affairs in conformity with 

legal requirements. 16 CFR Part 17. Industry guides 

are administrative interpretations of the law; they 

do not have the force of law and are not 

independently enforceable. Failure to follow 

industry guides may result, however, in 

enforcement action under the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. 

45. In any such action, the Commission must prove 

that the act or practice at issue is unfair or deceptive 

in violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act. 

3To ensure that its regulations and guides 

continue to achieve their intended goals without 

unduly burdening commerce, the Commission 

systematically reviews its regulations and guides on 

a ten-year cycle; i.e., the Commission schedules its 

reviews ten years after implementation and ten 

years after the completion of each review. Since 

completing its last review of the Jewelry Guides in 

1996, the Commission revised sections of the 

Guides and addressed other issues raised in 

petitions from jewelry trade associations. See 

Federal Trade Commission: Guides for the Metallic 

Watch Band Industry and Guides for the Jewelry 

Industry: Final guides, 61 FR 27178 (May 30, 1996); 

Federal Trade Commission: Guides for the Jewelry, 

Precious Metals, and Pewter Industries: Final 

guides, 62 FR 16669 (Apr. 8, 1997); Federal Trade 

Commission: Guides for the Jewelry, Precious 

Metals, and Pewter Industries: Revision of the 

Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals, and Pewter 

Industries, 64 FR 33193 (June 22, 1999); Federal 

Trade Commission: Guides for the Jewelry, Precious 

Metals, and Pewter Industries: Final guides, 65 FR 

78738 (Dec. 15, 2000); Federal Trade Commission: 

Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals, and Pewter 

Industries: Final Guides Amendments, 75 FR 81443 

(Dec. 28, 2010). The Commission therefore 

scheduled the Guides for another comprehensive 

review in 2011, but postponed it due to resource 

constraints. Federal Trade Commission: Notice 

Announcing Ten-Year Regulatory Review Schedule 

and Request for Public Comment on the Federal 

Trade Commission’s Regulatory Review Program, 76 

FR 41150 (Jul. 13, 2011). 

4Available at http://www.ftc.gov/os/comments/ 

jewelryguidesreview/index.shtm. Citations to 

comments below identify the commenter by name 

and assigned comment number. 

For information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 425–227–1221. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 26, 

2013. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–10652 Filed 5–3–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION 

16 CFR PART 23 

Guides for the Jewelry, Precious 

Metals, and Pewter Industries: Public 

Roundtable 

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission 

(‘‘FTC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’). 

ACTION: Announcement of public 

roundtable. 

SUMMARY: The Federal Trade 

Commission (‘‘FTC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’) 

will hold a public roundtable on June 

19, 2013 to examine possible 

modifications to the FTC’s Guides for 

the Jewelry, Precious Metals, and 

Pewter Industries (‘‘Jewelry Guides’’ or 

‘‘Guides’’). This Notice describes the 

issues the roundtable will examine and 

invites comments regarding the 

questions to be addressed. 

DATES: The roundtable will be held on 

Wednesday, June 19, 2013, from 9:00 

a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the FTC’s Satellite 

Building Conference Center, located at 

601 New Jersey Avenue NW., 

Washington, DC 20001. Prior to the 

roundtable, the Commission will 

publish an agenda and further 

information on its Web site. Comments 

will be accepted until June 5, 2013. 

Registration Information: The 

roundtable is open to the public, and 

there is no fee for attendance. For 

admittance to the Conference Center, all 

attendees will be required to show a 

valid photo identification, such as a 

driver’s license. The FTC will accept 

pre-registration for this roundtable. Preregistration is not necessary to attend, 

but is encouraged so that we may better 

plan this event. To pre-register, please 

email your name and affiliation to 

lkoss@ftc.gov. When you pre-register, 

we will collect your name, affiliation, 

and your email address. This 

information will be used to estimate 

how many people will attend. We may 

use your email address to contact you 

with information about the roundtable. 

Under the Freedom of Information 

Act (‘‘FOIA’’) or other laws, we may be 

required to disclose to outside 

organizations the information you 

provide. For additional information, 

including routine uses permitted by the 

Privacy Act, see the Commission’s 

Privacy Policy at www.ftc.gov/ftc/ 

privacy.htm. The FTC Act and other 

laws the Commission administers 

permit the collection of this contact 

information for consideration and use 

for the above purposes. 

ADDRESSES: The submission of 

comments is not required for attendance 

at the roundtable. Interested parties may 

file comments online or on paper by 

following the instructions in the 

Request for Comments part of the 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section 

below. Write ‘‘Jewelry Guides 

Roundtable, 16 CFR Part 23, Project No. 

G711001’’ on your comment, and file 

your comment online at https:// 

ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/ 

jewelryguidesroundtable by following 

the instructions on the web-based form. 

If you prefer to file your comment on 

paper, mail or deliver your comment to 

the following address: Federal Trade 

Commission, Office of the Secretary, 

Room H–113 (Annex O), 600 

Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, 

DC 20580. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Reenah L. Kim, Attorney, (202) 326– 

2272, or Laura D. Koss, Attorney, (202) 

326–2890, Division of Enforcement, 

Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal 

Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania 

Avenue NW., Mailstop M–8102B, 

Washington, DC 20580. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Introduction 

The FTC commenced its regulatory 

review of the Jewelry Guides on July 2, 

2012 with the publication of a Federal 

Register Notice (‘‘2012 Notice’’) seeking 

public comments on the Guides.1 After 

review of comments received in 

response, the FTC has determined that 

a public roundtable will help it address 

possible revisions to the Guides. 

Accordingly, the Commission will hold 

such a roundtable on June 19, 2013. 

To facilitate a productive roundtable, 

this announcement first provides 

background on the Jewelry Guides and 

the regulatory review process, including 

comments received in response to the 

2012 Notice. It then provides a brief 

description of the issues the upcoming 

roundtable will explore, outlines 

questions to be addressed, and invites 

comments for further discussion of 

these issues. 

A. Background Information 

The Jewelry Guides address claims 

made about precious metal, pewter, 

diamond, gemstone, and pearl products. 

16 CFR Part 23. The Guides explain how 

to avoid making deceptive claims and, 

for certain products, discuss when 

disclosures should be made to avoid 

unfair or deceptive trade practices.2

B. Jewelry Guides Regulatory Review 

The 2012 Notice commenced the 

decennial review of the Jewelry 

Guides.3 The Notice solicited public 

comments in response to questions 

about the Guides’ costs, benefits, and 

effectiveness. It also posed specific 

questions based on inquiries received by 

Commission staff in recent years 

suggesting that technological 

developments and related changes in 

industry standards and practice may 

affect certain provisions of the Jewelry 

Guides. 

II. Issues and Questions for Discussion 

at the Roundtable 

In response to the 2012 Notice, the 

Commission received 20 comments 

addressing a range of issues.4 Many 

commenters proposed revisions to 


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