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.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

53975

Vol. 62, No. 201

Friday, October 17, 1997

NUCLEAR REGULATORY

COMMISSION

10 CFR Part 50

RIN 3150–AF73

Codes and Standards; IEEE National

Consensus Standard

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory

Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory

Commission is amending its regulations

to incorporate by reference IEEE Std

603–1991, a national consensus

standard for power, instrumentation,

and control portions of safety systems in

nuclear power plants. This action is

necessary to endorse the latest version

of this national consensus standard in

NRC’s regulations, and replace an IEEE

Standard currently endorsed in the

NRC’s regulations which has been

withdrawn by the IEEE.

DATES: Comments on the proposed rule

must be received on or before December

1, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Mail comments to:

Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Commission, Washington, DC 20555–

0001; Attention: Rulemakings and

Adjudications Staff. Hand deliver

comments to 11555 Rockville Pike,

Rockville, Maryland, between 7:30 a.m.

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

Copies of any comments received may

be examined at the NRC Public

Document Room, 2120 L Street, NW,

(lower level), Washington, DC.

For information on submitting

comments electronically, see the

discussion under Electronic Access in

the Supplementary Information Section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Satish K. Aggarwal, Senior Program

Manager, Office of Nuclear Regulatory

Research, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Commission, Washington, DC 20555,

Telephone (301) 415–6005, Fax (301)

415–5074, E-mail: SKA@NRC.GOV

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For

additional information, see the direct

final rule published in the Rules and

Regulations Section of this Federal

Register.

Procedural Background

Because NRC considers this

rulemaking noncontroversial, we are

publishing this proposed rule

concurrently as a direct final rule. The

direct final rule will become effective on

January 1, 1998. However, if the NRC

receives significant adverse comments

on the direct final rule by December 1,

1997, then the NRC will publish a

document that withdraws the direct

final rule. If the direct final rule is

withdrawn, the NRC will address the

comments received in a subsequent

final rule. The NRC will not initiate a

second comment period on this action

in the event the direct final rule is

withdrawn.

Electronic Access

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).

List of Subjects in 10 CFR Part 50

Antitrust, Classified Information,

Criminal penalties, Fire protection,

Incorporation by reference,

Intergovernmental relations, Nuclear

power plants and reactors, Radiation

protection, Reactor siting criteria, and

Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements.

For the reasons set out in the

preamble and under the authority of the

Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended,

the Energy Reorganizations Act of 1974,

as amended, and 5 U.S.C. 552 and 553,

the NRC is adopting the following

amendment to 10 CFR part 50.

PART 50—DOMESTIC LICENSING OF

PRODUCTION AND UTILIZATION

FACILITIES

1. The authority citation for part 50

continues to read as follows:

Authority: Secs. 102, 103, 104, 105, 161,

182, 183, 186, 189, 68 Stat. 936, 937, 938,

948, 953, 954, 955, 956, as amended, sec.

234, 83 Stat. 1244, as amended (42 U.S.C.

2132, 2133, 2134, 2135, 2201, 2232, 2233,

2236, 2239, 2282); secs. 201, as amended,

202, 206, 88 Stat. 1242, as amended, 1244,

1246 (42 U.S.C. 5841, 5842, 5846).

Section 50.7 also issued under Pub. L. 95–

601, sec. 10, 92 Stat. 2951 (42 U.S.C. 5851).

Section 50.10 also issued under secs. 101,

185, 68 Stat. 955 as amended (42 U.S.C. 2131,

2235), sec. 102, Pub. L. 91–190, 83 Stat. 853

(42 U.S.C. 4332). Sections 50.13, and 50.54

(dd), and 50.103 also issued under sec. 108,

68 Stat. 939, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2138),

Sections 50.23, 50.35, 50.55, and 50.56 also

issued under sec. 185, 68 Stat. 955 (42 U.S.C.

2235), Sections 50.33a, 50.55a and Appendix

Q also issued under sec. 102, Pub. L. 91–190,

83 Stat. 853 (42 U.S.C. 4332). Sections 50.34

and 50.54 also issued under sec. 204, 88 Stat.

1245 (42 U.S.C. 5844). Sections 50.58, 50.91,

and 50.92 also issued under Pub. L. 97–415,

96 Stat. 2073 (42 U.S.C. 2239). Section 50.78

also issued under sec. 122, 68 Stat. 939 (42

U.S.C. 2152). Sections 50.80—50.81 also

issued under sec. 184, 68 Stat. 954, as

amended (42 U.S.C. 2234). Appendix F also

issued under sec. 187, 68 Stat. 955 (42 U.S.C.

2237).

2. In § 50.55a, paragraph (h) is revised

to read as follows:

§ 50.55a Codes and standards.

* * * * *

(h) Protection and Safety Systems. (1)

IEEE Std. 603–1991, including the

correction sheet dated January 30, 1995,

which is referenced in paragraph (h)(3),

are approved for incorporation by

reference by the Director of the Federal

Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C.

552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. A notice of

any changes made to the material

incorporated by reference will be

published in the Federal Register.

Copies of IEEE Std. 603–1991 may be

purchased from the Institute of

Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Service Center, 445 Hoes Lane,

Piscataway, NJ 08855. It is also available

for inspection at the NRC Library, 11545

Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852–

2738, and at the Office of the Federal

Register, 800 North Capital Street, NW,

Suite 700, Washington, DC. IEEE Std.

279, which is referenced in paragraph

(h)(2) of this section was approved for

incorporation by reference by the

Director of the Federal Register in

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

CFR Part 51. Copies of this standard are

also available as indicated for IEEE Std.

603–1991.

(2) Definitions.

(i) For purposes of this paragraph the

terms ‘‘protection systems,’’ ‘‘safety
53976 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 201 / Friday, October 17, 1997 / Proposed Rules

systems,’’ and ‘‘safety-related systems’’

are synonymous.

(ii) Changes to protection systems

include modification, augmentation or

replacement of protection systems

permitted by license amendments,

changes made to protection systems by

licensees pursuant to 10 CFR 50.59, and

plant specific departures from a design

certification rule under 10 CFR part 52.

(3) Protection systems. For nuclear

power plants with construction permits

issued after January 1, 1971, but prior to

January 1, 1998, protection systems

must meet the requirements set forth in

either the Institute of Electrical and

Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Std. 279,

‘‘Criteria for Protection Systems for

Nuclear Power Generating Stations,’’ or

in IEEE Std. 603–1991, ‘‘Criteria for

Safety Systems for Nuclear Power

Generating Stations,’’ and the correction

sheet dated January 30, 1995. However,

changes to protection systems initiated

on or after January 1, 1998 must meet

the requirements set forth in IEEE Std.

603–1991, and the correction sheet

dated January 30, 1995.

(4) Safety systems. For construction

permits, operating licenses, final design

approvals, design certifications and

combined licenses issued on or after

January 1, 1998, safety systems must

meet the requirements set forth in IEEE

Std. 603–1991, and the correction sheet,

dated January 30, 1995.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 9th day

of October, 1997.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

John C. Hoyle,

Secretary of the Commission.

[FR Doc. 97–27419 Filed 10–16–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7590–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–NM–245–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Fokker

Model F28 Mark 0070 and Mark 0100

Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes the

adoption of a new airworthiness

directive (AD) that is applicable to

certain Fokker Model F28 Mark 0070

and Mark 0100 series airplanes. This

proposal would require replacement of

the operating handles of the overwing

emergency exits with improved handles

that have self-illumination. This

proposal is prompted by issuance of

mandatory continuing airworthiness

information by a foreign civil

airworthiness authority. The actions

specified by the proposed AD are

intended to ensure that the operating

handles of the overwing emergency

exits are clearly visible during an

emergency evacuation.

DATES: Comments must be received by

November 28, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–103,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 97–NM–

245–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

Federal holidays.

The service information referenced in

the proposed rule may be obtained from

Fokker Service B.V., Technical Support

Department, P.O. Box 75047, 1117 ZN

Schiphol Airport, The Netherlands. This

information may be examined at the

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Tim Dulin, Aerospace Engineer,

Standardization Branch, ANM–113,

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington 98055–4056; telephone

(425) 227–2141; fax (425) 227–1149.

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 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

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

summarizing 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 Number 97–NM–245–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, Transport Airplane Directorate,

ANM–103, Attention: Rules Docket No.

97–NM–245–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue,

SW., Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Discussion

The Rijksluchtvaartdienst (RLD),

which is the airworthiness authority for

the Netherlands, notified the FAA that

an unsafe condition may exist on certain

Fokker Model F28 Mark 0070 and Mark

0100 series airplanes. The RLD advises

that the operating handles of the

overwing emergency exits installed on

Fokker Model F28 Mark 0070 and Mark

0100 series airplanes equipped with the

new ‘‘Jetline’’ interior do not meet the

illumination requirements of section

25.811(e) of the Federal Aviation

Regulations [14 CFR 25.811(e)]. Section

25.811(e) requires the handles to be

either conspicuously located and well

illuminated, or self-illuminated with an

initial brightness of at least 160

microlamberts. The operating handles of

the overwing emergency exits installed

on these airplanes do not have adequate

illumination, and, therefore, the handles

may not be clearly visible in emergency

conditions. This condition, if not

corrected, could result in reduced

ability to evacuate the airplane during

an emergency.

Explanation of Relevant Service

Information

Fokker has issued Service Bulletin

SBF100–52–060, dated October 10,

1995, which describes procedures for

replacement of the operating handles of

the overwing emergency exits with

improved operating handles that have

self-illumination. Accomplishment of

the actions specified in the service

bulletin is intended to adequately

address the identified unsafe condition.

The RLD classified this service bulletin

as mandatory and issued Netherlands

airworthiness directive BLA 1995–

104(A), dated October 31, 1995, in order

to assure the continued airworthiness of

these airplanes in the Netherlands.