Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 209 / Wednesday, October 29, 1997 / Proposed Rules 56137

• The anticipated financial impact on

the credit union in terms of need for

additional employees and fixed assets.

* * * * *

[FR Doc. 97–28587 Filed 10–28–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7535–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–NM–135–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Saab Model

SAAB SF340A and SAAB 340B 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 Saab Model SAAB SF340A and

SAAB 340B series airplanes. This

proposal would require an inspection to

determine the serviceability of the fire

extinguisher of the forward lavatory

waste bin, and corrective actions, if

necessary. This proposal also would

require installation of a placard adjacent

to the fire extinguisher in the forward

lavatory waste bin. This proposal is

prompted by the issuance of mandatory

continuing airworthiness information by

a civil airworthiness authority. The

actions specified by the proposed AD

are intended to prevent leakage of the

fire extinguishing agent, which could

prevent proper distribution of the agent

within the lavatory waste bin in the

event of a fire.

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–

135–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

SAAB Aircraft AB, SAAB Aircraft

Product Support, S–581.88, Linko ̈ping,

Sweden . This information may be

examined at the FAA, Transport

Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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 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–135–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–135–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue,

SW., Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Discussion

The Luftfartsverket (LFV), which is

the airworthiness authority for Sweden,

notified the FAA that an unsafe

condition may exist on certain Saab

Model SAAB SF340A and SAAB 340B

series airplanes. The LFV advises that it

has received reports indicating that,

during maintenance, the capillary tube

of a fire extinguisher of a forward

lavatory waste bin was bent and

fractured, which resulted in leakage of

the fire extinguishing agent. This

condition, if not corrected, could

prevent appropriate distribution of the

fire extinguishing agent within the

lavatory waste bin in the event of a fire.

Explanation of Relevant Service

Information

Saab has issued Service Bulletin

SAAB 340–25–235, dated December 11,

1996, which describes procedures for

performing an inspection to determine

the serviceability of the fire extinguisher

of the forward lavatory waste bin, and

corrective actions, if necessary. The

service bulletin also describes

procedures for installation of a placard

adjacent to the fire extinguisher to

provide instructions for installation of

the fire extinguisher. Accomplishment

of the actions specified in the service

bulletin is intended to adequately

address the identified unsafe condition.

The LFV classified this service bulletin

as mandatory and issued Swedish

airworthiness directive (SAD) 1–106,

dated December 12, 1996, in order to

assure the continued airworthiness of

these airplanes in Sweden.

FAA’s Conclusions

These airplane models are

manufactured in Sweden and are type

certificated for operation in the United

States under the provisions of section

21.29 of the Federal Aviation

Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and the

applicable bilateral airworthiness

agreement. Pursuant to this bilateral

airworthiness agreement, the LFV has

kept the FAA informed of the situation

described above. The FAA has

examined the findings of the LFV,

reviewed all available information, and

determined that AD action is necessary

for products of this type design that are

certificated for operation in the United

States.

Explanation of Requirements of

Proposed Rule

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop on other airplanes of the same

type design registered in the United

States, the proposed AD would require

accomplishment of the actions specified

in the service bulletin described

previously.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 141 airplanes

of U.S. registry would be affected by this

proposed AD, that it would take

approximately 2 work hours per

airplane to accomplish the proposed

actions, and that the average labor rate

is $60 per work hour. Based on these

figures, the cost impact of the proposed

AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be

$16,920, or $120 per airplane.
56138 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 209 / Wednesday, October 29, 1997 / Proposed Rules

The cost impact figure discussed

above is based on assumptions that no

operator has yet accomplished any of

the proposed 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 proposed herein

would not have substantial direct effects

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, in accordance with

Executive Order 12612, it is determined

that this proposal would not have

sufficient federalism implications to

warrant the preparation of a Federalism

Assessment.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that 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); and (3) if

promulgated, 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 copy of the draft

regulatory evaluation prepared for this

action is contained in the Rules Docket.

A copy of it may be obtained by

contacting the Rules Docket at the

location provided under the caption

ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration proposes to amend 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:

SAAB Aircraft AB: Docket 97–NM–135–AD.

Applicability: Model SAAB SF340A series

airplanes having serial numbers –121, and

–125 through –159 inclusive; and Model

SAAB 340B series airplanes having serial

numbers –160 through –360 inclusive;

certificated in any category.

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 leakage of the fire extinguishing

agent, which could prevent proper

distribution of the agent within the lavatory

waste bin in the event of a fire, accomplish

the following:

(a) Within 3 months after the effective date

of this AD, accomplish paragraphs (a)(1) and

(a)(2) of this AD in accordance with Saab

Service Bulletin SAAB 340–25–235, dated

December 11, 1996.

(1) Perform an inspection to determine the

serviceability of the fire extinguisher in the

forward lavatory waste bin, in accordance

with the service bulletin. If any discrepancy

is found, prior to further flight, accomplish

the repair or replacement of the fire

extinguisher, as specified in the service

bulletin.

(2) Install a placard adjacent to the fire

extinguisher in the forward lavatory waste

bin in accordance with the service bulletin.

(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.

(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.

Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed

in Swedish airworthiness directive SAD No.

1–106, dated December 12, 1996.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on October

23, 1997.

James V. Devany,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 97–28616 Filed 10–28–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Export Administration

15 CFR Chapter VII

[Docket No. 971014244–7244–01]

Request for Comments on the

Definition of ‘‘Specially Designed’’

AGENCY: Bureau of Export

Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of inquiry; request for

comments.

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Export

Administration (BXA) is reviewing the

use of the term ‘‘specially designed’’ as

it pertains to items controlled on the

Commerce Control List (CCL) in the

Export Administration Regulations

(EAR). BXA is considering developing a

definition or definitions of that term

that will meet the export control

objectives of the regulations while

increasing the utility of the regulations

to the public.

Although the Export Administration

Act (EAA) expired on August 20, 1994,

the President invoked the International

Emergency Economic Powers Act and

continued in effect the EAR, and to the

extent permitted by law, the provisions

of the EAA, as amended, in Executive

Order 12924 of August 19, 1994, as

extended by the President’s notices of

August 17, 1995 (60 FR 42767), August

14, 1996 (61 FR 42527) and August 13,

1997 (62 FR 43629).

DATES: Comments must be received by

December 29, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Written comments (three

copies) should be sent to Hillary Hess,

Regulatory Policy Division (Room 2096),

Office of Exporter Services, Bureau of

Export Administration, Department of

Commerce, PO Box 273, Washington,

DC 20044.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jerald Beiter, Office of the Assistant

Secretary for Export Administration,

Bureau of Export Administration,

Department of Commerce, telephone:

(202) 482–6105.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A number

of U.S. exporters and others have

requested that BXA provide a definition

of the term ‘‘specially designed’’ in

order to assist them in classifying

certain items according to the

Commerce Control List. In responding

to this request, BXA intends to examine

the use of the term in multilateral

control regimes, use of the term by other

countries in their export control

regimes, the opinions of other

government agencies, and the opinions

of members of the public. Our goal is to