Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 227 / Friday, November 24, 2000 / Proposed Rules 70535

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:

General Electric Company: Docket No.

2000–NE–30–AD.

Applicability: This airworthiness directive

(AD) is applicable to CF6–50 turbofan

engines with high pressure compressor (HPC)

rotor air duct assemblies P/N’s 9128M36G03/

G04/G05/G06/G08/G20/G21, or 1644M16G03

installed. These engines are installed on but

not limited to Boeing 747, Airbus A300, and

McDonnell Douglas DC10 airplanes.

Note 1: This AD applies to each engine

identified in the preceding applicability

provision, regardless of whether it has been

modified, altered, or repaired in the area

subject to the requirements of this AD. For

engines 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 (c) 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 HPC air duct failures that could

result in fan mid shaft (FMS) failures and

uncontained LPT events, accomplish the

following:

(a) At next HPC rotor exposure, remove the

HPC air duct assembly part number

99128M36G03/G04/G05/G06/G08/G20/G21

or 1644M16G03 and mating hardware (rear

shaft or 11–14 spool shaft) and replace with

the new design air duct and reworked mating

hardware in accordance with the

accomplishment instructions of General

Electric Aircraft Engines Service Bulletin

(SB) CF6–50 72–1200, dated May 8, 2000;

General Electric Aircraft Engines Alert

Service Bulletin (ASB) CF6–50 72–A1200,

Revision 1, dated July 20, 2000; or General

Electric Aircraft Engines Alert Service

Bulletin (ASB) CF6–50 72–A1200, Revision

2, dated November 2, 2000.

(b) For the purposes of this proposal, HPC

rotor exposure is defined as disassembly of

the HPC stage 2 disk flange or removal of the

HPC stage 1 disk.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

(c) 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, Engine

Certification Office (ECO). Operators shall

submit their request through an appropriate

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may

add comments and then send it to the

Manager, ECO.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this airworthiness directive,

if any, may be obtained from the ECO.

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts,

November 15, 2000.

Robert Mann,

Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00–29940 Filed 11–22–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000–CE–31–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Aerostar

Aircraft Corporation Models PA–60–

600 (Aerostar 600), PA–60–601

(Aerostar 601), PA–60–601P (Aerostar

601P), PA–60–602P (Aerostar 602P),

and PA–60–700P (Aerostar 700P)

Airplanes

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 all Aerostar

Aircraft Corporation (Aerostar) Models

PA–60-600, PA–60–601, PA–60–601P,

PA–60–602P and PA–60–700P

airplanes. The proposed AD would

require you to replace both of the

existing main landing gear lower side

brace assemblies with parts of improved

design. The proposed AD is the result of

several reports of cracking of the main

landing gear lower side brace at the

upper bolt lug discovered on preflight

inspection. The actions specified by the

proposed AD are intended to correct

damage or cracks in the main landing

gear lower side brace at the upper bolt

lug where the upper and lower side

braces connect. This could result in

cracking and failure of the main landing

gear lower side brace. Such failure

could lead to loss of control of the

airplane.

DATES: The Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA) must receive any

comments on this rule by December 29,

2000.

ADDRESSES: Send comments in triplicate

to the Federal Aviation Administration

(FAA), Central Region, Office of the

Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules

Docket No. 2000–CE–31–AD, 901

Locust, Room 506, Kansas City,

Missouri 64106. You may look at

comments at this location between 8

a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through

Friday, except holidays.

You may get the service information

referenced in the proposed AD from

Aerostar Aircraft Corporation, 10555

Airport Drive, Hayden Lake, ID 83835;

telephone: (208) 762–0338; facsimile:

(208) 762–8349. You may read this

information at the Rules Docket at the

address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Richard Simonson, Aerospace Engineer,

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW, Renton,

Washington 98055; telephone: (425)

227–2597; facsimile: (425) 227–1181.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

How do I comment on this proposed

AD?

We invite your comments on the

proposed rule. You may send whatever

written data, views, or arguments you

choose. You need to include the rule’s

docket number and send your

comments in triplicate to the address

mentioned under the caption

ADDRESSES. We will consider all

comments received by the closing date

mentioned above, before acting on the

proposed rule. We may change the

proposals contained in this notice

because of the comments received.

Are there any specific portions of the

proposed AD I should pay attention to?

The FAA specifically invites

comments on the overall regulatory,

economic, environmental, and energy

aspects of the proposed rule that might

call for a need to change the proposed

rule. You may examine all comments

70536 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 227 / Friday, November 24, 2000 / Proposed Rules

we receive. We will file a report in the

Rules Docket that summarizes each FAA

contact with the public that concerns

the substantive parts of this proposal.

The FAA is reexamining the writing

style we currently use in regulatory

documents, in response to the

Presidential memorandum of June 1,

1998. That memorandum requires

federal agencies to communicate more

clearly with the public. We are

interested in your comments on the ease

of understanding this document, and

any other suggestions you might have to

improve the clarity of FAA

communications that affect you. You

can get more information about the

Presidential memorandum and the plain

language initiative at http://

www.faa.gov/language/.

How can I be sure FAA receives my

comment?

If you want us to acknowledge the

receipt of your comments, you must

include a self-addressed, stamped

postcard. On the postcard, write

‘‘Comments to Docket No. 2000–CE–31–

AD.’’ We will date stamp and mail the

postcard back to you.

Discussion

What events have caused this AD?

The FAA has received several reports

of cracking of the main landing gear

lower side brace at the upper bolt lug

discovered on preflight inspection.

What are the consequences if the

condition is not corrected?

Damage or cracking of the main

landing gear lower side brace, if not

detected and corrected, could result in

failure of this part. Such failure could

lead to loss of the main landing gear

with consequent loss of control of the

airplane.

Relevant Service Information

Is there service information that applies

to this subject?

Aerostar has issued Service Bulletin

SB600–134A, dated March 31, 2000.

What are the provisions of this service

bulletin?

The service bulletin includes

procedures for replacing both existing

main landing gear lower side brace

assemblies with parts of improved

design, Aerostar part number 400084–

001, lower side brace assemblies.

The FAA’s Determination and an

Explanation of the Provisions of the

Proposed AD

What has FAA decided?

After examining the circumstances

and reviewing all available information

related to the incidents described above,

we have determined that:

—the unsafe condition referenced in

this document exists or could develop

on other Aerostar Models PA–60

series airplanes of the same type

design;

—the actions specified in the

previously-referenced service

information should be accomplished

on the affected airplanes; and

—AD action should be taken in order to

correct this unsafe condition.

What would the proposed AD require?

This proposed AD would require you

to incorporate the actions in Part II of

the previously referenced service

bulletin.

Cost Impact

How many airplanes would the

proposed AD impact?

We estimate that the proposed AD

affects 650 airplanes in the U.S. registry.

What would be the cost impact of the

proposed AD on owners/operators of the

affected airplanes?

We estimate the following costs to do

the proposed modification:

Labor Cost Parts Cost Total Cost Per Airplane Total Cost on U.S. Airplane

Operators

20 workhours X $60 per hour = $1,200 $1,682 for each airplane ...... $1,200 + $1,682 = $2,882 for each airplane.$2,882 X 650 = $1,873,300

Regulatory Impact

Would this proposed AD impact

relations between Federal and State

governments?

The proposed regulations 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. We have

determined that this proposed rule

would not have federalism implications

under Executive Order 13132.

Would this proposed AD involve a

significant rule or regulatory action?

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) if

put into effect, 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 has been placed in the Rules

Docket. You may get a copy 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, under the authority

delegated to me by the Administrator,

the Federal Aviation Administration

proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 of the

Federal Aviation Regulations 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. FAA amends § 39.13 by adding a

new airworthiness directive (AD) to

read as follows:

Aerostar Aircraft Corporation: Docket No.

2000–CE–31–AD

(a) What airplanes are affected by this AD?

This AD affects the following airplane

models and all serial numbers through 1026

that are certificated in any category: Models

PA–60–600 (Aerostar 600), PA–60–601

(Aerostar 601), PA–60–601P (Aerostar 601P),

PA–60–602P (Aerostar 602P), and PA–60–

700P (Aerostar 700P).

(b) Who must comply with this AD?

Anyone who wishes to operate any of the

above airplanes must comply with this AD.

(c) What problem does this AD address?

The actions specified by this AD are intended

to correct damage or cracks in the main

landing gear lower side brace at the upper

bolt lug where the upper and lower side

braces connect. This could result in cracking

and failure of the main landing gear lower

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 227 / Friday, November 24, 2000 / Proposed Rules 70537

side brace. Such failure could lead to loss of

control of the airplane.

(d) What actions must I accomplish to

address this problem? To address this

problem, you must accomplish the following:

Action Compliance Time Procedures

Replace both main landing gear lower side

brace assemblies with Aerostar part number

400084–001 lower side brace assemblies.

Within the next 50 hours time-in-service after

the effective date of this AD, unless already

performed.

Do these replacements following the INSTRUCTIONS PART II: Replacement paragraph of Aerostar Mandatory Service Bulletin SB600–134A, dated March 31, 2000,

and the Aerostar Maintenance Manual.

(e) Can I comply with this AD in any other

way? You may use an alternative method of

compliance or adjust the compliance time if:

(1) Your alternative method of compliance

provides an equivalent level of safety; and

(2) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft

Certification Office (ACO), approves your

alternative. Send your request through an

FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who

may add comments and then send it to the

Manager, Seattle ACO, 1601 Lind Avenue,

SW, Renton, Washington 98055.

Note: This AD applies to each airplane

identified in paragraph (a) of this AD,

regardless of whether it has been 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 (e)

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 you have not

eliminated the unsafe condition, specific

actions you propose to address it.

(f) Where can I get information about any

already-approved alternative methods of

compliance? Contact Richard Simonson,

Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Transport

Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW,

Renton, Washington 98055; telephone: (425)

227–2597; facsimile: (425) 227–1181.

(g) What if I need to fly the airplane to

another location to comply with this AD? The

FAA can issue a special flight permit under

sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and

21.199) to operate your airplane to a location

where you can accomplish the requirements

of this AD.

(h) How do I get copies of the documents

referenced in this AD? You may get the

service information referenced in the AD

from Aerostar Aircraft Corporation, 10555

Airport Drive, Coeur d’Alene Airport,

Hayden Lake, Idaho 83835–8742; Telephone:

(208) 762–0338; facsimile: (208) 762–8349.

You may read this document at FAA, Central

Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901

Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri

64106.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on

November 14, 2000.

James E. Jackson,

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00–29939 Filed 11–22–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

15 CFR Part 922

Installing and Maintaining Commercial

Submarine Cables in National Marine

Sanctuaries

AGENCY: Marine Sanctuaries Division

(MSD), National Ocean Service (NOS),

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration (NOAA), Department of

Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Reopening of comment period

for Advance Notice of Proposed

Rulemaking.

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that

NOAA is reopening the public comment

on an advance notice of proposed

rulemaking published August 23, 2000.

The ANPR was published by NOAA to

evaluate whether changes to existing

National Marine Sanctuary (NMS)

regulations or some form of policy

guidance is necessary to clarify NOAA’s

decision-making process regarding the

installation and maintenance of

commercial submarine cables within

NMSs. If changes or additional guidance

are appropriate, the ANPR also

requested comments on what the

changes or guidance should contain. In

addition, the ANPR requested

comments on proposed principles on

the installation of commercial

submarine cables within the marine and

coastal environment as a whole. This

notice reopens the period for public

comment for 15 days.

DATE: Comments on this document must

be received by December 11, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to

Debra Malek, Conservation Policy and

Planning Branch, National Marine

Sanctuary Program, 1305 East-West

Highway, SSMC4, 11th Floor, Silver

Spring, Maryland, 20910. Attention:

Submarine Cable FR Comments.

Comments may also be submitted by

email to: submarine.cables@noaa.gov

All comments will be available to the

public for review at the NOAA Central

Library, 2nd floor, Silver Spring Metro

Center Building 3 (SSMC3), 1315 EastWest Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland

20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Debra Malek at (301) 713–3125

extension 162.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August

23, 2000, NOAA published an advance

notice of proposed rulemaking (65 FR

51264). The ANPR was published by

NOAA to evaluate whether changes to

existing NMS regulations or some form

of policy guidance is necessary to clarify

NOAA’s decision-making process

regarding the installation and

maintenance of commercial submarine

cables within NMSs. If changes or

additional guidance are appropriate, the

ANPR also requested comments on what

the changes or guidance should contain.

In addition, the ANPR requested

comments on proposed principles on

the installation of commercial

submarine cables within the marine and

coastal environment. The ANPR

provided a sixty day period for the

submission of public comments, with

the period closing on October 23, 2000.

NOAA received numerous comments in

response to this ANPR. It also received

a number of requests for additional time

to provide information on this subject.

In response to these requests, NOAA is

providing additional time for comments

to be submitted. This notice reopens the

period for public comment for fifteen

days, until December 11, 2000.

Dated: November 15, 2000.

Ted I. Lillestolen,

Deputy Assistant Administrator for Oceans

and Coastal Zone Management.

[FR Doc. 00–30031 Filed 11–22–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–08–M