This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains regulatory documents having general

applicability and legal effect, most of which

are keyed to and codified in the Code of

Federal Regulations, which is published under

50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by

the Superintendent of Documents. Prices of

new books are listed in the first FEDERAL

REGISTER issue of each week.

Rules and Regulations Federal Register

12531

Vol. 62, No. 51

Monday, March 17, 1997

OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS

5 CFR Part 2635

RIN 3209–AA04

Standards of Ethical Conduct for

Employees of the Executive Branch;

Exception for Gifts From a Political

Organization

AGENCY: Office of Government Ethics

(OGE).

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: The Office of Government

Ethics is adopting as final without

change an interim rule revising the

Standards of Ethical Conduct for

Employees of the Executive Branch to

conform with the Hatch Act Reform

Amendments of 1993.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 17, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Stuart D. Rick, Associate General

Counsel, Office of Government Ethics,

Suite 500, 1201 New York Avenue,

NW., Washington, DC 20005–3917;

telephone: 202–208–8000; TDD: 202–

208–8025; FAX: 202–208–8037.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On

September 27, 1996, at 61 FR 50689–

50691, the Office of Government Ethics

published an interim rule amending

various sections of the Standards of

Ethical Conduct for Employees of the

Executive Branch, 5 CFR part 2635, to

conform with the Hatch Act Reform

Amendments of 1993, Public Law 103–

94, as amended by section 315 of the

1997 Legislative Branch Appropriations

Act, Public Law 104–197. Comments

were invited from the public, to be

received by OGE on or before November

26, 1996. No comments were received,

and OGE has determined that no

changes are needed to the interim rule

amendments in adopting them as final.

Executive Order 12866

In promulgating these final rule

amendments, the Office of Government

Ethics has adhered to the regulatory

philosophy and the applicable

principles of regulation set forth in

section 1 of Executive Order 12866,

Regulatory Review and Planning. These

amendments have also been reviewed

by the Office of Management and

Budget under that Executive order.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

As Director of the Office of

Government Ethics, I certify under the

Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C.

chapter 6) that this final amendatory

rule will not have a significant

economic impact on a substantial

number of small entities because it

primarily affects Federal executive

branch employees.

Paperwork Reduction Act

The Paperwork Reduction Act (44

U.S.C. chapter 35) does not apply

because these amendments do not

contain information collection

requirements that require the approval

of the Office of Management and

Budget.

List of Subjects in 5 CFR Part 2635

Conflict of interests, Executive branch

standards of conduct, Government

employees, Political activities

(Government employees).

Accordingly, for the reasons set forth

in the preamble, the Office of

Government Ethics is adopting the

interim rule amending 5 CFR part 2635

which was published at 61 FR 50689–

50691 on September 27, 1996, as a final

rule without change.

Dated: December 18, 1996.

Stephen D. Potts,

Director, Office of Government Ethics.

[FR Doc. 97–6572 Filed 3–14–97; 8:45 am]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95–NM–158–AD; Amendment

39–9965; AD 97–06–08]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; de Havilland

Model DHC–7 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD),

applicable to all de Havilland Model

DHC–7 series airplanes, that requires

certain structural inspections, and

repair, if necessary. This amendment is

prompted by a structural re-evaluation,

which identified certain significant

structural items to inspect for fatigue

cracking as these airplanes approach

and exceed the manufacturer’s original

design life. The actions specified by this

AD are intended to prevent fatigue

cracking in these areas which, if not

detected and corrected in a timely

manner, could reduce the structural

integrity of these airplanes.

DATES: Effective April 21, 1997.

The incorporation by reference of

certain publications listed in the

regulations is approved by the Director

of the Federal Register as of April 21,

1997.

ADDRESSES: The service information

referenced in this AD may be obtained

from de Havilland, Inc., Garratt

Boulevard, Downsview, Ontario M3K

1Y5, Canada. 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 FAA, New York

Aircraft Certification Office, Engine and

Propeller Directorate, 10 Fifth Street,

Third Floor, Valley Stream, New York;

or at the Office of the Federal Register,

800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite

700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sol

Maroof, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe

and Propulsion Branch, ANE–171, FAA,

New York Aircraft Certification Office,

Engine and Propeller Directorate, 10

Fifth Street, Third Floor, Valley Stream,

New York 11581; telephone (516) 256–

7522; fax (516) 568–2716.

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 all de Havilland

Model DHC–7 series airplanes was

published in the Federal Register on

May 22, 1996 (61 FR 25598). That action

proposed to require that operators

incorporate, into their FAA-approved

maintenance inspection program, the

inspections specified in DHC–7

Maintenance Manual (PSM 1–7–2),
12532 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 51 / Monday, March 17, 1997 / Rules and Regulations

Chapter 5–60–00, Temporary Revision

(TR 5–84), dated June 15, 1994.

Additionally, that action proposed to

require repair of any findings of cracks,

loose or broken fasteners, or

deformations.

Interested persons have been afforded

an opportunity to participate in the

making of this amendment. Due

consideration has been given to the

single comment received.

The commenter supports the

proposed rule.

Conclusion

After careful review of the available

data, including the comment 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 50 airplanes

of U.S. registry will be affected by this

AD, that it will take approximately 15

work hours per airplane to accomplish

the required actions, and that the

average labor rate is $60 per work hour.

Based on these figures, the cost impact

of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated

to be $45,000, or $900 per airplane, per

inspection cycle.

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 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 final rule does

not have sufficient federalism

implications to warrant the preparation

of a Federalism Assessment.

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:

97–06–08 De Havilland, Inc.: Amendment

39–9965. Docket 95–NM–158–AD.

Applicability: All Model DHC–7 series

airplanes, 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 (d) 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 ensure the continuing structural

integrity of these airplanes, accomplish the

following:

(a) Within 6 months after the effective date

of this AD, incorporate into the FAAapproved maintenance inspection program

the inspections and inspection intervals

defined in DHC–7 Maintenance Manual

(PSM 1–7–2), Chapter 5–60–00, Temporary

Revision (TR 5–84), dated June 15, 1994; and

inspect the significant structural items prior

to the thresholds specified in TR 5–84 of

PSM 1–7–2. Repeat the inspections thereafter

at the intervals specified in TR 5–84 of PSM

1–7–2.

(b) Prior to further flight, repair any

discrepancies detected during any inspection

required by paragraph (a) of this AD in

accordance with one of the following:

(1) the DHC–7 Maintenance Manual; or

(2) the DHC–7 Structural Repair Manual; or

(3) other data meeting the certification

basis of the airplane which is approved by

the Manager, New York Aircraft Certification

Office (ACO), FAA, Engine and Propeller

Directorate; or

(4) data meeting the certification basis of

the airplane which is approved by Transport

Canada Aviation.

(c) All inspection results, positive or

negative, must be reported to de Havilland in

accordance with ‘‘Introduction,’’ paragraph 5,

of DHC–7 Maintenance Manual (PSM 1–7–2),

Chapter 5–60–00, Temporary Revision (TR 5–

84), dated June 15, 1994. Information

collection requirements contained in this

regulation have been approved by the Office

of Management and Budget (OMB) under the

provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of

1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and have been

assigned OMB Control Number 2120–0056.

(d) 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, New York

Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA,

Engine and Propeller Directorate. Operators

shall submit their requests through an

appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance

Inspector, who may add comments and then

send it to the Manager, New York ACO.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the New York ACO.

(e) 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.

(f) The structural inspections shall be done

in accordance with DHC–7 Maintenance

Manual (PSM 1–7–2), Chapter 5–60–00,

Temporary Revision (TR 5–84), dated June

15, 1994. 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 de Havilland, Inc., Garratt Boulevard,

Downsview, Ontario M3K 1Y5, Canada.

Copies may be inspected at the FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the

FAA, New York Aircraft Certification Office,

Engine and Propeller Directorate, 10 Fifth

Street, Third Floor, Valley Stream, New York;

or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800

North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700,

Washington, DC.

(g) This amendment becomes effective on

April 21, 1997.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on March 6,

1997.

Neil D. Schalekamp,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 97–6261 Filed 3–14–97; 8:45 am]

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