21556 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 78 / Tuesday, April 22, 2008 / Proposed Rules 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2008–0442, Directorate 

Identifier 2007–SW–24–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky 

Aircraft Corporation Model S–61A, D, 

E, L, N, NM, R, and V; Croman 

Corporation Model SH–3H, Carson 

Helicopters, Inc. Model S–61L; Glacier 

Helicopter Model CH–3E; Robinson 

AirCrane, Inc. Model CH–3E, CH–3C, 

HH–3C and HH–3E; and Siller 

Helicopters Model CH–3E and SH–3A 

Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration, DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: This amendment proposes 

superseding an existing airworthiness 

directive (AD) for Sikorsky Aircraft 

Corporation (Sikorsky) Model S–61A, D, 

E, L, N, NM, R, and V helicopters. The 

existing AD currently requires 

determining whether the main rotor 

shaft (MRS) was used in repetitive 

external lift (REL) operations. The 

existing AD also requires a 

nondestructive inspection (NDI) for 

cracks, replacing any unairworthy MRS 

with an airworthy MRS, appropriately 

marking the MRS, making a logbook 

entry, and establishing retirement lives 

for each REL MRS. This proposed AD 

would contain some of the same 

requirements but would determine new 

retirement lives for each MRS. The REL 

retirement life would be based on hours 

time-in-service (TIS) or lift cycles, 

whichever occurs first. The Non-REL 

retirement life would be reduced and 

would only be based on hours TIS. This 

proposed AD would also require the 

operator to remove from service any 

MRS with oversized dowel pin bores. 

Also, certain restricted category models 

that were inadvertently omitted in the 

current AD would be added to the 

applicability. This proposed AD is 

prompted by the manufacturer’s 

reevaluation of the retirement life for 

the MRS based on torque, ground-airground (GAG) cycle, and fatigue testing. 

The actions specified by the proposed 

AD are intended to prevent MRS 

structural failure, loss of power to the 

main rotor, and subsequent loss of 

control of the helicopter. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before June 23, 2008. 

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following 

addresses to submit comments on this 

proposed AD: 

• 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. 

You may get the service information 

identified in this proposed AD from 

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Attn: 

Manager, Commercial Tech Support, 

6900 Main Street, Stratford, Connecticut 

06614, phone (203) 386–3001, fax (203) 

386–5983. 

You may examine the comments to 

this proposed AD in the AD docket on 

the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jeffrey Lee, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

Boston Aircraft Certification Office, 12 

New England Executive Park, 

Burlington, MA 01803, telephone (781) 

238–7161, fax (781) 238–7170. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to submit any written 

data, views, or arguments regarding this 

proposed AD. Send your comments to 

the address listed under the caption 

ADDRESSES. Include the docket number 

‘‘FAA–2008–0442, Directorate Identifier 

2007–SW–24–AD’’ at the beginning of 

your comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of the proposed AD. We will 

consider all comments received by the 

closing date and may amend the 

proposed AD in light 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 with FAA 

personnel concerning this proposed 

rulemaking. Using the search function 

of the docket Web site, you can find and 

read the comments to any of our 

dockets, including the name of the 

individual who sent or signed the 

comment. You may review the DOT’s 

complete Privacy Act Statement in the 

Federal Register published on April 11, 

2000 (65 FR 19477–78). 

Examining the Docket 

You may examine the docket that 

contains the proposed AD, any 

comments, and other information in 

person at the Docket Operations office 

between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

The Docket Operations office (telephone 

(800) 647–5527) is located in Room 

W12–140 on the ground floor of the 

West Building at the street address 

stated in the ADDRESSES section. 

Comments will be available in the AD 

docket shortly after receipt. 

Discussion 

In 1995 a Model S–58T helicopter lost 

transmission drive due to fatigue 

cracking on the MRS flange connection. 

Due to similarities between the Model 

S–58T and the S–61 MRS drive 

connection, Sikorsky conducted a 

review of the Model S–61 MRS cracking 

history. This review identified similar 

fatigue cracking mode origins in similar 

locations in both the Model S–61 and 

the S–58T MRS. 

On December 7, 1998, the FAA issued 

AD 98–26–02, Amendment 39–10943 

(63 FR 69177), Docket No. 96–SW–29–

AD, for Sikorsky Model S–61A, D, E, L, 

N, NM, R, and V helicopters. AD 98–26–

02 requires an NDI for cracks, replacing 

any unairworthy MRS with an 

airworthy MRS, appropriately marking 

the MRS by following Sikorsky Alert 

Service Bulletin (ASB) 61B35–68, dated 

July 19, 1996, and making logbook 

entries. AD 98–26–02 also establishes 

retirement lives of 1,500 hours TIS for 

unmodified MRS assemblies used in 

REL operations and 2,200 hours TIS for 

modified MRS assemblies used in REL 

operations. That action was prompted 

by four reports of cracks in helicopter 

MRSs used in REL operations. That 

condition, if not corrected, could result 

in MRS structural failure, loss of power 

to the main rotor, and subsequent loss 

of control of the helicopter. 

Since issuing AD 98–26–02, an 

investigation of REL operations revealed 

the REL mission profile parameters have 

changed significantly from those 

previously used to calculate the MRS 

retirement lives. The original MRS was 

certified by analysis in shaft bending 

only. Due to the service history, 

Sikorsky performed fatigue testing with 

Torque GAG cycles for both REL and 

Non-REL spectrums. The results of the 

fatigue testing with torque GAG cycles 

prompted changes in certain life limits. 

This information has led to the need for 

new retirement criteria for MRSs used 

in both REL and non-REL operations. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 78 / Tuesday, April 22, 2008 / Proposed Rules 21557 

Sikorsky has issued Customer Service 

Notice (CSN) No. 6135–10A and 

Sikorsky Service Bulletin (SB) No. 

61B35–53A, both dated April 19, 2004. 

The CSN and the SB apply to Model S–

61L, N, and NM (serial number (S/N) 

61454), and R series transport category 

helicopters; and S–61A, D, E, and V 

series restricted category helicopters. 

The CSN specifies replacing the 

planetary assembly and MRS assembly 

attaching hardware with high strength 

hardware. The CSN also specifies 

reworking the dowel retainer to increase 

hole chamfer and related countersink 

diameters. The SB specifies replacing 

the existing planetary matching plates 

with new steel matching plates during 

overhaul at the operator’s discretion. 

Also, Sikorsky has issued ASB No. 

61B35–69, dated April 19, 2004 (ASB 

61B35–69), which supersedes ASB 

61B35–68B. ASB 61B35–69 provides 

updated procedures for determining 

REL and Non-REL status, assigns new 

REL and Non-REL MRS retirement lives, 

and provides a method for marking the 

REL MRS. 

We have identified an unsafe 

condition that is likely to exist or 

develop on other Sikorsky model 

helicopters of these same type designs. 

Therefore, the proposed AD would 

supersede AD 98–26–02 to require the 

following: 

• Within 10 hours TIS for certain 

part-numbered MRSs: 

Æ Create a component history card or 

equivalent record. 

Æ Count and, at the end of each day’s 

operations, record the number of 

external lift cycles (lift cycles) 

performed and the hours TIS. An 

external lift cycle is defined as a flight 

cycle in which an external load is 

picked up, the helicopter is repositioned 

(through flight or hover), and the 

helicopter hovers and releases the load 

and departs or lands and departs. 

Æ If you do not have records of hours 

TIS on an individual MRS, substitute 

helicopter hours TIS. 

• Determine whether the MRS is an 

REL or Non-REL MRS by using a 250- 

hour TIS moving average. 

Æ Upon reaching 250 hours TIS, 

calculate the first moving average of lift 

cycles. If the calculation results in more 

than 6 lift cycles per hour TIS, the MRS 

is an REL MRS. If the calculation results 

in 6 or less lift cycles per hour TIS, the 

MRS is a Non-REL MRS. If you know 

only a portion of the number of the lift 

cycles during the previous 250 hours 

TIS, add that known number to a 

number calculated by multiplying the 

number of hours TIS for which you do 

not know the lift cycles by a factor of 

30 to arrive at the accumulated number 

of lift cycles. 

Æ If you determine the MRS is a NonREL MRS based on the previous 

calculation of the 250-hour TIS moving 

average for lift cycles, thereafter at 

intervals of 50 hour TIS, recalculate the 

average lift cycles per hour TIS. If the 

calculation results in more than 6 lift 

cycles per hour TIS, the MRS is an REL 

MRS. If the calculation results in 6 or 

less lift cycles per hour TIS, the MRS is 

a Non-REL MRS. If you know only a 

portion of the number of the lift cycles 

during the next interval of 50 hours TIS, 

add that known number to a number 

calculated by multiplying the number of 

hours TIS for which you do not know 

the lift cycles by a factor of 30 to arrive 

at the accumulated number of lift cycles 

for that interval. 

Æ Once an MRS is determined to be 

an REL MRS, you no longer need to 

perform the 250-hour TIS moving 

average calculation, but you must 

continue to count and record the lift 

cycles and number of hours TIS. 

• Within 5 hours TIS after 

determining the MRS is an REL MRS, 

identify it as an REL MRS by etching 

‘‘REL’’ on the outside diameter of the 

MRS near the part serial number. 

• If an MRS is determined to be an 

REL MRS, it remains an REL MRS for 

the rest of its service life and is subject 

to the retirement times for an REL MRS. 

• For each REL MRS, within 1,100 

hours TIS, conduct an NDI for cracks in 

the MRS. If a crack is found, replace it 

with an airworthy MRS before further 

flight. 

• Replace each MRS with an 

airworthy MRS on or before reaching 

the revised retirement life as follows: 

Æ For an REL MRS that is not 

modified (unmodified REL MRS); 

establish a retirement life of 30,000 lift 

cycles or 1,500 hours TIS, whichever 

occurs first. Replace it on or before 

accumulating 30,000 lift cycles or 1,500 

hours TIS, whichever comes first. For an 

unmodified REL MRS installed on a 

helicopter on the effective date of this 

AD that has accumulated more than 

30,000 lift cycles or 1,350 hours TIS, 

replace it within 150 hours TIS or upon 

removal, whichever occurs first. 

Æ For an REL MRS that is modified; 

establish a retirement life of 30,000 lift 

cycles or 5,000 hours TIS, whichever 

occurs first. Replace it on or before 

accumulating 30,000 lift cycles or 5,000 

hours TIS, whichever comes first. For 

modified REL MRS installed on a 

helicopter on the effective date of this 

AD that has accumulated more than 

30,000 lift cycles or 4,500 hours TIS, 

replace it within 500 hours TIS or upon 

removal, whichever occurs first. 

Æ For a Non-REL MRS, reduce the 

retirement life to 13,000 hours TIS. For 

a Non-REL MRS installed on a 

helicopter on the effective date of this 

AD that has accumulated more than 

11,500 but less than 40,500 hours TIS, 

replace it within 1,500 hours TIS, or 

upon removal, whichever occurs first. 

• Record the revised retirement life 

on the MRS component history card or 

equivalent record. 

• Within 50 hours TIS, remove from 

service any MRS with oversized 

(0.8860’’ or greater) dowel pin bores. 

Do the actions by following the 

specified portions of the service 

information described previously. 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 60 helicopters of U.S. 

registry, and the NDI inspection, 

remarking, and replacing an MRS would 

take about 2.2 work hours per helicopter 

at an average labor rate of $80 per work 

hour. Required parts would cost about 

$50 for the supplies required for the NDI 

inspection and $47,438 for each MRS 

per helicopter. Based on these figures, 

we estimate the total cost impact of the 

proposed AD on U.S. operators to be 

$2,859,840, assuming, after an NDI, one 

MRS would be replaced on each 

helicopter in the fleet because of the 

revised life, cracks, or oversized dowel 

pin bores and the recordkeeping cost 

would be negligible. 

Regulatory Findings 

We have determined that this 

proposed AD would not have federalism 

implications under Executive Order 

13132. Additionally, 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 that the 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. 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. 

We prepared a draft economic 

evaluation of the estimated costs to 

comply with this proposed AD. See the 

AD docket to examine the draft 

economic evaluation. 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

Title 49 of the United States Code 

specifies the FAA’s authority to issue 

rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, 


ebenthall on PRODPC60 with PROPOSALS
21558 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 78 / Tuesday, April 22, 2008 / Proposed Rules 

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 

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. 

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 

removing Amendment 39–10943 (63 FR 

69177, December 16, 1998), and by 

adding a new airworthiness directive 

(AD), to read as follows: 

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation; Croman 

Corporation; Carson Helicopters, Inc.; 

Glacier Helicopter; Robinson Aircrane, 

Inc.; and Siller Helicopters: Docket No. 

FAA–2008–0442. Directorate Identifier 

2007–SW–24–AD. Supersedes AD 98–

26–02, Amendment 39–10943, Docket 

No. 96–SW–29–AD. 

Applicability 

Model S–61A, D, E, L, N, NM (serial 

number (S/N) 61454), R, V, CH–3C, CH–3E, 

HH–3C, HH–3E, SH–3A, and SH–3H 

helicopters with main rotor shaft (MRS), part 

number (P/N) S6135–20640–001, S6135–

20640–002, or S6137–23040–001, installed, 

certificated in any category. 

Compliance 

Required as indicated. 

To prevent MRS structural failure, loss of 

power to the main rotor, and subsequent loss 

of control of the helicopter, do the following: 

(a) Within 10 hours time-in-service (TIS), 

unless done previously: 

(1) Create a component history card or 

equivalent record for each MRS. 

(2) Count and, at the end of each days 

operations, record the number of external lift 

cycles (lift cycles) performed and the hours 

TIS. An external lift cycle is defined as a 

flight cycle in which an external load is 

picked up, the helicopter is repositioned 

(through flight or hover), and the helicopter 

hovers and releases the load and departs or 

lands and departs. 

(3) If you do not have records of the hours 

TIS on an individual MRS, substitute the 

helicopter’s hours TIS. 

(b) Determine whether the MRS is a 

repetitive external lift (REL) or Non-REL MRS 

operation by using a 250-hour TIS moving 

average. 

(1) Upon reaching 250 hours TIS, calculate 

the first moving average of lift cycles by 

following the instructions in Section I of 

Appendix I of this AD. 

(i) If the calculation results in more than 

6 lift cycles per hour TIS, the MRS is an REL 

MRS. 

(ii) If the calculation results in 6 or less lift 

cycles per hour TIS, the MRS is a Non-REL 

MRS. 

(iii) If you know only a portion of the 

number of the lift cycles during the previous 

250 hours TIS, add the known number to a 

number calculated by multiplying the 

number of hours TIS for which you do not 

know the lift cycles by a factor of 30 to arrive 

at the accumulated number of lift cycles for 

that interval. Then, calculate the lift cycles 

per hour TIS as described in paragraph (b)(1) 

of this AD. 

(2) If you determine the MRS is a Non-REL 

MRS based on the previous calculation of the 

250-hour TIS moving average for lift cycles, 

thereafter at intervals of 50 hour TIS, 

recalculate the average lift cycles per hour 

TIS. Recalculate the average lift cycles by 

following the instructions in Section II of 

Appendix 1 of this AD. 

(i) If the calculation results in more than 

6 lift cycles per hour TIS, the MRS is an REL 

MRS. 

(ii) If the calculation results in 6 or less lift 

cycles per hour TIS, the MRS is a Non-REL 

MRS. 

(iii) If you know only a portion of the 

number of the lift cycles during the next 

interval of 50 hours TIS, add the known 

number to a number calculated by 

multiplying the number of hours TIS for 

which you do not know the lift cycles by a 

factor of 30 to arrive at the accumulated 

number of lift cycles. Then, calculate the lift 

cycles per hour TIS as described in paragraph 

(b)(2) of this AD. 

(3) Once an MRS is determined to be an 

REL MRS, you no longer need to perform the 

250-hour TIS moving average calculation, but 

you must continue to count and record the 

lift cycles and number of hours TIS. 

Note 1: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation 

issued an All Operators Letter (AOL) CCS–

61–AOL–04–0005, dated May 18, 2004, with 

an example and additional information about 

tracking cycles and the moving average 

procedure. You can obtain this AOL from the 

manufacturer at the address stated in the 

ADDRESSES portion of this AD. 

(c) Within 5 hours TIS, after determining 

the MRS is an REL MRS, identify it as an REL 

MRS by etching ‘‘REL’’ on the outside 

diameter of the MRS near the part S/N. 

Identify the REL MRS by following the 

Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 

3.C., of Sikorsky Alert Service Bulletin 

61B35–69, dated April 19, 2004 (ASB 61B35–

69). 

(d) If an MRS is determined to be an REL 

MRS, it remains an REL MRS for the rest of 

its service life and is subject to the retirement 

times for an REL MRS. 

(e) For each REL MRS, within 1,100 hours 

TIS, conduct a non-destructive inspection 

(NDI) for cracks in the MRS. If a crack is 

found in an MRS, replace it with an 

airworthy MRS before further flight. 

(f) Replace each MRS with an airworthy 

MRS on or before reaching the revised 

retirement life as follows: 

(1) For an REL MRS that is not modified 

by following Sikorsky Customer Service 

Notice 6135–10, dated March 18, 1987, and 

Sikorsky ASB No. 61B35–53, dated December 

2, 1981 (unmodified REL MRS); establish a 

retirement life of 30,000 lift cycles or 1,500 

hours TIS, whichever occurs first. Replace it 

on or before accumulating 30,000 lift cycles 

or 1,500 hours TIS, whichever comes first. 

For an unmodified REL MRS installed on a 

helicopter on the effective date of this AD 

that has accumulated more than 30,000 lift 

cycles or 1,350 hours TIS, replace it within 

150 hours TIS or upon removal, whichever 

occurs first. 

(2) For an REL MRS that is modified by 

following Sikorsky Customer Service Notice 

6135–10, dated March 18, 1987, and Sikorsky 

ASB No. 61B35–53, dated December 2, 1981 

(modified REL MRS); establish a retirement 

life of 30,000 lift cycles or 5,000 hours TIS, 

whichever occurs first. Replace it on or 

before accumulating 30,000 lift cycles or 

5,000 hours TIS, whichever comes first. For 

a modified REL MRS installed on a 

helicopter on the effective date of this AD 

that has accumulated more than 30,000 lift 

cycles or 4,500 hours TIS, replace it within 

500 hours TIS or upon removal, whichever 

occurs first. 

(3) For a Non-REL MRS, reduce the 

retirement life to 13,000 hours TIS. For a 

Non-REL MRS installed on a helicopter on 

the effective date of this AD that has 

accumulated more than 11,500 but less than 

40,500 hours TIS, replace it within 1,500 

hours TIS, or upon removal, whichever 

occurs first. If the 

Note: non-REL MRS has accumulated more 

than 40,500 hours TIS, replace it on or before 

it reaches 42,000 hours TIS. 

(g) This AD establishes or revises the 

retirement lives of the MRS as indicated in 

paragraphs (f)(1) through (f)(3) of this AD. 

(h) Record the revised retirement life on 

the MRS component history card or 

equivalent record. 

(i) Within 50 hours TIS, remove from 

service any MRS with oversized (0.8860’’ or 

greater diameter) dowel pin bores. 

Note 2: The Overhaul and Repair 

Instruction (ORI) Number 6135–281, Part B, 

Step 5, or ORI 6137–041, Section III, Oversize 

Dowel Pin Bore Repair and identified on the 

flange as TS–281 or TS–041–3, pertains to 

the subject of this AD. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 78 / Tuesday, April 22, 2008 / Proposed Rules 21559 

(j) To request a different method of 

compliance or a different compliance time 

for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 

39.19. Contact the Manager, Boston Aircraft 

Certification Office, FAA, ATTN: Jeffrey Lee, 

Aviation Safety Engineer, Boston Aircraft 

Certification Office, 12 New England 

Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803, 

telephone (781) 238–7161, fax (781) 238–

7170, for information about previously 

approved alternative methods of compliance. 

APPENDIX I 

SECTION I: The first moving average of lift 

cycles per hour TIS 

The first moving average calculation is 

performed on the MRS assembly when the 

external lift component history card record 

reflects that the MRS assembly has reached 

its first 250 hours TIS. To perform the 

calculation, divide the total number of lift 

cycles performed during the first 250 hours 

TIS by 250. The result will be the first 

moving average calculation of lift cycles per 

hour TIS. 

SECTION II: Subsequent moving average of 

lift cycles per hour TIS 

Subsequent moving average calculations 

are performed on the MRS assembly at 

intervals of 50 hour TIS after the first moving 

average calculation. Subtract the total 

number of lift cycles performed during the 

first 50-hour TIS interval used in the 

previous moving average calculation from the 

total number of lift cycles performed on the 

MRS assembly during the previous 300 hours 

TIS. Divide this result by 250. The result will 

be the next or subsequent moving average 

calculation of lift cycles per hour TIS. 

SECTION III: Sample calculation for 

subsequent 50 hour TIS intervals 

Assume the total number of lift cycles for 

the first 50 hour TIS interval used in the 

previous moving average calculation = 450 

lift cycles and the total number of lift cycles 

for the previous 300 hours TIS = 2700 lift 

cycles. The subsequent moving average of lift 

cycles per hour TIS = (2700–450) divided by 

250 = 9 lift cycles per hour TIS. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 10, 

2008. 

David A. Downey, 

Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 

Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. E8–8642 Filed 4–21–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

40 CFR Part 60 

[EPA–HQ–OAR–2007–1018; FRL–8556–3] 

RIN 2060–AO41 

New Source Performance Standards 

Review for Nonmetallic Mineral 

Processing Plants; and Amendment to 

Subpart UUU Applicability 

AGENCY: Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA). 

ACTION: Proposed rule. 

SUMMARY: EPA is proposing 

amendments to the Standards of 

Performance for Nonmetallic Mineral 

Processing Plant(s) (NMPP). These 

proposed amendments include 

proposed revisions to the emission 

limits for NMPP affected facilities 

which commence construction, 

modification, or reconstruction after 

today’s date (referred to as ‘‘future’’

affected facilities in this preamble). 

These proposed amendments for NMPP 

also include additional testing and 

monitoring requirements for future 

affected facilities; exemption of affected 

facilities that process wet material from 

this proposed rule; changes to simplify 

the notification requirements for all 

affected facilities; and changes to 

definitions and various clarifications. 

EPA is also proposing an amendment to 

the Standards of Performance for 

Calciners and Dryers in Mineral 

Industries to address applicability of 

this proposed rule to thermal sand 

reclamation processes at metal 

foundries. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before June 23, 2008, unless a public 

hearing is requested by May 2, 2008. If 

a hearing is requested on this proposed 

rule, written comments must be 

received by June 6, 2008. Under the 

Paperwork Reduction Act, comments on 

the information collection provisions 

must be received by the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) on or 

before May 22, 2008. 

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, 

identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–

OAR–2007–1018, by one of the 

following methods: 

• www.regulations.gov: Follow the 

on-line instructions for submitting 

comments. 

• E-mail: a-and-r-docket@epa.gov. 

• Fax: (202) 566–1741. 

• Mail: U.S. Postal Service, send 

comments to: EPA Docket Center 

(6102T), New Source Performance 

Standards for Nonmetallic Mineral 

Processing Plants Docket, 1200 

Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, 

DC 20460. Please include a total of two 

copies. In addition, please mail a copy 

of your comments on the information 

collection provisions to the Office of 

Information and Regulatory Affairs, 

Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB), Attn: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 

17th St., NW., Washington, DC 20503. 

• Hand Delivery: In person or by 

courier, deliver comments to: EPA 

Docket Center (6102T), New Source 

Performance Standards for Nonmetallic 

Mineral Processing Plants Docket, EPA 

West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution 

Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20004. 

Such deliveries are only accepted 

during the Docket’s normal hours of 

operation, and special arrangements 

should be made for deliveries of boxed 

information. Please include a total of 

two copies. 

Instructions: Direct your comments to 

Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2007–

1018. EPA’s policy is that all comments 

received will be included in the public 

docket without change and may be 

made available online at 

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information provided, unless 

the comment includes information 

claimed to be Confidential Business 

Information (CBI) or other information 

whose disclosure is restricted by statute. 

Do not submit information that you 

consider to be CBI or otherwise 

protected through www.regulations.gov 

or e-mail. The www.regulations.gov Web 

site is an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system, 

which means EPA will not know your 

identity or contact information unless 

you provide it in the body of your 

comment. If you send an e-mail 

comment directly to EPA without going 

through www.regulations.gov, your email address will be automatically 

captured and included as part of the 

comment that is placed in the public 

docket and made available on the 

Internet. If you submit an electronic 

comment, EPA recommends that you 

include your name and other contact 

information in the body of your 

comment and with any disk or CD–ROM 

you submit. If EPA cannot read your 

comment due to technical difficulties 

and cannot contact you for clarification, 

EPA may not be able to consider your 

comment. Electronic files should avoid 

the use of special characters, any form 

of encryption, and be free of any defects 

or viruses. 

Docket: All documents in the docket 

are listed in the www.regulations.gov 

index. Although listed in the index, 

some information is not publicly 

available, e.g., CBI or other information 

whose disclosure is restricted by statute. 

Certain other material, such as 

copyrighted material, will be publicly 

available only in hard copy. Publicly 

available docket materials are available 

either electronically in 

www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at 

the EPA Docket Center, Standards of 

Performance for Nonmetallic Mineral 

Processing Plants Docket, EPA West, 

Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., 

NW., Washington, DC. The Public 

Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 

4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

excluding legal holidays. The telephone 

number for the Public Reading Room is 


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