Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 65 / Friday, April 4, 1997 / Proposed Rules 16115

can be accomplished. Issued in Renton,

Washington, on March 31, 1997.

S. R. Miller,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 97–8700 Filed 4–3–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–NM–55–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing

Model 777–200 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 Boeing Model 777–200 series

airplanes. This proposal would require

replacement of certain overhead

electronics units (OEU) of the passenger

address and entertainment

communication systems with modified

OEU’s. This proposal is prompted by

reports of smoke coming from the

overhead panels near the passenger

reading lights, which was caused by

overheating of the transformers located

in the OEU’s. The actions specified by

the proposed AD are intended to

prevent overheating of the transformers,

which potentially could cause a fire in

the transformer assembly and/or

electronic components located in the

OEU and could cause smoke to enter the

passenger cabin.

DATES: Comments must be received by

May 15, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–103,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 97–NM–

55–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

Boeing Commercial Airplane Group,

P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, Washington

98124–2207. This information may be

examined at the FAA, Transport

Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Peter Skaves, Aerospace Engineer,

Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM–

130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification

Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington; telephone (206) 227–2795;

fax (206) 227–1181.

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–55–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–55–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue,

SW., Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Discussion

The FAA has received several reports

of smoke coming from the overhead

panel near the passenger reading lights

on Boeing Model 777–200 series

airplanes. In other reports, the overhead

electronics units (OEU) failed to supply

power to the lights of the passenger

cabin. Investigation revealed that the

transformers of the OEU’s are not

adequately protected from certain

overload failure modes, which causes

the transformers to overheat.

Overheating of a transformer, if not

corrected, potentially could cause a fire

in the transformer assembly and/or

electronic components located in the

OEU and could cause smoke to enter the

passenger cabin.

Explanation of Relevant Service

Information

The FAA has reviewed and approved

Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777–

23A0027, dated February 13, 1997. The

alert service bulletin describes

procedures for replacement of OEU’s,

part numbers (P/N) 285W0029–3,

285W0029–3 MOD A, and 285W0029–3

MOD B, of the passenger address and

entertainment communication systems

with modified OEU’s, P/N’s 285W0029–

5, 285W0029–5 MOD A, and

285W0029–5 MOD B. The modified

OEU’s contain a new transformer

assembly that contains circuit

protection for overload conditions,

which will prevent the transformer from

overheating.

The FAA also has reviewed and

approved Boeing Component Service

Bulletin 285W0029–23–01, dated

February 13, 1997, which describes

procedures for reworking OEU’s having

P/N’s 285W0029–3, 285W0029–3 MOD

A, and 285W0029–3 MOD B. The

rework includes replacing the

transformer assembly located in the

OEU with a new OEU, applying dash

number -5, and adding a MOD level

marking (if applicable) to the nameplate

of the OEU.

Explanation of Requirements of

Proposed Rule

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop on other products of this same

type design, the proposed AD would

require replacement of certain OEU’s of

the passenger address and

entertainment communication systems

with modified OEU’s. The actions

would be required to be accomplished

in accordance with the alert service

bulletin described previously.

Cost Impact

There are approximately 46 Boeing

Model 777–200 series airplanes of the

affected design in the worldwide fleet.

The FAA estimates that 16 airplanes of

U.S. registry would be affected by this

proposed AD, that it would take

approximately 209 work hours per

airplane to accomplish the proposed

actions, and that the average labor rate

is $60 per work hour. Required parts

would be supplied by the manufacturer

at no cost to the operators. Based on

these figures, the cost impact of the

proposed AD on U.S. operators is

estimated to be $200,640, or $12,540 per

airplane.

The cost impact figure discussed

above is based on assumptions that no
16116 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 65 / Friday, April 4, 1997 / Proposed Rules

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:

BOEING: Docket 97–NM–55–AD.

Applicability: Model 777–200 series

airplanes, as listed in Boeing Alert Service

Bulletin 777–23A0027, dated February 13,

1997; 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 (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 overheating of the transformers

of the overhead electronic units (OEU),

which potentially could cause a fire in the

transformer assembly and/or other electronic

components of the OEU and could cause

smoke to enter the passenger cabin,

accomplish the following:

(a) Within 6 months after the effective date

of this AD, replace OEU’s having part

numbers (P/N) 285W0029–3, 285W0029–3

MOD A, and 285W0029–3 MOD B, of the

passenger address and entertainment

communication systems with modified

OEU’s having P/N’s 285W0029–5,

285W0029–5 MOD A, and 285W0029–5

MOD B, in accordance with Boeing Alert

Service Bulletin 777–23A0027, dated

February 13, 1997.

Note 2: Boeing Component Service Bulletin

285W0029–23–01, dated February 13, 1997,

describes procedures for reworking OEU’s

having P/N’s 285W0029–3, 285W0029–3

MOD A, and 285W0029–3 MOD B, to a

configuration having a dash number –5, and

a MOD level marking (if applicable).

(b) As of the effective date of this AD, no

person shall install an OEU having P/N

285W0029–3, 285W0029–3 MOD A, or

285W0029–3 MOD B, on any airplane.

(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, Seattle

Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 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, Seattle ACO.

Note 3: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Seattle ACO.

(d) 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.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on March

31, 1997.

S. R. Miller,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification 026Service.

[FR Doc. 97–8701 Filed 4–3–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service

30 CFR Part 243

RIN 1010–AC08

Policy for Release of Third-Party

Proprietary Information for the

Administrative Appeals Process and

for Alternative Dispute Resolution

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY: The Minerals Management

Service (MMS) proposes to amend its

regulations to authorize MMS by law to

provide third-party proprietary

information to appellants and entities

involved in administrative appeals and

other Alternative Dispute Resolution

(ADR) when that information is the

basis for an MMS assessment.

Presently, MMS cannot release thirdparty commercial or financial

information (proprietary information)

because release would violate the Trade

Secrets Act which prohibits releasing

proprietary information ‘‘except as

provided by law.’’ This regulation will

provide the authority by law to release

the information. MMS’ proposed rule

would require that those receiving

relevant proprietary information sign

confidentiality and liability agreements

before the agency releases the

information.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before June 3, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent

to: David S. Guzy, Chief, Rules and

Publications Staff, Royalty Management

Program, Minerals Management Service,

P.O. Box 25165, MS 3101, Denver,

Colorado, 80225–0165, courier delivery

to Building 85, Denver Federal Center,

Denver, Colorado, 80225; or e-Mail

DavidlGuzy@smtp.mms.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

David S. Guzy, Chief, Rules and

Procedures Staff, Royalty Management

Program, Minerals Management Service,

telephone (303) 231–3432, Fax (303)

231–3194, e-Mail

DavidlGuzy@smtp.mms.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

principal authors of this proposed

rulemaking are Colette Haines, Gregory

Kann, Donna Luna, Cecelia Williams,

and Sammy Wilson, MMS, and Howard

Chalker, Office of the Solicitor.

I. General

Appellants sometimes request

information MMS used to assess

additional royalties. MMS presently