18854 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 73 /Thursday, April 16, 1998 / 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:

British Aerospace Regional Aircraft

(Formerly British Aerospace Regional

Aircraft Limited, Avro International

Aerospace Division; British Aerospace,

PLC; British Aerospace Commercial

Aircraft Limited): Docket 98–NM–87–

AD.

Applicability: Model BAe 146–200A series

airplanes, as listed in British Aerospace

Service Bulletin SB.55–16, dated July 14,

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

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 detect and correct cracking of elevator

hinge rib 1 of the horizontal stabilizer, which

could result in damage to the structural

attachment of the elevator to the horizontal

stabilizer and consequent reduced

controllability of the airplane; accomplish

the following:

(a) Within 60 days after the effective date

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

(a)(2) of this AD, in accordance with British

Aerospace Service Bulletin SB.55–16, dated

July 14, 1997.

(1) Perform a visual inspection of the gust

damper of the elevator control system to

determine if the gust damper is properly

charged. If any gust damper is found to be

improperly charged, prior to further flight,

recharge the gust damper in accordance with

the service bulletin.

(2) Perform a detailed visual inspection,

using a borescope, to detect cracking of

elevator hinge rib 1, on the left and right side

of the airplane, in accordance with the

service bulletin. If any cracking is found,

prior to further flight, replace any cracked

hinge rib 1 with a new or serviceable part,

in accordance with a method approved by

either the Manager, International Branch,

ANM–116, FAA, Transport Airplane

Directorate; or procedures provided by the

manufacturer that are approved by the Civil

Aviation Authority, which is the

airworthiness authority for the United

Kingdom.

(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 British airworthiness directive 010–07–97,

dated March 2, 1998.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 9,

1998.

Darrell M. Pederson,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98–10055 Filed 4–15–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY

40 CFR Part 50

[FRL–5998–4]

Air Quality Criteria for Particulate

Matter

AGENCY: Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Initial call for information.

SUMMARY: The National Center for

Environmental Assessment, of the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA), is undertaking to review and, as

appropriate, revise the EPA criteria

document entitled Air Quality Criteria

for Particulate Matter (PM) as required

under sections 108 and 109 of the Clean

Air Act. The process that the EPA plans

to follow is described in a previous

notice (62 FR 55201, October 23, 1997).

Since completion of the 1996 criteria

document for particulate matter, the

EPA has continued to follow the

scientific literature and compile

information that may be relevant to the

next periodic review of the National

Ambient Air Quality Standards for PM

(PM NAAQS). Interested parties are

invited to assist the EPA in developing

and refining its scientific information

base to help ensure that all relevant

information is considered in updating

the PM criteria document. In particular,

new information is being sought with

regard to the following three general

topic areas: (1) PM health effects,

including experimental studies of PM

exposure effects on humans or
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 73 /Thursday, April 16, 1998 / Proposed Rules 18855

laboratory animals (especially studies

relating PM exposures at ambient or

near-ambient levels to health effects,

related biologic mechanisms, and PM

dosimetry), and epidemiologic studies

of short- and long-term PM exposure

effects on human mortality and

morbidity, as well as new information

concerning related analytical

methodology issues and human

exposure; (2) PM welfare effects, e.g.,

effects on vegetation, agroecosystems

(crops) and natural ecosystems,

visibility, nonbiological materials, and

the global climate; and (3) other

pertinent air-quality-related information

on atmospheric chemistry and physics,

sources and emissions, ambient

concentrations and measurement

methodology, and transformation and

transport in the environment.

Primary emphasis will be placed by

the EPA on consideration of peerreviewed, published information in

revising the subject PM criteria

document. Thus, most typically,

submitted information should have been

peer-reviewed and published or

accepted for publication.

DATES: This is an initial call for

information. To ensure consideration of

relevant information in preparation of

the first external review draft of a

revised criteria document for PM, all

communications and information

should be submitted by June 30, 1998.

However, ongoing research activities are

expected to produce a substantial

amount of additional new information

that will not be available until after this

date. The EPA will consider for

inclusion in subsequent drafts of the

document additional relevant

information received by the time of the

final Clean Air Scientific Advisory

Committee (CASAC) review of

subsequent draft(s) of the document.

The final CASAC review is now

expected to occur at a public meeting in

May or June, 2000 according to the

recently announced current schedule

(65 FR 55201, October 23, 1997).

ADDRESSES: Communications should be

addressed to the Project Manager for

PM, National Center for Environmental

Assessment-RTP Office (MD–52), U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency,

Research Triangle Park, NC 27711.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Diane H. Ray, National Center for

Environmental Assessment-RTP Office

(MD–52), U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC

27711; telephone: 919–541–3637;

facsimile: 919–541–1818; E-mail:

ray.diane@epamail.epa.gov.

Dated: April 10, 1998.

William H. Farland,

Director, National Center for Environmental

Assessment.

[FR Doc. 98–10147 Filed 4–15–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

49 CFR Part 7

[Docket No. OST–96–1430; Notice 98–17]

RIN 2105–AC69

Public Availability of Information;

Electronic FOIA Amendment

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY: The Department of

Transportation proposes to revise its

regulations implementing the Freedom

of Information Act (FOIA). This

proposed revision provides changes to

conform to the requirements of the

Electronic Freedom of Information Act

Amendments of 1996 (EFOIA), provides

changes to DOT’s fee schedule, and

reflects certain organizational changes.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before June 15, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be

addressed to Information Services,

Attention: Docket Section, Room PL–

401, Docket No. OST–96–1430,

Department of Transportation, SVC–

124.1, Washington, DC 20590. Any

person wishing acknowledgement that

his/her comments have been received

should include a self-addressed

stamped postcard. Comments received

will be available for public inspection

and copying in the Documentary

Services Division, Room PL–401,

Department of Transportation Building,

400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington,

DC, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET

Monday through Friday except Federal

holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Robert I. Ross, Office of the General

Counsel, C–10, Department of

Transportation, Washington, DC 20590,

telephone (202) 366–9156, FAX (202)

366–9170; electronic mail bob.

ross@ost.dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: These

proposed revisions reflect changes

required by the Electronic Freedom of

Information Act Amendments of 1996

(Public law 104–231). New provisions

implementing the amendments are

found at §§ 7.5 (frequently requested

documents), 7.8 (electronic reading

room requirements), 7.21 (deletion

markings and volume estimation), 7.31

(timing of responses, multi-track and

expedited processing), and 7.33

(unusual circumstances). Proposed

revisions to DOT’s fee schedule can be

found at § 7.43. DOT proposes to charge

fees at rates based on an average of

hourly rates for three pay scale levels.

Finally, references to DOT’s Urban Mass

Transportation Administration (UMTA)

are changed to the Federal Transit

Administration (FTA) to reflect a

statutory revision of the name of the

agency.

Regulatory Notices and Analysis

This proposed amendment is not a

‘‘significant regulatory action’’ within

the meaning of Executive Order 12866.

It is also not significant within the

definition in DOT’s Regulatory Policies

and Procedures, 49 FR 1034 (1979), in

part because it does not involve any

change in important DOT policies.

Because the economic impact should be

minimal, further regulatory evaluation

is not necessary. Under the Regulatory

Flexibility Act, the group of persons

who will be directly affected by this

proposal are the public, who will find

it easier to obtain information from the

DOT under FOIA. They do not qualify

as small entities, but will have burdens

lessened by this proposal, as the effect

of the proposal will be to make records

available through electronic media and

to streamline FOIA processing activities;

however, it is not likely that any such

burden reduction will be large nor that

it will be convertible into economic

equivalents. Hence, I certify that this

proposal will not have a significant

economic impact on a substantial

number of small entities.

This proposal does not significantly

affect the environment, and therefore an

environmental impact statement is not

required under the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969. It has

also been reviewed under Executive

Order 12612, Federalism, and it has

been determined that it does not have

sufficient implications for federalism to

warrant preparation of a Federalism

Assessment.

Finally, the proposal does not contain

any collection of information

requirements, requiring review under

the Paperwork Reduction Act, as

amended.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 7

Freedom of information.

In accordance with the above, DOT

proposes to revise 49 CFR part 7 to read

as follows: