Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 15 / Friday, January 23, 1998 / Notices 3615

to the authorities, a report should be

generated that includes the following:

(1) An analysis of the threat of fuel

tank explosion due to internal and

external tank ignition sources for the

major fuel system designs making up

the transport fleet, including transport

airplanes with heat sources adjacent to

or within the fuel tanks. The SAFER

data presented to the FAA in 1978,

which includes evaluation of fuel tank

safety in both operational and post crash

conditions, should be used as a starting

point for determining the level of safety.

(2) An analysis of various means of

reducing or eliminating exposure to

operation of transport airplane fuel

tanks with explosive fuel air mixtures

(e.g. inerting, cooling of lower center

tank surfaces, combination of cooling

and modified fuel properties, etc.) or

eliminating the resultant hazard if

ignition does occur (installation of

selective/voided/full tank reticulating

foam, explosion suppression systems).

Technical discussion of the feasibility,

including cost/benefit analysis, of

implementing each of the options on a

fleet retrofit, current production, and

new type design airplanes should also

be provided.

(3) An analysis of the cost/benefit of

modified fuel properties that reduce

exposure to explosive vapors within

fuel tanks. The FAA has asked industry

through the American Petroleum

Institute to provide pertinent

information on fuel properties. The

degree of modification to fuel properties

necessary to eliminate or significantly

reduce exposure to explosive fuel tank

ullage spaces in fleet operation must be

determined by the group. Factors that

may enhance the benefits of modified

fuels, such as cooling provisions

incorporated to reduce fuel tank

temperatures, should be considered.

Cost information for the various options

should be developed. Information

regarding the effects of modified fuel

properties on airplane operations, such

as engine air/ground starting at low

temperatures, maintenance impact,

emissions and fuel freeze point, should

be analyzed by the group and be

provided.

(4) Review comments to the April 3,

1997, Federal register notice (62 FR

16014) and any additional information

such that validated cost benefit data of

a certifiable system is provided for the

various options proposed by

commenters. This information will be

used in preparing regulatory action.

Note: In many cases specific cost data

provided in the comments to the notice was

competition sensitive; therefore the ARAC

group should contact commenters directly

and request participation in the group.

(5) Recommended objective regulatory

actions that will eliminate, significantly

reduce or control the hazards associated

with explosive fuel air mixtures in all

transport airplane fuel tanks to the

extent that there could not be a

catastrophic event.

In addition to the above task, the

working group should support the FAA

in evaluation of application of the

proposed regulation to the various types

of transport airplanes (turbopropeller,

business jets, large transports, and other

turbine-powered aircraft types which

may be affected by a change in fuel

properties/availability) and any impact

on small businesses.

This activity will be tasked for a 6-

month time limit to complete the task

defined above. The FAA will consider

the recommendations produced by

ARAC and initiate future FAA

regulatory action. However, if the group

is unable to provide the FAA with

proposed regulatory language within

this time period, the FAA will initiate

rulemaking independently. Participants

of the ARAC should be prepared to

participate on a full-time basis for a 6-

month period if necessary.

ARAC Acceptance of Task

ARAC has accepted this task and has

chosen to assign it to a new Fuel Tank

Harmonization Working Group. The

new working group will serve as staff to

the ARAC Executive Committee to assist

ARAC in the analysis of the assigned

task. Working group recommendations

must be reviewed and approved by

ARAC. If ARAC accepts the working

group’s recommendations, it will

forward them to the FAA as ARAC

recommendations.

The Fuel Tank Harmonization

Working Group should coordinate with

other harmonization working groups,

organizations, and specialists as

appropriate. The working group will

identify to ARAC the need for

additional new working groups when

existing groups do not have the

appropriate expertise to address certain

tasks.

Working Group Activity

The Fuel Tank Harmonization

Working Group is expected to comply

with the procedures adopted by ARAC.

As part of the procedures, the working

group is expected to:

1. Recommend a work plan for

completion of the task, including the

rationale supporting such a plan, for

consideration at the ARAC Executive

Committee meeting held following

publication of this notice.

2. Give a detailed conceptual

presentation of the proposed

recommendations, prior to proceeding

with the work stated in item 3 below.

3. Draft a report and/or any other

collateral documents the working group

determines to be appropriate.

4. Provide a status report at each

meeting of the ARAC Executive

Committee.

Participation in the Working Group

The Fuel Tank Harmonization

Working Group will be composed of

experts having an interest in the

assigned task. A working group member

need not be a representative of a

member of the full committee.

An individual who has expertise in

the subject matter and wishes to become

a member of the working group should

write to the person listed under the

caption FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT expressing that desire,

describing his or her interest in the

tasks, and stating the expertise he or she

would bring to the working group. All

requests to participate must be received

no later than February 2, 1998. The

requests will be reviewed by the ARAC

chair, the executive director, and the

working group chair, and the

individuals will be advised whether or

not the request can be accommodated.

The Secretary of Transportation has

determined that the formation and use

of ARAC are necessary and in the public

interest in connection with the

performance of duties imposed on the

FAA by law.

Meetings of the ARAC Executive

Committee will be open to the public.

Meetings of the Fuel Tank

Harmonization Working Group will not

be open to the public, except to the

extent that individuals with an interest

and expertise are selected to participate.

No public announcement of working

group meetings will be made.

Issued in Washington, DC, on January 20,

1998.

Joseph A. Hawkins,

Executive Director, Aviation Rulemaking

Advisory Committee.

[FR Doc. 98–1743 Filed 1–21–98; 1:48 pm]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–M

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 33540]

Blue Mountain Railroad, Inc.—

Trackage Rights Exemption—Union

Pacific Railroad Company

Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP)

will agree to grant local trackage rights

to Blue Mountain Railroad, Inc. (BMR)

between: (1) UP milepost 210.0 at
3616 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 15 / Friday, January 23, 1998 / Notices

1The due dates for petitions for stay and

reopening presuppose that IAIS will promptly

certify that the required notice to employees has

been given, and that the employees therefore have

a reasonable period of time in which to file any

petition. Should IAIS be delayed for a significant

period of time in making that certification, we will

entertain requests to extend the period of time for

filing petitions to stay or reopen.

Juniper, OR, and UP milepost 218.0 at

Wallula Heights, WA; and (2) UP

milepost 0.0 at Wallula, WA, and UP

milepost 2.0 near Attilia, WA, a total

distance of 10 miles. BMR will be

permitted to provide local switching

service only to Boise Cascade

Corporation, Ponderosa Fibers, and

WATCO, Inc., at Wallula, WA.

The transaction is expected to be

consummated on or shortly after

January 15, 1998, the effective date of

the exemption.

As a condition to this exemption, any

employees affected by the trackage

rights will be protected by the

conditions imposed in Norfolk and

Western Ry. Co.—Trackage Rights—BN,

354 I.C.C. 605 (1978), as modified in

Mendocino Coast Ry., Inc.—Lease and

Operate, 360 I.C.C. 653 (1980).

This notice is filed under 49 CFR

1180.2(d)(7). If the notice contains false

or misleading information, the

exemption is void ab initio. Petitions to

revoke the exemption under 49

U.S.C.10502(d) may be filed at any time.

The filing of a petition to revoke will

not automatically stay the transaction.

An original and 10 copies of all

pleadings, referring to STB Finance

Docket No. 33540, must be filed with

the Surface Transportation Board, Office

of the Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925

K Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20423–

0001. In addition, a copy of each

pleading must be served on: Karl

Morell, Ball Janik LLP, Suite 225, 1455

F Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20005.

Decided: January 15, 1998.

By the Board, David M. Konschnik,

Director, Office of Proceedings.

Vernon A. Williams,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98–1638 Filed 1–22–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4915–00–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 33474]

Iowa Interstate Railroad, Ltd.—Lease

and Operation Exemption—Union

Pacific Railroad Company

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: Notice of Exemption.

SUMMARY: Under 49 U.S.C. 10502, the

Board exempts from the requirements of

49 U.S.C. 10902 the lease by Iowa

Interstate Railroad, Ltd. (IAIS) and

operation of 6.4 miles of railroad owned

by Union Pacific Railroad Company

between milepost 358.568 at Des

Moines, IA, and milepost 365.0 at West

Des Moines, IA, in Polk County, IA,

subject to labor protective conditions.

DATES: The exemption will be effective

60 days after IAIS certifies to the Board

that it has posted at the workplace of the

employees on the affected line, and

served on the national offices of the

labor unions with employees on the

affected line, a notice of the transaction,

setting forth the types and numbers of

jobs expected to be available, the terms

of employment and principles of

employee selection, and the line that is

to be leased. Petitions to stay must be

filed by February 23, 1998. Petitions to

reopen must be filed by March 16,

1998.1

ADDRESSES: An original and 10 copies of

all pleadings referring to STB Finance

Docket No. 33474 must be filed with the

Surface Transportation Board, Office of

the Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925 K

Street, NW., Washington, DC 20423–

0001; in addition, a copy of all

pleadings must be served on petitioner’s

representative: T. Scott Bannister, 1300

Des Moines Building, 405–6th Avenue,

Des Moines, IA 50309.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Joseph H. Dettmar (202) 565–1600. [TDD

for the hearing impaired (202) 565–

1695.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Additional information is contained in

the Board’s decision. To purchase a

copy of the full decision, write to, call

or pick up in person from: DC NEWS &

DATA, INC., 1925 K Street, N.W., Suite

210, Washington, DC 20006. Telephone:

(202) 289–4357. [Assistance for the

hearing impaired is available through

TDD services (202) 565–1695.]

Decided: January 12, 1998.

By the Board, Chairman Morgan and Vice

Chairman Owen.

Vernon A. Williams,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98–1637 Filed 1–22–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4915–00–P

UNITED STATES INFORMATION

AGENCY

Submission for OMB Review;

Comment Request

AGENCY: United States Information

Agency.

ACTION: Submission for OMB Review;

comment request.

SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44

U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice

announces that the following

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comment. USIA is requesting approval

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Teaching Exchanges/Seminars Abroad’’

under OMB control number 3116–0181

which is scheduled to expire on

February 28, 1998. This request for

comment is being made pursuant to the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub.

L. 104–13; 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

The information collection activity

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pursuant to the mandate given to the

United States Information Agency under

the terms and conditions of the Mutual

and Educational and Cultural Exchange

Act of 1961, P.L. 87–256.

DATES: Comments are due on or before

February 23, 1998.

COPIES: Copies of the Request for

Clearance (OMB 83–I), supporting

statement, and other documents that

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approval may be obtained from the

USIA Clearance Officer. Comments

should be submitted to the Office of

Information and Regulatory Affairs of

OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for USIA,

and also to the USIA Clearance Officer.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Agency Clearance Officer, Ms. Jeannette

Giovetti, United States Information

Agency, M/AOL, 301 Fourth Street,

S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547,

telephone (202) 619–4408, internet

address JGiovett@USIA. GOV; and OMB

review: Ms. Victoria Wassmer, Officer of

Information and Regulatory Affairs,

Office of Management and Budget, New

Executive Office Building, Docket

Library, Room 1002, NEOB,

Washington, D.C. 20503, Telephone

(202) 395–5871.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An

Agency may not conduct or sponsor,

and a person is not required to respond

to a collection of information unless it

displays a currently valid OMB control

number. The Federal Register notice

with a 60-day comment period soliciting

comments on this collection of

information was published on

November 25, 1997 (vol. 62, no. 227).

Public reporting burden for this

collection of information (Paper Work

Reduction Project: OMB No. 3116–0181)

is estimated to average two (2) hours per

response. Responses are voluntary and