34276 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 121 /Wednesday, June 24, 1998 /Rules and Regulations

§ 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding the following new airworthiness

directive:

98–13–34 Empresa Brasileira de

Aeronautica S.A. (EMBRAER):

Amendment 39–10625. Docket 98-NM–

181-AD.

Applicability: All Model EMB–145 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

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 prevent failure of the nose landing gear

(NLG) to extend and lock down properly,

which could result in damage to the airplane

structure, and consequent reduced

controllability of the airplane upon landing,

accomplish the following:

(a) Within 50 flight hours after the effective

date of this AD, perform an emergency

extension (free-fall) functional test of the

NLG, to ensure that the mechanism extends

and locks down properly, in accordance with

EMBRAER Alert Service Bulletin 145–32-

A029, dated April 15, 1998. Repeat the

functional test and lubrication procedures

thereafter at intervals not to exceed every

‘‘A’’ check, but no later than 400 flight

cycles.

Note 2: The alert service bulletin references

EMBRAER Aircraft Maintenance Manual

(AMM), Chapter 32–34–00, as an additional

source of service information for

accomplishment of the emergency extension

functional test.

(1) If the extension time of the landing gear

is within 30 seconds, prior to further flight,

lubricate all NLG hinge points in accordance

with Figure 1 of the Accomplishment

Instructions of the alert service bulletin.

(2) If the extension time of the landing gear

exceeds 30 seconds, prior to further flight,

accomplish the requirements of paragraphs

(a)(2)(i) and (a)(2)(ii) of this AD.

(i) Lubricate all NLG hinge points in

accordance with Figure 1 of the

Accomplishment Instructions of the alert

service bulletin. And

(ii) Perform a normal system functional test

of the NLG for five cycles, and repeat the

emergency extension functional test specified

by paragraph (a) of this AD. If the extension

and locking time still exceeds 30 seconds,

prior to further flight, repair in accordance

with a method approved by either the

Manager, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office

(ACO), FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, or

the Departmento de Aviacao Civil (DAC) (or

its delegated agent).

Note 3: The alert service bulletin references

EMBRAER AMM, Chapter 32–30–00, as an

additional source of service information for

accomplishment of the normal system

functional test.

(3) If any malfunction other than that

specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this AD is

detected, prior to further flight, repair in

accordance with a method approved by the

Manager, Atlanta ACO, or the DAC (or its

delegated agent).

(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, Atlanta

ACO. Operators shall submit their requests

through an appropriate FAA Principal

Maintenance Inspector, who may add

comments and then send it to the Manager,

Atlanta ACO.

Note 4: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Atlanta ACO.

(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.

(d) The tests and lubrication shall be done

in accordance with EMBRAER Alert Service

Bulletin 145–32–A029, dated April 15, 1998.

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 Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A.

(EMBRAER), P.O. Box 343—CEP 12.225, Sao

Jose dos Campos—SP, Brazil. Copies may be

inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane

Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington; or at the FAA, Small Airplane

Directorate, Atlanta Aircraft Certification

Office, One Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix

Boulevard, suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia; or at

the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North

Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington,

DC.

Note 5: The subject of this AD is addressed

in Brazilian airworthiness directive 98–05–

01, dated May 12, 1998.

(e) This amendment becomes effective on

July 9, 1998.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 16,

1998.

Darrell M. Pederson,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98–16497 Filed 6–23–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

UNITED STATES INFORMATION

AGENCY

22 CFR Part 514

Exchange Visitor Program

AGENCY: United States Information

Agency.

ACTION: Notice of suspension of

applicability of certain requirements.

SUMMARY: The Agency is temporarily

suspending the application of certain

requirements governing program status

and on-campus and off-campus

employment for J–1 students whose

means of financial support, as reflected

on their Form IAP–66, Certificate of

Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status, is

from Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia,

Thailand, or the Philippines. This

action is necessary to mitigate the

adverse impact upon these students due

to the sharp and sudden drop in the

value of the currencies of Indonesia,

South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, and

the Philippines.

DATES: This action is effective June 24,

1998 and will remain in effect until

rescinded.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sally Lawrence, Program Designation

Branch Chief, Office of Exchange Visitor

Program Services, United States

Information Agency, 301 4th Street, SW,

Washington, DC 20547; Telephone (202)

401–9823.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Over the

past several months, the currencies of

Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia,

Thailand, and the Philippines have

suffered a severe drop in value relative

to the United States dollar. This

economic crisis in their home countries

has in turn affected Exchange Visitor

Program college and university students

studying in the United States. These

students, many of whom are dependent

upon financial support originating in

their home country have found

themselves without funds. To

ameriolate the hardship arising from

this lack of financial support and

facilitate these students continued

studies, the Agency is suspending the

application of the full course of study

requirement set forth at 22 CFR

514.23(e) and the application of the

requirements governing student

employment set forth at 22 CFR

514.23(g) effective June 24, 1998 until

rescinded.

College and university students in J–

1 status whose means of financial

support comes from Indonesia, South

Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, or the

Philippines and whose financial

support has been disrupted, reduced, or

eliminated due to the economic crisis in

their home country may be authorized

to pursue full-time or part-time oncampus or off-campus employment by

their responsible officers. A reduction in

course load may be necessary for some

students due to employment and

accordingly, such students will be
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 121 /Wednesday, June 24, 1998 /Rules and Regulations 34277

deemed to be in valid J–1 Exchange

Visitor Program student status if they

are (i) an undergraduate student and

enrolled for not less than six semester

hours of academic credit or its

recognized equivalent; or (ii) a graduate

student enrolled for not less than three

hours of academic credit or its

recognized equivalent. Responsible officers who authorize

on-campus or off-campus employment

for these students should type or print

on the pink copy of the Form IAP–66

‘‘Special Student Relief work

authorization granted from (insert

beginning date of employment) until

(insert the earlier of the last day of the

student’s program or one year from the

beginning date of employment),’’ and

sign and date such notation. If a reduced

course load is also authorized due to the

employment, the responsible officer

should type or print on the pink copy

of the Form IAP–66 ‘‘reduced course

load authorized,’’ and sign and date

such notation.

The Agency’s suspension of the

application of the requirements set forth

in 22 CFR 514.23(e) and 22 CFR

514.23(g) for these identified students

will continue until amended or

rescinded by the Agency in a document

published in the Federal Register.

Dated: June 16, 1998.

Joseph Duffey,

Director.

[FR Doc. 98–16588 Filed 6–23–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8230–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation

and Enforcement

30 CFR Part 925

[SPATS No. MO–034–FOR]

Missouri Abandoned Mine Land

Reclamation Plan

AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining

Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM),

Interior.

ACTION: Final rule; approval of

amendment.

SUMMARY: OSM is approving a proposed

amendment to the Missouri abandoned

mine land reclamation plan (hereinafter

referred to as the ‘‘Missouri plan’’)

under the Surface Mining Control and

Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). The

amendment is intended to revise the

Missouri plan to allow the Missouri

Department of Natural Resources, Land

Reclamation Commission, Land

Reclamation Program to assume

responsibility for administering the

abandoned mine land reclamation

emergency program in Missouri on

behalf of OSM.

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 24, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Perry Pursell, Office of Surface Mining,

Mid-Continent Regional Coordinating

Center, Alton Federal Building, 501

Belle Street, Alton, Illinois 62002.

Telephone: (618) 463–6460.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background on the Missouri Plan

II. Submission of the Proposed Amendment

III. Director’s Findings

IV. Summary and Disposition of Comments

V. Director’s Decision

VI. Procedural Determinations

I. Background on the Missouri Plan

On January 29, 1982, the Secretary of

the Interior approved the Missouri plan.

Background information on the

Missouri plan, including the Secretary’s

findings, the disposition of comments,

and the approval of the plan can be

found in the January 29, 1982, Federal

Register (47 FR 4253). Subsequent

actions concerning the Missouri plan

and amendments to the plan can be

found at 30 CFR 925.25.

II. Submission of the Proposed

Amendment

Section 410 of SMCRA authorizes the

Secretary to use funds under the

abandoned mine land reclamation

(AMLR) program to abate or control

emergency situations in which adverse

effects of past coal mining pose an

immediate danger to the public health,

safety, or general welfare. On September

29, 1982 (47 FR 42729), OSM invited

States to amend their AMLR plans for

the purpose of undertaking emergency

reclamation programs on behalf of OSM.

States would have to demonstrate that

they have the statutory authority to

undertake emergencies, the technical

capability to design and supervise the

emergency work, and the administrative

mechanisms to quickly respond to

emergencies either directly or through

contractors.

Under the provisions of 30 CFR

884.15, any State may submit proposed

amendments to its approved AMLR

plan. If the proposed amendments

change the scope or major policies

followed by the State in the conduct of

its AMLR program, OSM must follow

the procedures set out in 30 CFR 884.14

for reviewing and approving or

disapproving the proposed

amendments.

The proposed assumption of the

AMLR emergency program on behalf of

OSM is a major addition to the Missouri

plan. Therefore, to assume the

emergency program, Missouri must

either revise its plan to include

administering the AMLR emergency

program, or demonstrate that its plan

currently includes provisions for

assuming and administering the

emergency program.

By letter dated March 31, 1998

(Administrative Record No. AML–MO–

103), Missouri submitted an amendment

to its plan pursuant to SMCRA.

Missouri submitted the amendment at

its own initiative. The amendment is

intended to demonstrate Missouri’s

capability to effectively undertake the

AMLR emergency program on behalf of

OSM. In its formal submittal, Missouri

stated that a review of the Missouri plan

indicates that the authority already

exists for the Missouri Department of

Natural Resources, Land Reclamation

Commission, Land Reclamation

Program (LRP) to assume responsibility

for the AMLR emergency program.

Missouri noted that the designation by

the governor and the legal opinion of

the State Attorney General that are

included in its plan are applicable to all

AML activities, including the

emergency program, and that all other

existing policies and procedures in its

plan are adequate to cover the

emergency program, with two minor

exceptions. These exceptions were

addressed in Missouri’s technical

capability to design and supervise the

emergency works, and Missouri’s

amendment. The applicable parts of the

existing Missouri plan and the revisions

to the plan that would demonstrate that

Missouri has the authority to undertake

emergencies, Missouri’s technical

capacity to design and supervise the

emergency work, and Missouri’s

administrative mechanisms to quickly

respond to emergencies either directly

or through contractors are discussed

below.

A. The following information, taken

from the approved Missouri plan, was

included by reference in Missouri’s

formal submission to OSM in order to

verify that the authority already exists

for the LRP to assume AMLR emergency

program responsibilities:

1. A letter from the Governor that

designates the Missouri Department of

Natural Resources, Land Reclamation

Commission as the agency responsible

for the Abandoned Mine Land

Reclamation Program in Missouri.

2. A legal opinion from the Attorney

General that the Missouri Department of

Natural Resources, Land Reclamation

Commission has the power to

administer the Abandoned Mine Land

Reclamation Program in Missouri.

3. A copy of sections 444.810, .825,

.915, .920, .925, .930, and .940 of the

Revised Statutes of Missouri (RSMo),

the Missouri Land Reclamation Act.