38284 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 136 /Thursday, July 16, 1998 /Rules and Regulations

had no problem with the total amount

budgeted or the reduction in the

assessment rate. In comparison, last

year’s budgeted expenditures were

$63,329. The assessment rate of $0.0015

is $0.0015 less than the rate currently in

effect. The Committee voted to lower

the assessment rate and use some of the

funds in its operating reserve in order to

bring the reserve closer to the amount it

believes necessary to administer the

program. The decrease would reduce

the financial burden on handlers as

prices for San Luis Valley potatoes have

been extremely low the past two

seasons. Overproduction of the 1996 fall

crop and unusually cold weather during

the 1997 fall crop growing season

resulted in major financial disasters

within the San Luis Valley potato

industry. The Committee discussed

various assessment rates, but decided

that an assessment rate of less than

$0.0015 would not generate the income

necessary to administer the program

with an adequate reserve.

Major expenses recommended by the

Committee for the 1998–99 fiscal period

include $37,210 for salaries, $10,850 for

office expenses, which include

telephone, supplies, and postage, and

$5,250 for building maintenance which

includes insurance and utilities.

Budgeted expenses for these items in

1997–98 were $35,579, $9,500, and

$5,250, respectively.

With Colorado Area II potato

shipments for 1998–99 estimated at

16,500,000 hundredweight, the $0.0015

rate of assessment should provide

$24,750 in assessment income. Income

derived from handlers assessments,

along with funds from the Committee’s

authorized reserve, will be adequate to

cover budgeted expenses. Funds in the

reserve ($124,903 as of September 1,

1997) will be kept within the maximum

permitted by the order (less than

approximately two fiscal periods’

expenses; § 948.78).

Recent price information indicates

that the grower price for the 1998–99

marketing season will range between

$1.60 and $6.15 per hundredweight of

Colorado potatoes. Therefore, the

estimated assessment revenue for the

1998–99 fiscal period as a percentage of

total grower revenue will range between

0.0900 and 0.0243 percent.

This action decreases the assessment

obligation imposed on handlers.

Assessments are applied uniformly on

all handlers, and some of the costs may

be passed on to producers. However,

decreasing the assessment rate reduces

the burden on handlers and may reduce

the burden on producers. In addition,

the Committee’s meeting was widely

publicized throughout the Colorado

Area II potato industry and all

interested persons were invited to

attend the meeting and participate in

Committee deliberations on all issues.

Like all Committee meetings, the May

21, 1998, meeting was a public meeting

and all entities, both large and small,

were able to express views on this issue.

Finally, interested persons are invited to

submit information on the regulatory

and informational impacts of this action

on small businesses.

This action will not impose any

additional reporting or recordkeeping

requirements on either small or large

Colorado Area II potato handlers. As

with all Federal marketing order

programs, reports and forms are

periodically reviewed to reduce

information requirements and

duplication by industry and public

sector agencies.

The Department has not identified

any relevant Federal rules that

duplicate, overlap, or conflict with this

rule.

After consideration of all relevant

matter presented, including the

information and recommendation

submitted by the Committee and other

available information, it is hereby found

that this rule, as hereinafter set forth,

will tend to effectuate the declared

policy of the Act.

Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553, it is also

found and determined upon good cause

that it is impracticable, unnecessary,

and contrary to the public interest to

give preliminary notice prior to putting

this rule into effect, and that good cause

exists for not postponing the effective

date of this rule until 30 days after

publication in the Federal Register

because: (1) This action reduces the

current assessment rate for Colorado

Area II potatoes; (2) the 1998–99 fiscal

period begins on September 1, 1998,

and the marketing order requires that

the rate of assessment for each fiscal

period apply to all assessable Colorado

Area II potatoes handled during such

fiscal period; (3) handlers are aware of

this action which was recommended by

the Committee at a public meeting and

is similar to other assessment rate

actions issued in past years; and (4) this

interim final rule provides a 60-day

comment period, and all comments

timely received will be considered prior

to finalization of this rule.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 948

Marketing agreements, Potatoes,

Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements.

For the reasons set forth in the

preamble, 7 CFR part 948 is amended as

follows:

PART 948—IRISH POTATOES GROWN

IN COLORADO

1. The authority citation for 7 CFR

part 948 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601–674.

§ 948.216 [Amended]

Section 948.216 is amended by

removing the words ‘‘September 1,

1996,’’ and adding in their place the

words ‘‘September 1, 1998,’’ and by

removing ‘‘$0.0030’’ and adding in its

place ‘‘$0.0015.’’

Dated: July 10, 1998.

Robert C. Keeney,

Deputy Administrator, Fruit and Vegetable

Programs.

[FR Doc. 98–18998 Filed 7–15–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–02–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98–NM–117–AD; Amendment

39–10661; AD 98–15–10]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Saab Model

SAAB SF340A and SAAB 340B Series

Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD),

applicable to certain Saab Model SAAB

SF340A and SAAB 340B series

airplanes, that requires modification of

the detachable center inlet component

of the air intake system of the engine.

This amendment is prompted by

issuance of mandatory continuing

airworthiness information by a foreign

civil airworthiness authority. The

actions specified by this AD are

intended to prevent fuel and/or oil that

may be present in the nacelle from

entering the air intake system of the

engine, which could result in a possible

engine fire.

DATES: Effective August 20, 1998.

The incorporation by reference of

certain publications listed in the

regulations is approved by the Director

of the Federal Register as of August 20,

1998.

ADDRESSES: The service information

referenced in this AD may be obtained

from Saab Aircraft AB, SAAB Aircraft

Product Support, S–581.88, Linko ̈ping,

Sweden. This information may be

examined at the Federal Aviation
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 136 /Thursday, July 16, 1998 /Rules and Regulations 38285

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, Rules Docket,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington; or at the Office of the

Federal Register, 800 North Capitol

Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Norman B. Martenson, Manager,

International Branch, ANM–116, FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601

Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington

98055–4056; telephone (425) 227–2110;

fax (425) 227–1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A

proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to

include an airworthiness directive (AD)

that is applicable to certain Saab Model

SAAB SF340A and SAAB 340B series

airplanes was published in the Federal

Register on May 20, 1998 (63 FR 27694).

That action proposed to require

modification of the detachable center

inlet component of the air intake system

of the engine.

Comments

Interested persons have been afforded

an opportunity to participate in the

making of this amendment. No

comments were submitted in response

to the proposal or the FAA’s

determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

The FAA has determined that air

safety and the public interest require the

adoption of the rule as proposed.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 135 airplanes

of U.S. registry will be affected by this

AD, that it will take approximately 2

work hours per airplane to accomplish

the required modification, and that the

average labor rate is $60 per work hour.

Required parts will be provided by the

manufacturer at no cost to the operators.

Based on these figures, the cost impact

of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated

to be $16,200, or $120 per airplane.

The cost impact figure discussed

above is based on assumptions that no

operator has yet accomplished any of

the 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 adopted herein will

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 final rule does

not have sufficient federalism

implications to warrant the preparation

of a Federalism Assessment.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that this action (1) is not a

‘‘significant regulatory action’’ under

Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a

‘‘significant rule’’ under 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. A final evaluation has

been prepared for this action and it is

contained in the Rules Docket. A copy

of it may be obtained from the Rules

Docket at the location provided under

the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Incorporation by reference,

Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration amends 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:

98–15–10 SAAB Aircraft AB (Formerly

SAAB Fairchild): Amendment 39–

10661. Docket 98–NM–117–AD.

Applicability: Model SAAB SF340A and

Model SAAB 340B series airplanes, as listed

in SAAB Service Bulletin 340–30–073, dated

August 18, 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 prevent fuel and/or oil that may be

present in the nacelle from entering the air

intake system of the engine, which could

result in a possible engine fire, accomplish

the following:

(a) Within 2 years after the effective date

of this AD, modify the detachable center inlet

component of the air intake system of the

engine, in accordance with Saab Service

Bulletin 340–30–073, dated August 18, 1997,

including Attachment 1, dated March 6,

1997.

(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.

(d) The modification shall be done in

accordance with SAAB Service Bulletin 340–

30–073, dated August 18, 1997, including

Attachment 1, dated March 6, 1997. 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 Saab

Aircraft AB, SAAB Aircraft Product Support,

S–581.88, Linko ̈ping, Sweden. Copies may be

inspected at the FAA, Transport Airplane

Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington; or at the Office of the Federal

Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite

700, Washington, DC.

Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed

in Swedish airworthiness directive 1–119,

dated August 21, 1997.

(e) This amendment becomes effective on

August 20, 1998.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 8,

1998.

S.R. Miller,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98–18774 Filed 7–15–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U