Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 169 / Friday, September 1, 2017 / Proposed Rules 41577 

pursuant to general guidelines issued by 

OMB. 

OMB’s guidelines were published at 

67 FR 8452 (February 22, 2002), and 

DOE’s guidelines were published at 67 

FR 62446 (October 7, 2002). DOE has 

reviewed this proposed rule under the 

OMB and DOE guidelines and has 

concluded that it is consistent with 

applicable policies in those guidelines. 

K. Executive Order 13211 

Executive Order 13211, ‘‘Actions 

Concerning Regulations That 

Significantly Affect Energy Supply, 

Distribution, or Use,’’ 66 FR 28355 (May 

22, 2001) requires Federal agencies to 

prepare and submit to the OMB, a 

Statement of Energy Effects for any 

proposed significant energy action. A 

‘‘significant energy action’’ is defined as 

any action by an agency that 

promulgated or is expected to lead to 

promulgation of a final rule, and that: 

(1) Is a significant regulatory action 

under Executive Order 12866, or any 

successor order; and (2) is likely to have 

a significant adverse effect on the 

supply, distribution, or use of energy, or 

(3) is designated by the Administrator of 

OIRA as a significant energy action. For 

any proposed significant energy action, 

the agency must give a detailed 

statement of any adverse effects on 

energy supply, distribution, or use 

should the proposal be implemented, 

and of reasonable alternatives to the 

action and their expected benefits on 

energy supply, distribution, and use. 

For the reasons discussed in section 

II.C, this regulatory action would not 

have a significant adverse effect on the 

supply, distribution, or use of energy, 

and therefore is not a significant energy 

action. Accordingly, DOE has not 

prepared a Statement of Energy Effects. 

IV. Approval of the Office of the 

Secretary 

The Secretary of Energy has approved 

the publication of this proposed rule. 

List of Subjects in 10 CFR Part 590 

Administrative practice and 

procedure, Exports, Natural gas, 

Reporting and recordkeeping 

requirements. 

Issued in Washington, DC, on August 25, 

2017. 

Robert J. Smith, 

Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of Fossil 

Energy. 

For the reasons stated in the 

preamble, DOE proposes to amend part 

590, chapter II of title 10, subchapter G, 

Code of Federal Regulations as set forth 

below: 

PART 590—ADMINISTRATIVE 

PROCEDURES WITH RESPECT TO 

THE IMPORT AND EXPORT OF 

NATURAL GAS 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 590 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: Secs. 301(b), 402(f), and 644, 

Pub. L. 95–91, 91 Stat. 578, 585, and 599 (42 

U.S.C. 7151(b), 7172(f), and 7254), Sec. 3, Act 

of June 21, 1938, c. 556, 52 Stat. 822 (15 

U.S.C. 717b); E.O. 12009 (42 FR 46267, 

September 15, 1977); DOE Delegation Order 

Nos. 0204–111 and 0204–127 (49 FR 6684, 

February 22, 1984; 54 FR 11437, March 20, 

1989). 

■ 2. Section 590.102 is amended by: 

■ a. Redesignating paragraph (p) as 

paragraph (q), respectively; 

■ b. Adding new paragraph (p). 

The revisions to read as follows: 

§ 590.102 Definitions. 

* * * * * 

(p) Small-scale natural gas export 

means an export of natural gas to 

nations with which there is not in effect 

a free trade agreement with the United 

States requiring national treatment for 

trade in natural gas and with which 

trade is not prohibited by U.S. law or 

policy, provided that the application for 

such export authority satisfies the 

following two criteria: 

(1) The application proposes to export 

natural gas in a volume up to and 

including 0.14 billion cubic feet per 

day, and 

(2) DOE’s approval of the application 

does not require an environmental 

impact statement or an environmental 

assessment under the National 

Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 

4321 et seq. 

* * * * * 

■ 3. Section 590.208 is revised to read 

as follows: 

§ 590.208 Small volume exports. 

(a) Small-scale natural gas exports. 

Small-scale natural gas exports are 

deemed to be consistent with the public 

interest under section 3(a) of the Natural 

Gas Act, 15 U.S.C. 717b(a). DOE will 

issue an export authorization upon 

receipt of any complete application to 

conduct small-scale natural gas exports. 

DOE’s regulations regarding notice of 

applications, 10 CFR 590.205, and 

procedures applicable to application 

proceedings, 10 CFR part 590, subpart C 

(10 CFR 590.303 to 10 CFR 590.317), are 

not applicable to small-scale natural gas 

exports. 

(b) Scientific, experimental, or other 

non-utility natural gas exports. Any 

person may export up to 100,000 cubic 

feet of natural gas (14.73 pounds per 

square inch at 60 degrees Fahrenheit) or 

the liquefied or compressed equivalent 

thereof, in a single shipment for 

scientific, experimental, or other nonutility gas use without prior 

authorization of the Assistant Secretary. 

[FR Doc. 2017–18580 Filed 8–31–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2017–0660; Product 

Identifier 2017–NE–21–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; General 

Electric Company Turbofan Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

General Electric Company (GE) GEnx– 

1B64/P2, –1B67/P2, –1B70/P2, –1B70/ 

75/P2, –1B70C/P2, and –1B74/75/P2 

turbofan engines. This proposed AD was 

prompted by a report of the failure of 

the high-pressure turbine (HPT) stage 1 

blade retainer and subsequent in-flight 

shutdown of the engine. This proposed 

AD would require inspection of the HPT 

stage 1 blade retainer. We are proposing 

this AD to address the unsafe condition 

on these products. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by October 16, 2017. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail 

address above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this NPRM, contact General Electric 

Company, GE-Aviation, Room 285, 1 

Neumann Way, Cincinnati, OH 45215, 

phone: 513–552–3272; fax: 513–552– 

3329; email: geae.aoc@ge.com. You may 

view this service information at the 

FAA, Engine and Propeller Standards 

Branch, Policy and Innovation Division, 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS
41578 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 169 / Friday, September 1, 2017 / Proposed Rules 

1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA. 

For information on the availability of 

this material at the FAA, call 781–238– 

7125. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2017– 

0660; or in person at the Docket 

Management Facility between 9 a.m. 

and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. The AD docket 

contains this NPRM, the regulatory 

evaluation, any comments received, and 

other information. The street address for 

the Docket Office (phone: 800–647– 

5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. 

Comments will be available in the AD 

docket shortly after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Christopher McGuire, Aerospace 

Engineer, FAA, ECO Branch, 

Compliance and Airworthiness 

Division, 1200 District Avenue, 

Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781– 

238–7120; fax: 781–238–7199; email: 

Chris.mcguire@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposal. Send your comments to 

an address listed under the ADDRESSES

section. Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA– 

2017–0660; Directorate Identifier 2017– 

NE–21–AD’’ at the beginning of your 

comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this NPRM. We will consider 

all comments received by the closing 

date and may amend this NPRM 

because of those comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http://

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. We 

will also post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact we receive 

about this NPRM. 

Discussion 

We learned of the failure of an HPT 

stage 1 blade retainer that resulted in an 

in-flight shutdown of the engine. This 

condition, if not corrected, could result 

in failure of one or more engines, loss 

of thrust control, and damage to the 

airplane. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

We reviewed GE Service Bulletin (SB) 

GEnx–1B SB 72–0326 R02, dated 

August 16, 2017. The SB describes 

procedures for piece-part inspection of 

the HPT stage 1 blade retainer. This 

service information is reasonably 

available because the interested parties 

have access to it through their normal 

course of business or by the means 

identified in the ADDRESSES section. 

FAA’s Determination 

We are proposing this AD because we 

evaluated all the relevant information 

and determined the unsafe condition 

described previously is likely to exist or 

develop in other products of the same 

type design. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require 

inspection of the HPT stage 1 blade 

retainer. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

affects 11 engines installed on airplanes 

of U.S. registry. 

We estimate the following costs to 

comply with this proposed AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Inspection of the HPT stage 1 blade retainer 1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 ................. $0 $85 $935 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

Title 49 of the United States Code 

specifies the FAA’s authority to issue 

rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, 

section 106, describes the authority of 

the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: 

Aviation Programs, describes in more 

detail the scope of the Agency’s 

authority. 

We are issuing this rulemaking under 

the authority described in Subtitle VII, 

Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: 

‘‘General requirements.’’ Under that 

section, Congress charges the FAA with 

promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in 

air commerce by prescribing regulations 

for practices, methods, and procedures 

the Administrator finds necessary for 

safety in air commerce. This regulation 

is within the scope of that authority 

because it addresses an unsafe condition 

that is likely to exist or develop on 

products identified in this rulemaking 

action. 

This AD is issued in accordance with 

authority delegated by the Executive 

Director, Aircraft Certification Service, 

as authorized by FAA Order 8000.51C. 

In accordance with that order, issuance 

of ADs is normally a function of the 

Compliance and Airworthiness 

Division, but during this transition 

period, the Executive Director has 

delegated the authority to issue ADs 

applicable to engines, propellers, and 

appliances to the Manager, Engine and 

Propeller Standards Branch, Policy and 

Innovation Division. 

Regulatory Findings 

We determined that this proposed AD 

would not have federalism implications 

under Executive Order 13132. This 

proposed AD would not have a 

substantial direct effect 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. 

For the reasons discussed above, I 

certify 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), 

(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska to the extent that it justifies 

making a regulatory distinction, and 

(4) 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. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

The Proposed Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 

39 as follows: 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 169 / Friday, September 1, 2017 / Proposed Rules 41579 

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. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

General Electric Company: Docket No. FAA– 

2017–0660; Product Identifier 2017–NE– 

21–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by October 16, 

2017. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to General Electric 

Company (GE) GEnx–1B64/P2, –1B67/P2, 

–1B70/P2, –1B70/75/P2, –1B70C/P2, and 

–1B74/75/P2 turbofan engines, with a highpressure turbine (HPT) stage 1 blade retainer, 

part number (P/N) 2445M91P01 or 

2383M99P02, with a serial number listed in 

Planning Information, paragraph 1.A., of GE 

GEnx–1B Service Bulletin (SB) 72–0326 R02, 

dated August 16, 2017. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 

Code 7250, Turbine Section. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a report of the 

failure of the high-pressure turbine (HPT) 

stage 1 blade retainer and subsequent inflight shutdown of the engine. We are issuing 

this AD to prevent failure of the HPT stage 

1 blade retainer. The unsafe condition, if not 

corrected, could result in failure of one or 

more engines, loss of thrust control, and 

damage to the airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(1) At the next engine shop visit after the 

effective date of this AD, perform a one-time 

inspection of the HPT stage 1 blade retainer. 

Use the Accomplishment Instructions, 

paragraph 3.A.(1), in GE GEnx–1B SB 72– 

0326 R02, dated August 16, 2017, to do the 

inspection. 

(2) If any cracks are found in the HPT stage 

1 blade retainer, or the retainer does not meet 

the dimensional criteria found in the 

Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 

3.A.(1), in GEnx–1B SB 72–0326 R02, dated 

August 16, 2017, replace with a part eligible 

for installation. 

(g) Definition 

For the purpose of this AD, an ‘‘engine 

shop visit’’ is the induction of an engine into 

the shop for maintenance involving the 

separation of pairs of major mating engine 

case flanges, except separation of engine 

flanges solely for the purposes of 

transportation or for replacing the fan or 

propulsor, without subsequent maintenance, 

does not constitute an engine shop visit. 

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, FAA, ECO Branch, 

Compliance and Airworthiness Division, has 

the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, 

if requested using the procedures found in 14 

CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, 

send your request to your principal inspector 

or local Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the manager of the ECO Branch, send it to 

the attention of the person identified in 

paragraph (i)(1) of this AD. You may email 

your request to: ANE-AD-AMOC@faa.gov. 

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector, 

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 

of the local flight standards district office/ 

certificate holding district office. 

(i) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Christopher McGuire, Aerospace 

Engineer, FAA, ECO Branch, Compliance and 

Airworthiness Division, 1200 District 

Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781– 

238–7120; fax: 781–238–7199; email: 

Christopher.mcguire@faa.gov. 

(2) GE GEnx–1B SB 72–0326 R02, dated 

August 16, 2017, can be obtained from GE 

using the contact information in paragraph 

(i)(3) of this AD. 

(3) For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact General Electric 

Company, GE-Aviation, Room 285, 1 

Neumann Way, Cincinnati, OH 45215, 

phone: 513–552–3272; fax: 513–552–3329; 

email: geae.aoc@ge.com. 

(4) You may view this service information 

at the FAA, Engine and Propeller Standards 

Branch, Policy and Innovation Division, 1200 

District Avenue, Burlington, MA. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 781–238–7125. 

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on 

August 29, 2017. 

Robert J. Ganley, 

Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards 

Branch, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2017–18571 Filed 8–31–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

38 CFR Part 74 

RIN 2900–AO63 

VA Veteran-Owned Small Business 

Verification Guidelines 

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs. 

ACTION: Withdrawal of proposed rule. 

SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans 

Affairs (VA) published a rule in the 

Federal Register on November 6, 2015, 

80 FR 68795 that proposed amending its 

regulations governing the VA’s VeteranOwned Small Business (VOSB) 

Verification Program. The Verification 

Program has been the subject of reports 

from both the Government 

Accountability Office and VA’s Office of 

Inspector General stating that despite 

VA’s Verification Program, fraud still 

exists in the Veterans First Contracting 

Program. Some stakeholder feedback 

has been that the current regulation is 

too open to interpretation and is 

unnecessarily more rigorous than 

similar certification programs run by the 

United State Small Business 

Administration (SBA). 

The proposed rule sought to clarify 

the eligibility requirements for 

businesses to obtain ‘‘verified’’ status, 

added and revised definitions, 

reordered requirements, redefined the 

definition of ‘‘control,’’ and provided 

explanatory information on VA’s 

examination and review processes and 

procedures. The proposed rule 

additionally sought to implement new 

changes to community property 

restrictions, unconditional ownership, 

and day-to-day requirements and fulltime requirements. An exception for 

majority, supermajority, unanimous, 

and other voting provisions for 

extraordinary business decisions were 

also proposed. 

Comments to the proposed rule were 

to be provided to the Office of Small 

and Disadvantaged Business Utilization 

on or before January 5, 2016. Due to the 

nature of the adverse comments 

received, VA has determined not to 

pursue implementation of the rule as 

originally proposed. Accordingly, this 

document withdraws the proposed rule. 

DATES: The proposed rule published on 

November 6, 2015, 80 FR 68795 is 

withdrawn as of September 1, 2017. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom 

Leney, Executive Director, Office of 

Small and Disadvantaged Business 

Utilization, Department of Veterans 

Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave. NW., 

Washington, DC 20420; (202) 462–4300. 

(This is not a toll-free number.) 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the 

proposed rule published in the Federal 

Register on November 6, 2015, 80 FR 

68795, VA sought to amend 38 CFR part 

74 to find an appropriate balance 

between preventing fraud in the 

Veterans First Contracting Program and 

providing a process that would make it 

easier for more VOSBs to become 

verified. 

VA received 203 comments from 96 

commenters. 134 of these comments 

were adverse to the proposed rule and 

VA’s verification program in general. Of 

the 134 adverse comments, several were 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS