[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 5, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 33129-33130]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-13556]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-0187; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-094-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); reopening of comment
period.
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SUMMARY: This document announces a reopening of the comment period for
the above-referenced NPRM, which proposed the adoption of a new
airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 757
airplanes. That NPRM invites comments concerning the proposed
requirement to modify the fuel quantity indication system (FQIS) wiring
or fuel tank systems to prevent development of an ignition source
inside the center fuel tank. This reopening of the comment period is
necessary to provide all interested persons an opportunity to present
their views on the proposed requirements of that NPRM.
DATES: We must receive comments on the NPRM by August 6, 2012.
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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; 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 proposed AD, 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: Rebel Nichols, Aerospace Engineer,
Propulsion Branch, ANM-140S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office
(ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; phone: 425-
917-6509; fax: 425-917-6590; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2012-0187;
Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-094-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD 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 proposed AD.
Discussion
We issued an NPRM to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that
would apply to certain The Boeing Company Model 757 airplanes. That
NPRM published in the Federal Register on March 1, 2012 (77 FR 12506).
That NPRM proposed to require modifying the fuel quantity indication
system wiring or fuel tank systems to prevent development of an
ignition source inside the center fuel tank.
That action (77 FR 12506, March 1, 2012) invites comments on
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the
proposal.
That action (77 FR 12506, March 1, 2012) was prompted by fuel
system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. The actions specified by
the NPRM are intended to prevent ignition sources inside the center
fuel tank, which, in
[[Page 33130]]
combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank
explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.
Actions Since NPRM (77 FR 12506, March 1, 2012) Was Issued
Since we issued the NPRM (77 FR 12506, March 1, 2012), we have
received a request from Airlines for America (A4A), and James Hurd on
behalf of the Families of TWA Flight 800, to extend the comment period.
A4A requested a 60-day extension because of the extensive scope and
significant potential impact of the NPRM, the lack of associated
service information, and the need for proper review of the results of
prototype efforts. A4A stated that this extension would provide
operators additional time to develop estimates of technical methods of
compliance with the NPRM, to develop estimates of the potential impact
of those methods, and to prepare comments for the rules docket.
We have considered the commenters' request. We find it appropriate
to extend the comment period to give all interested persons additional
time to examine the proposed requirements and submit comments. We have
determined that extending the comment period by 60 days will not
compromise the safety of the affected airplanes.
The comment period for Docket No. FAA-2012-0187 closes August 6,
2012.
Because no other portion of the proposal or other regulatory
information has been changed, the entire proposal (77 FR 12506, March
1, 2012) is not being republished.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 24, 2012.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-13556 Filed 6-4-12; 8:45 am]
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