[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 225 (Thursday, November 21, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 64194-64195]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25292]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 27

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0106; Notice No. 27-046-SC]

Special Conditions: Robinson Helicopter Company, Model Robinson
R66, Visual Flight Rules Autopilot and Stability Augmentation System
(AP/SAS System)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final special conditions.

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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Robinson
Helicopter Company (Robinson) Model R66 helicopter. This helicopter
will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with
installation of the autopilot and stability augmentation system (AP/SAS
system). The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain
adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These
special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the
Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety
equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

DATES: These special conditions are effective December 23, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andy Shaw, Aerospace Engineer, FAA,
Rotorcraft Standards Branch, Policy and Innovation Division, 10101
Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>; email
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On June 8, 2018, Robinson applied to amend type certificate (TC)
Number R00015LA to install an AP/SAS system on the Robinson Model R66
helicopter. The Robinson Model R66 helicopter is a 14 CFR part 27
normal category, single turbine engine, conventional helicopter
designed for civil operation. This helicopter model is capable of
carrying up to four passengers with one pilot and has a maximum gross
weight of up to 2,700 pounds, depending on the model configuration. The
major design features include a 2-blade main rotor, an anti-torque tail
rotor system, a skid landing gear, and a visual flight rule basic
avionics configuration. Robinson proposes to modify this model
helicopter by installing an AP/SAS system.
    The AP/SAS system provides attitude stabilization in two or three
axes (pitch and roll with optional yaw) as well as higher-level
autopilot functions such as altitude hold, heading command and
navigation tracking. However, the possible failure conditions for this
system, and their effect on the continued safe flight and landing of
the helicopter, are more severe than those envisioned by the present
rules.
    The effect on safety is not adequately covered under 14 CFR 27.1309
for the application of new technology and new application of standard
technology. Specifically, the present provisions of Sec.  27.1309(c) do
not adequately address the safety requirements for systems whose
failures could result in catastrophic or hazardous/severe-major failure
conditions, or for complex systems whose failures could result in major
failure conditions. The current regulations are inadequate because when
Sec.  27.1309(c) was promulgated, it was not envisioned that this type
of rotorcraft would use systems that are complex or whose failure could
result in ``catastrophic'' or ``hazardous/severe-major'' effects on the
rotorcraft. This is particularly true with the application of new
technology, new application of standard technology, or other
applications not envisioned by the rule that affect safety.

Type Certification Basis

    Under 14 CFR 21.101, Robinson must show that the Model R66
helicopter, as modified by the installed AP/SAS, continues to meet the
applicable regulations in effect on the date of application for the
change to the type certificate. The baseline certification basis for
the unmodified Robinson Model R66 helicopter is listed in TC Number
R00015LA. Additionally, compliance must be shown to any applicable
equivalent level of safety findings, exemptions, and special conditions
prescribed by the Administrator as part of the certification basis.
    The Administrator has determined the applicable airworthiness
regulations (that is, 14 CFR part 27), as they pertain to this amended
TC, do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for the
Robinson Model R66 helicopter because of a novel or unusual design
feature. Therefore, special conditions are prescribed under Sec.
21.16.
    In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special
conditions, Robinson must show compliance of the AP/SAS amended TC
altered model R66 helicopter with the noise certification requirements
of 14 CFR part 36.
    The FAA issues special conditions, as defined in Sec.  11.19, in
accordance with Sec.  11.38 and they become part of the type
certification basis under Sec.  21.101(d).

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    The Robinson Model R66 helicopter will incorporate the following
novel or unusual design features: AP/SAS. An autopilot (AP) is a system
used to control the trajectory of an aircraft without constant input
from the pilot. This allows the pilot to focus on other aspects of
operations such as weather and systems. A stability augmentation system
(SAS) is another type of automatic flight control system; however,
instead of maintaining the aircraft on a predetermined attitude or
flight path, the SAS will reduce pilot workload by dampening aircraft
buffeting regardless of the attitude or flight path.

Discussion

    To comply with the provisions of the special conditions, the FAA
requires that Robinson provide the FAA with a systems safety assessment
(SSA) for the final AP/SAS installation configuration that will
adequately address the safety objectives established by a functional
hazard assessment (FHA). This process will ensure that all failure
conditions and their resulting effects are adequately addressed for the
installed AP/SAS. The SSA process is part of the overall safety
assessment process discussed in FAA Advisory Circular 27-1B,
Certification of Normal Category Rotorcraft, and Society of Automotive
Engineers document Aerospace Recommended Practice 4761, Guidelines and
Methods for Conducting the Safety Assessment Process on Civil Airborne
Systems and Equipment.
    These special conditions require that the AP/SAS installed on a
Robinson Model R66 helicopter meet the requirements to adequately
address the failure effects identified by the FHA, and subsequently
verified by the SSA, within the defined design integrity requirements.
    Failure conditions are classified according to the severity of
their effects on the rotorcraft.
    Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics, Inc. (RTCA) Document
DO-178C, Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment
Certification, provides software design assurance levels most commonly
used for the major, hazardous/severe-major, and catastrophic failure
condition categories. The AP/SAS system equipment must be qualified for
the expected installation environment. The test procedures prescribed
in RTCA Document DO-160G, Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures
for

Airborne Equipment, are recognized by the FAA as acceptable
methodologies for finding compliance with the environmental
requirements. Equivalent environment test standards may also be
acceptable. Environmental qualification provides data to show that the
AP/SAS system can perform its intended function under the expected
operating condition. Some of the main considerations for environmental
concerns are installation locations and the resulting exposure to
environmental conditions for the AP/SAS system equipment, including
considerations for other equipment that may also be affected
environmentally by the AP/SAS equipment installation. The level of
environmental qualification must be related to the severity of the
considered failure conditions and effects on the rotorcraft.

Discussion of Comments

    Notice of proposed special conditions No. 27-046-SC for the
Robinson Model R66 helicopter was published in the Federal Register on
June 26, 2019 (84 FR 30050). Comments were received from two
commenters. The commenters stated that special conditions previously
issued for an AP/SAS system on a different model helicopter were more
aligned with rulemaking whereas this special condition text seemed more
appropriate for guidance material. The commenters requested the FAA
change the proposed special conditions to be consistent with those
previously issued for the same type of equipment. The FAA agrees that
an effort should be made to maintain consistency and has revised the
proposed special conditions to align with previously issued special
conditions.
    The commenters also noted the Discussion section of the proposed
special conditions contains references to specific revisions of RTCA
Document DO-178 and RTCA Document DO-160G and requested these
references to specific revisions be removed. The FAA disagrees, however
an applicant may request to use a later approved revision to these
documents if the applicant shows the later revision meets the safety
level intended by the special condition.
    Except for the changes previously discussed, these special
conditions are adopted as proposed.

Applicability

    These special conditions are applicable to the AP/SAS installed as
an amended TC approval in Robinson Model R66 helicopter, TC Number
R00015LA.

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features
for an AP/SAS amended TC installed on one model helicopter. It is not a
rule of general applicability and affects only the applicant who
applied to the FAA for approval of these features.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 27

    Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.

    The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701, 44702, 44704.

The Special Conditions

    Accordingly, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issues the
following special conditions as part of the amended type certification
basis for installation of the autopilot and stability augmentation
system (AP/SAS) on Robinson Model R66 helicopters.
    Instead of the requirements of 14 CFR 27.1309(b) and (c), the
following must be met for certification of the AP/SAS system installed
on Robinson Model R66 helicopters:
    a. The equipment and systems must be designed and installed so that
any equipment and systems do not adversely affect the safety of the
rotorcraft or its occupants.
    b. The rotorcraft systems and associated components considered
separately and in relation to others systems, must be designed and
installed so that:
    (1) The occurrence of any catastrophic failure condition is
extremely improbable;
    (2) The occurrence of any hazardous failure condition is extremely
remote; and
    (3) The occurrence of any major failure condition is remote.
    c. Information concerning an unsafe system operating condition must
be provided in a timely manner to the crew to enable them to take
appropriate corrective action. An appropriate alert must be provided if
immediate pilot awareness and immediate or subsequent corrective action
is required. Systems and controls, including indications and
annunciations, must be designed to minimize crew errors which could
create additional hazards.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on November 13, 2019.
Jorge Castillo,
Manager, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, Policy and Innovation Division,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-25292 Filed 11-20-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 12, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17653-17654]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07356]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 1510-018]

City of Kaukauna-Kaukauna Utilities; Notice of Application
Tendered for Filing With the Commission and Establishing Procedural
Schedule for Licensing and Deadline for Submission of Final Amendments

    Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection.
    a. Type of Application: New Major License.
    b. Project No.: 1510-018.
    c. Date Filed: March 24, 2017.
    d. Applicant: City of Kaukauna-Kaukauna Utilities (Kaukauna
Utilities).
    e. Name of Project: Kaukauna City Plant Hydroelectric Project.
    f. Location: On the Fox River in Outagamie County, Wisconsin. There
are no federal or tribal lands within the project boundary.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
    h. Applicant Contact: Mr. Mike Pedersen, Kaukauna Utilities, 777
Island Street, P.O. Box 1777, Kaukauna, WI 54130;<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    i. FERC Contact: Erin Kimsey,<PHONE_NUMBER> or
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>    j. Cooperating agencies: Federal, state, local, and tribal agencies
with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to
environmental issues that wish to cooperate in the preparation of the
environmental document should follow the instructions for filing such
requests described in item l below. Cooperating agencies should note
the Commission's policy that agencies that cooperate in the preparation
of the environmental document cannot also intervene. See, 94 FERC ]
61,076 (2001).
    k. Pursuant to section 4.32(b)(7) of 18 CFR of the Commission's
regulations, if any resource agency, Indian Tribe, or person believes
that an additional scientific study should be conducted in order to
form an adequate factual basis for a complete analysis of the
application on its merit, the resource agency, Indian Tribe, or person
must file a request for a study with the Commission not later than 60
days from the date of filing of the application, and serve a copy of
the request on the applicant.
    l. Deadline for filing additional study requests and requests for
cooperating agency status: May 23, 2017.
    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file
additional study requests and requests for cooperating agency status
using the Commission's eFiling system at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support
at<EMAIL_ADDRESS>(866) 208-3676 (toll free), or (202)
502-8659 (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, please send a paper copy
to: Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street
NE., Washington, DC 20426. The first page of any filing should include
docket number P-1510-018.
    m. This application is not ready for environmental analysis at this
time.
    n. The existing Kaukauna City Plant Hydroelectric Project consists
of: (1) A 3,527-foot-long, 14-foot-high dam that includes: (a) A 930-
foot-long, 14-foot-high rubble masonry retaining wall section (left
forebay dam) with a remnant concrete headwall structure and a trash
sluice; (b) a 92-foot-long, 47.5-foot-high concrete intake and
powerhouse section; (c) a 365-foot-long, 20-foot-high rubble masonry
retaining wall section (right forebay dam) with a masonry abutment
section and a concrete gravity section with a trash sluice; (d) a 66-
foot-long gated spillway section with two 30-foot-wide, 8.8-foot-high
spillway gates; and (e) a 2,074-foot-long, 10-foot-high overflow
spillway section that includes a 1,305-foot-long concrete ogee section,
a 75-foot-long natural rock section, a 125-foot-long concrete gravity
section, and a 569-foot-long concrete gravity section; (2) a 19-
acre,1.5-mile-long impoundment with a normal maximum elevation of 629.0
above mean seal level; (3) an intake structure with two head gates and
two 25-foot-high, 88-foot-long trashracks with 5 inch clear-bar
spacing; (4) a 92-foot-long, 47.5-foot-high concrete and brick
powerhouse containing two 2.4-megawatt (MW) turbine-generator units for
a total capacity of 4.8 MW; (5) a 440-foot-wide, 49-foot-deep, 1,200-
foot-long excavated tailrace; (6) two 68-foot-long, 2.4-kilovolt
generator leads that connect the turbine-generator units to the
regional distribution line; and (7) appurtenant facilities.
    Kaukauna Utilities operates the project in a run-of-river mode with
an annual average generation of approximately 29,704 megawatt-hours.
Kaukauna Utilities is not proposing any new project facilities or
changes in project operation.
    o. A copy of the application is available for review at the
Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the
Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov using the ``eLibrary''
link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the
docket number field to access the document. For assistance, contact
FERC Online Support. A copy is also available for inspection and
reproduction at the address in item h above.
    You may also register online at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp to be notified via email of new filings and issuances
related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC
Online Support.
    p. Procedural schedule and final amendments: The application will
be processed according to the following preliminary Hydro Licensing
Schedule. Revisions to the schedule will be made as appropriate.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Issue Deficiency Letter (if           June 2017.
 necessary).
Request Additional Information......  June 2017.
Issue Acceptance Letter.............  September 2017.
Issue Scoping Document 1 for          September 2017.
 comments.
Request Additional Information (if    November 2017.
 necessary).

Issue Scoping Document 2............  January 2018.
Issue notice of ready for             February 2018.
 environmental analysis.
Commission issues EA or draft EA....  August 2018.
Comments on EA or draft EA..........  September 2018.
Commission issues final EA..........  December 2018.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Final amendments to the application must be filed with the
Commission no later than 30 days from the issuance date of the notice
of application ready for environmental analysis.

     Dated: April 6, 2017.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-07356 Filed 4-11-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 63 (Monday, April 3, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19637-19638]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06826]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0052; FRL-10872-01-OMS]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment
Request; NSPS for Incinerators (Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an
information collection request (ICR), NSPS for Incinerators (EPA ICR
Number 1058.14, OMB Control Number 2060-0040) to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with
the Paperwork Reduction Act. This is a proposed extension of the ICR,
which is currently approved through July 31, 2023. Public comments were
previously requested via the Federal Register on July 22, 2022 during a
60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for
public comments.

DATES: Comments may be submitted on or before May 3, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-
OAR-2022-0052, to EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred
method), by email to [email protected], or by mail to EPA Docket
Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460. The EPA's policy is that
all comments received will be included in the public docket without
change including any personal information provided, unless the comment
includes profanity, threats, information claimed to be Confidential
Business Information (CBI), or other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute.
    Submit written comments and recommendations to OMB for the proposed
information collection within 30 days of publication of this notice to
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information
collection by selecting ``Currently under Review--Open for Public
Comments'' or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Muntasir Ali, Sector Policies and
Program Division (D243-05), Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle
Park, North Carolina 27711; telephone number:<PHONE_NUMBER>; email
address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a proposed extension of the ICR,
which is currently approved through July 31, 2023, during a 60-day
comment period (87 FR 43843). An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and
a person is not required to response to, a collection of information,
unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
    Public comments were previously requested, via the Federal Register
on July 22, 2022, during a 60-day comment period (87 FR 43843). This
notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. Supporting
documents, which explain in detail the information that the EPA will be
collecting, are available in the public docket for this ICR. The docket
can be viewed online at www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA
Docket Center, WJC West Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW,
Washington, DC. For additional information about EPA's

public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Abstract: The New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for
Incinerators (40 CFR part 60, subpart E) were proposed on July 25,
1977; and amended on May 10, 2006. These regulations apply to existing
incinerators that charge more than 45 metric tons per day (50 tons per
day) of solid waste, and that commenced either construction or
modification after August 17, 1971. Solid waste is defined as refuse,
more than 50 percent of which is municipal type waste consisting of a
mixture of paper, wood, yard wastes, food wastes, plastics, leather,
rubber, and other combustibles, and noncombustible materials such as
glass and rock. New incinerators will be subject to either 40 CFR part
60, subpart Eb, or 40 CFR part 60, subpart AAAA. Additionally,
incinerators that are covered by either 40 CFR part 60, subparts Cb,
Eb, AAAA, or BBBB; or by an EPA-approved State section 111(d)/129 plan
implementing Subpart Cb or BBB; or by 40 CFR part 62, subpart FFF or
JJJ, not subject to the above standards. This specific information is
being collected to assure compliance with 40 CFR part 60, subpart E.
    In general, all NSPS standards require initial notifications,
performance tests, and periodic reports by the owners/operators of the
affected facilities. They are also required to maintain records of the
occurrence and duration of any startup, shutdown, or malfunction in the
operation of an affected facility, or any period during which the
monitoring system is inoperative. These notification, reports, and
records are essential in determining compliance, and are required of
all affected facilities subject to the NSPS.
    Form numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: Existing incinerators that charge
more than 45 metric tons per day (50 tons per day) of solid waste, and
that commenced either construction or modification after August 17,
1971.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory (40 CFR part 60,
subpart E).
    Estimated number of respondents: 36 (total).
    Frequency of response: Initially and occasionally.
    Total estimated burden: 3,730 hours (per year). Burden is defined
at 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
    Total estimated cost: $462,000 (per year), which includes $128,000
in annualized capital/startup and/or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in the estimates: The total decrease in burden from the
most recently approved ICR is due to adjustments. The adjustment
decrease in burden from the most-recently approved ICR is due to a
decrease in the number of sources. To identify the number of
respondents subject to subpart E, we reviewed facilities identified in
EPA's Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) database and the
EPA's Large Municipal Waste Combustor and Small Municipal Waste
Combustor Inventory (collected in 2019) to identify sources not subject
to subpart E. The total number of respondents decreased from 87 in the
previous ICR to 36 respondents. These changes reflect a more accurate
estimate of the existing universe of incinerators subject to subpart E,
which were last updated in 2007. In the previous ICR, estimates for
Capital costs were in $2007 dollars, and the O&M costs were adjusted to
$2018 dollars. For this ICR, the Capital and O&M costs were adjusted to
$2021 dollars based on annual CEPCI values.

Courtney Kerwin,
Director, Regulatory Support Division.
[FR Doc. 2023-06826 Filed 3-31-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P