[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 3, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 20043]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7929]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Internal Agency Docket No. FEMA-4060-DR; Docket ID FEMA-2012-0002]

Tennessee; Major Disaster and Related Determinations

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of a major
disaster for the State of Tennessee (FEMA-4060-DR), dated March 16,
2012, and related determinations.

DATES: Effective Date: March 16, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peggy Miller, Office of Response and
Recovery, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street SW.,
Washington, DC 20472,<PHONE_NUMBER>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given that, in a letter
dated March 16, 2012, the President issued a major disaster declaration
under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq. (the ``Stafford
Act''), as follows:

    I have determined that the damage in certain areas of the State
of Tennessee resulting from severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line
winds, and flooding during the period of February 29 to March 2,
2012, is of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant a major
disaster declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief
and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq. (the ``Stafford
Act''). Therefore, I declare that such a major disaster exists in
the State of Tennessee.
    In order to provide Federal assistance, you are hereby
authorized to allocate from funds available for these purposes such
amounts as you find necessary for Federal disaster assistance and
administrative expenses.
    You are authorized to provide Individual Assistance in the
designated areas and Hazard Mitigation throughout the State.
Consistent with the requirement that Federal assistance is
supplemental, any Federal funds provided under the Stafford Act for
Hazard Mitigation and Other Needs Assistance will be limited to 75
percent of the total eligible costs.
    Further, you are authorized to make changes to this declaration
for the approved assistance to the extent allowable under the
Stafford Act.

    The time period prescribed for the implementation of section
310(a), Priority to Certain Applications for Public Facility and Public
Housing Assistance, 42 U.S.C. 5153, shall be for a period not to exceed
six months after the date of this declaration.
    The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives notice
that pursuant to the authority vested in the Administrator, under
Executive Order 12148, as amended, Terry L. Quarles, of FEMA is
appointed to act as the Federal Coordinating Officer for this major
disaster.
    The following areas of the State of Tennessee have been designated
as adversely affected by this major disaster:

    Bradley, Claiborne, Cumberland, DeKalb, Hamilton, Jackson,
McMinn, Monroe, Overton, and Polk Counties for Individual
Assistance.
    All counties within the State of Tennessee are eligible to apply
for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

The following Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Numbers (CFDA)
are to be used for reporting and drawing funds: 97.030, Community
Disaster Loans; 97.031, Cora Brown Fund; 97.032, Crisis Counseling;
97.033, Disaster Legal Services; 97.034, Disaster Unemployment
Assistance (DUA); 97.046, Fire Management Assistance Grant; 97.048,
Disaster Housing Assistance to Individuals and Households In
Presidentially Declared Disaster Areas; 97.049, Presidentially
Declared Disaster Assistance--Disaster Housing Operations for
Individuals and Households; 97.050, Presidentially Declared Disaster
Assistance to Individuals and Households--Other Needs; 97.036,
Disaster Grants--Public Assistance (Presidentially Declared
Disasters); 97.039, Hazard Mitigation Grant.

W. Craig Fugate,
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2012-7929 Filed 4-2-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-23-P


[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 6, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 473-474]
[FR Doc No: 2015-33233]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. ER16-632-000]

Blythe Solar II, LLC; Supplemental Notice That Initial Market-
Based Rate Filing Includes Request for Blanket Section 204
Authorization

    This is a supplemental notice in the above-referenced proceeding of
Blythe Solar II, LLC's application for market-based rate authority,
with an accompanying rate tariff, noting that such application includes
a request for blanket authorization, under 18 CFR part 34, of future
issuances of securities and assumptions of liability.
    Any person desiring to intervene or to protest should file with the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington,
DC 20426, in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission's
Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214). Anyone
filing a motion to intervene or protest must serve a copy of that
document on the Applicant.
    Notice is hereby given that the deadline for filing protests with
regard to the applicant's request for blanket authorization, under 18
CFR part 34, of future issuances of securities and assumptions of
liability, is January 19, 2016.
    The Commission encourages electronic submission of protests and
interventions in lieu of paper, using the FERC Online links at http://www.ferc.gov. To facilitate electronic service, persons with Internet
access who will eFile a document and/or be listed as a contact for an
intervenor must create and validate an eRegistration account using the
eRegistration link. Select the eFiling link to log on and submit the
intervention or protests.
    Persons unable to file electronically should submit an original and
5 copies of the intervention or protest to the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426.
    The filings in the above-referenced proceeding are accessible in
the Commission's eLibrary system by clicking on the appropriate link in
the above list. They are also available for electronic review in the
Commission's

Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. There is an eSubscription link
on the Web site that enables subscribers to receive email notification
when a document is added to a subscribed docket(s). For assistance with
any FERC Online service, please email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or
call<PHONE_NUMBER> (toll free). For TTY, call<PHONE_NUMBER>.

    Dated: December 30, 2015.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-33233 Filed 1-5-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


1 1. IDENTIFICATION OF THE INFORMATION COLLECTION ( a) Title of the Information Collection This information collection request is for the new Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA), Performance Work Statement entitled " Drug Testing for Contract Employees ( Renewal)," EPA ICR Number 2183.02 and OMB Control Number 2030 0044. The Performance Work Statement applies to a contractor who performs response services at sensitive sites with serious security concerns where the Agency and public interest would best be protected through drug testing of contractor employees. The Contracting Officer or On Scene Coordinator will designate significant security concerns in the contractual tasking document when the situation warrants. The Performance Work Statement requires the contractor to test employees for the use of marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, phencyclidine ( PCP), and any other controlled substances as directed on a project specific basis by the Contracting Officer. Only contractor employees who have been tested within the previous 90 calendar days may be directly engaged in on site response work and/ or on site related activities at designated sites with significant security concerns.

( b) Short Characterization The EPA uses contractors to perform services throughout the nation in response to environmental emergencies involving the release, or threatened release, of oil, radioactive materials or hazardous chemicals that may potentially affect communities and the surrounding environment. Releases may be accidental, deliberate, or may be caused by natural disasters. Contractors responding to any of these types of incidents may be responsible for testing their employees for the use of marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, phencyclidine ( PCP), and any other controlled substances as directed on a project specific basis by the Contracting Officer. The testing for drugs must be completed prior to contract employee performance. The contractor shall maintain records associated with all drug tests.

( c) Terms of OMB Clearance EPA contractors performing emergency response services at non Federal facilities are not subject to the requirements and standards of Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 ( HSPD 12), e. g., leased office buildings, emergency response sites, private residences, schools, sites of law enforcement activity. This type of location is not covered under HSPD 12. There are no requirements for drug testing of contractor employees working at either Federal or non Federal facilities under HSPD 12.

2. NEED FOR AND USE OF THE COLLECTION ( a) Need/ authority for the Collection The legal authority for this collection is Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 731, 2 732, and 736. The EPA has a responsibility to protect the public and Agency and contractor employees working on an emergency response incident by ensuring employees are not under the influence of marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, phencyclidine ( PCP), and any other controlled substances. This process is necessary to allow the EPA to meet its responsibilities and mitigate the threat to the public health, welfare and the environment.

( b) Uses/ users of the Data Information collected by response contractors for performing drug tests on contract employees before the individual employees perform contractual services for the EPA.

3. NONDUPLICATION, CONSULTATION, AND OTHER COLLECTION CRITERIA ( a) Nonduplication Information requested from a contractor's employee to determine suitability to perform on a response contract is unique to a specific individual; this information cannot be obtained from any other source.

( b) Public Notice Required Prior to ICR submission to Office of Management and Budget.

The information collection request has been published as a Notice in the Federal Register on June 10. 2005. No comments were received.

( c) Consultations To determine contractor burden associated with the information collection identified in this request, the following vendors were contacted:

Representative Firm Phone Mr. Bradley Cunningham WRS Infrastructure& Env. ( 267) 540 0048 Ms Cindy Sengo Project Resources, Inc. ( 858) 505 1000 Mr. Bill McGowan Earth Tech, Inc. ( 805) 515 8501 Each individual consulted indicated that he/ she understood the need for the information collection and did not find the collection excessively burdensome. Estimated time to complete the information collection is described in section 6. Estimating the Burden and Cost of the Collection."

( d) Effects of Less Frequent Collection The information provided by the contractors' employees is collected once prior to the employee performing under a response contract work on site for the EPA. The requirement for drug testing cannot be met with a less frequent collection. 3 ( e) General Guidelines The information contained in this ICR is in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget's general guidelines for federal data collection, except that small entities have to follow the same collection procedures as other respondents.

( f) Confidentiality The EPA contractor is responsible for collecting and maintaining information under this collection of information; therefore, each contractor will have his own procedures for ensuring confidentiality.

( g) Sensitive Questions Information requested is commonly collected as a normal business practice and is not unduly sensitive. The contractor will collect and maintain employee information. The EPA will not collect contractor employee information nor maintain it. The Agency is responsible for receiving the notification from contractors.

4. THE RESPONDENTS AND THE INFORMATION RECEIVED ( a) Respondents/ North American Industry Classification System Codes Information is collected for employees of the contractor and subcontractor who perform services with regard to environmental emergencies involving the release, or threatened release, of oil, radioactive materials or hazardous chemicals that may potentially affect communities and the surrounding environment. All contractor employees who will perform on response actions are subject to drug testing prior to contract performance. Typically, these contractor respondents fall into the following North American Industry Classification System code: 562910 Remediation Services.

( b) Information Requested The contractor's employees will be required to provide drug testing samples to be tested for the use of marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, phencyclidine ( PCP), and any other controlled substances as directed on a project specific basis by the Contracting Officer.

5. THE INFORMATION COLLECTED: AGENCY ACTIVITIES, COLLECTION METHODOLOGY, AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT ( a) Agency Activities The EPA contracting officers are responsible for ensuring that they have received notification from the contractor that all of its employees working under the contract at a response 4 site with security concerns have passed the drug test for the use of marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, phencyclidine ( PCP), and any other controlled substances as directed on a project specific basis by the Contracting Officer.

( b) Collection Methodology and Management The information is collected by each contractor from each employee who will be working on a sensitive response site. Submissions are accepted in any format so long as they include the requested test sample. No information is submitted to the Agency, but compliance is mandatory and no employee may work on a response site with security concerns without passing the drug test for the use of marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, phencyclidine ( PCP), and any other controlled substances as directed on a project specific basis by the Contracting Officer. Only those contractor employees who have been tested within the previous 90 calendar days may be directly engaged in on site response work and/ or on site related activities at designated sites with significant security concerns.

( c) Small Entity Flexibility Separate or further simplified requirements for small entities are not practical because the stated objectives cannot be met under such alternatives. The requirements of the information collection apply to the awardee of the contract. Reasonable expense associated with the Drug Testing is reimbursable; therefore, small businesses are not expected to experience financial difficulties in fulfilling these requirements. There are numerous commercial sources that perform drug tests.

( d) Collection Schedule Information will be collected periodically as individuals are requested to work on a response site location under new or existing contracts.

6. ESTIMATING THE BURDEN AND COST OF THE COLLECTION ( a) Estimation of Respondent Burden Respondent burden estimates for this collection are based upon interviews with the contractors identified in 3( b) above and discussions with Agency personnel. The Agency anticipates that the contractor burden for complying with this requirement includes the time it takes for employees to provide the required information, the administrative time to manage a drug testing subcontract, the time to notify the Agency, and the effort to maintain the records for 4 years.

( b) Estimation of Respondent Costs ( i) Estimating Labor Costs 5 Respondent Cost Estimate Burden Loaded Step Collection Activity Labor Cat. Hours Rate Cost 1. Time to provide sample Employees .25 hour $ 85.07 $ 21.27 2. Cost of Drug Test $ 60.00 ( subcontract) 3. Manage Drug Test Manager .25 hour $ 85.07 $ 21.27 subcontract & review results 4. Submit notification Manager .25 hour $ 85.07 $ 21.27 5. Maintain files Admin. Support .25 hour $ 85.07 $ 21.26 1.0 hour $ 145.07 Step 1 of the information collection is completed by an employee at any level working on a government designated security sensitive site. Steps 2 is based upon market research for drug testing services. This may be performed in house or contracted out to a third party. Steps 3 and 4 of the collection activity are performed by an administrative manager. Administrative support personnel are responsible for completing step 5.

The cost estimate for this ICR is based on data from the Agency's Independent Government Cost Estimate ( IGCE) developed for the acquisition of the new response contracts. The IGCE used the actual loaded rates for the current response contracts for the 2005 contract year from all 10 EPA regions. These loaded rates were then averaged to arrive at one loaded rate. The loaded rates reflect the average hourly rate invoiced to the Government and includes all levels of contractor employees and the contractors' overhead rate, general and administrative, and fringe benefit costs. These loaded rates, therefore, represent the most realistic cost of compliance with the Drug Testing requirement for the response contracts.

Since the loaded labor rate used in this estimate is from 2005, an escalation factor of 3.1% ( based upon Defense Contract Audit Agency recommendations) was applied for each of the outlying years of 2006 and 2007 to determine an average annualized loaded labor rate for the time the ICR is in effect.

The following is the calculation of the annualized loaded labor rate:

Loaded Rate: 2005 = $ 82.48 2006 = ($ 82.48 x 3.1%) = $ 85.04 2007 = ($ 85.04 x 3.1%) = $ 87.68 $ 255.20/ 3 = $ 85.07 6 ( ii) Capital/ Start up Costs Respondents will not be required to acquire capital goods to provide the requested information; therefore, capital start up costs have not been included in this estimate.

( iii) Operating and Maintenance Costs Operating and maintenance costs, which include such items as file storage, photocopying, and postage, will be nominal.

( c) Estimating Agency Burden and Cost Agency burden for responses to background check and suitability determinations.

Agency Burden Cost Estimate Labor Loaded Collection Activity Category Burden Hours Rate Cost 1. Ensure Compliance GS 13 5 .25 hour $ 78.67 $ 19.67 2005 = $ 35.01 x * 2.16 = $ 75.62 2006 = ($ 35.01 x 3.1%) $ 36.10 x 2.16 = $ 79.98 2007 = ($ 36.10 x 3.1%) $ 37.22 x 2.16 = $ 80.40 $ 236.00/ 3 = $ 78.67 Drug testing is the responsibility of the EPA contractor. The Agency is primarily responsible for ensuring that contractors notify the Agency that its employees have passed the drug test. The Agency's effort is estimated to be at the GS 13 step 5 level. The GS 13 step 5 per hour salary for 2005 is $ 35.01. This per hour wage is escalated by an estimated factor of 3.1% ( compounded) for 2005 and 2006, based upon historical cost of living increases for federal workers. These wage rates were then multiplied by a factor of * 2.16 to reflect Federal employee benefits and then divided by three for an annualized loaded rate of $ 78.67, for the three years of the ICR.

* 2.16 is a factor recommended by EPA cost analyst as representative of employee related benefits. ( see above).

( d) Estimating the Respondent Universe and Total Burden All EPA contractor personnel performing at a n EPA designated sensitive site with significant security concerns must be tested for the presence of marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, phencyclidine ( PCP), and any other controlled substances. A site with significant security concerns is determined by the Agency and could be sites that involve law enforcement activities, any indoor cleanups ( including household residences), drug lab cleanups, and response 7 actions at geographically sensitive locations such as military installations and government buildings. The number of contractor employees expected to submit to drug testing is 1,350 for the life of this ICR ( 3 years). This number was determined by estimating the number of responses that the START, ERRS, REAC and RAC contractors respond to in a year that would be considered to have security concerns for the Agency. Annually, the Agency responds to roughly 300 incidences with an estimated 5% of these responses, 15, that may be designated as having security concerns for the Agency. The average number of response contractor employees that would be on a response site with security concerns is estimated to be 30. This is based on the recent anthrax and ricin response sites in 2002 and 2003, respectively.

There are both small and large businesses working in the field with diverse response site situations that require large variations in the number of employees. Contractors may be on site for a few days or many years depending on the situation. There are currently 51 contracts that respond to environmental emergencies involving the release, or threatened release, of oil, radioactive materials or hazardous chemicals that may potentially affect communities and the surrounding environment. The number of these contracts changes depending on program needs and environmental circumstances. For these reasons, this initial request represents our best estimate given current information. Future estimates will be more accurate and based on historical data on the use of the subject clause.

( e) Bottom Line Burden Hours and Costs ( i) Respondent Tally Total annual respondent hours for this collection request is 450 hours. This is derived by taking the total number of contractor employees expected to submit to drug testing, 1,350, divided by 3 ( the number of years the ICR is effective) for a total of 450 occurrences per year.

The average number of response contractor employees that would be on a response site with security concerns is estimated to be 30. The number of employees, 30, multiplied by the number of annual occurrences, 15, is then multiplied by the respondent burden effort of 1 hour for a total of 450 hours per year ( 30 x 15 x 1).

Total annual respondent cost for this collection request is $ 65,281.50 This is calculated by multiplying the number of annual occurrences, 450, by the respondent cost of one collection, $ 145.07.

( ii) The Agency Tally The total annual Agency burden hours for this collection request is 112.5 hours. This is derived by taking the total number of contractor employees expected to submit to drug testing, 1,350, divided by 3 ( the number of years the ICR is effective) for a total of 450 occurrences per year. Then, the total number of occurrences per year, 450, is multiplied by the estimated burden hours, .25, to arrive at a total estimated burden of 112.5 hours. 8 The total annual Agency burden cost is estimated at $ 8,851.50. This is calculated by multiplying the estimated burden hours, .25, by the estimated hourly rate of $ 78.67 for a total of $ 19.67 for one collection request. Then, the $ 19.67 is multiplied by the estimated number of annual occurrences, 450, for a total of $ 8,851.50.

( f) Burden Statement The annual public reporting and record keeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements; train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information; search data sources; complete and review the collection of information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the information. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's regulations are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR chapter 15.

To comment on the Agency's need for this information, the accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden, including the use of automated collection techniques, EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID No. OEI 2005 0004, which is available for public viewing at the Office of Environmental Information Docket in the EPA Docket Center ( EPA/ DC), EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8: 30 a. m. to 4: 30 p. m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Reading Room is ( 202) 566 1744, and the telephone number for the Office of Environmental Information Docket is ( 202) 566 1752. An electronic version of the public docket is available through EPA Dockets ( EDOCKET) at http:// www. epa. gov/ edocket. Use EDOCKET to submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the public docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, select " search," then key in the docket ID number identified above. Also, you can send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20503, Attention: Desk Office for EPA. Please include the EPA Docket ID No. OEI 2005 0004 and OMB Control Number 2030 0044 in any correspondence.


[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 15 (Friday, January 23, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3520-3522]
[FR Doc No: 2015-00945]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-1051; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-171-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. This
proposed AD was prompted by reports that on airplanes equipped with
sharklets, discretes (used to activate the load alleviation function)
are connected on various flight computers using the same ground point.
In these cases, the ground point segregation is no longer effective and
a single failure could lead to loss of sharklet identification by
flight computers causing a return to the wing tip fence (no sharklet
configuration) performance. This proposed AD would require modification
of the sharklet ground connection. We are proposing this AD to prevent
loss of sharklet identification by the flight computers and subsequent
reduced control of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 9, 2015.

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:<PHONE_NUMBER>.
     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, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact
Airbus, Airworthiness Office-EIAS, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 31707
Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 44
51; email account.airworth<EMAIL_ADDRESS>Internet http://www.airbus.com. You may view this referenced service information at the
FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA.
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call
425-227-1221.

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-2014-
1051; 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
Operations office (telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>) is in the ADDRESSES section.
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sanjay Ralhan, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM-116,

Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA
98057-3356; telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>; fax<PHONE_NUMBER>.

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-2014-1051;
Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-171-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 based on 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

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA
Airworthiness Directive 2014-0186, dated August 19, 2014 (referred to
after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Airbus Model
A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. The MCAI states:

    During A320 Neo review, Airbus design office identified that on
A320 family aeroplanes equipped with sharklets, discretes used to
activate the load alleviation function are connected on various
flight computers using the same ground point. In that case, the
ground point segregation is no longer effective and a single failure
could lead to loss of sharklet identification by the flight
computers, inducing a return to the wing tip fence (no sharklet
configuration) behaviour.
    This condition, if not corrected, could lead to reduced control
of the aeroplane, depending on aeroplane configuration and flight
phase.
    It has been determined that Airbus mod 156108 restores the
correct segregation. However, since introduction of sharklet mod
160500 and mod 160023, a number of aeroplanes equipped with
sharklets have been delivered without incorporating mod 156108. In
addition, mod 156108 was not included in certain SBs [Service
Bulletin] that introduce the sharklet device in service onto
aeroplanes with a reinforced wing, previously operated with a wing
tip fence. Airbus mod 156108 has now been introduced into Airbus SB
A320-57-1186 at Rev.03 and will be introduced at next revisions of
SB A320-57-1173 and SB A320-57-1187.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Airbus published SB
A320-27-1240 for in-service installation of mod 156108.
    For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires
modification of the sharklet ground connection.

    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-
1051.

Related Service Information

    Airbus has issued Service Bulletin A320-27-1240, including Appendix
01, dated June 18, 2014. The service information describes procedures
for modification of the sharklet ground connection. The actions
described in this service information are intended to correct the
unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, we have
been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service
information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we
evaluated all pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition
exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same
type design.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 46 airplanes of U.S.
registry.
    We also estimate that it would take about 14 work-hours per product
to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The average
labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost about $347
per product. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this
proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $70,702, or $1,537 per product.

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.

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; 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:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

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

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):

Airbus: Docket No. FAA-2014-1051; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-
171-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by March 9, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the Airbus airplanes, certificated in any
category, identified in

paragraphs (c)(1), (c)(2), and (c)(3) of this AD, all manufacturer
serial numbers on which Airbus modification (mod) 160500 or mod
160023 has been embodied in production, and those that have been
modified in service through the Airbus Service Bulletin A320-57-
1173, A320-57-1186, and A320-57-1187 except those on which Airbus
mod 156108 has been embodied in production.
    (1) Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133
airplanes.
    (2) Model A320-211, -212, -214, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes.
    (3) Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, and -232
airplanes.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 27, Flight
Controls.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports that on airplanes equipped with
sharklets, discretes (used to activate the load alleviation
function) are connected on various flight computers using the same
ground point. In these cases, the ground point segregation is no
longer effective and a single failure could lead to loss of sharklet
identification by flight computers causing a return to the wing tip
fence (no sharklet configuration) performance. We are issuing this
AD to prevent loss of sharklet identification by the flight
computers and subsequent reduced control of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.

(g) Modification

    Within 24 months after the effective date of this AD, modify the
sharklet ground connection, in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320-27-1240, dated June 18,
2014.

(h) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, 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 International
Branch, send it to ATTN: Sanjay Ralhan, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM 116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA,
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>;
fax<PHONE_NUMBER>. Information may be emailed to<EMAIL_ADDRESS>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. The AMOC approval letter must
specifically reference this AD.
    (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD
to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer, the action must be
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, International
Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; or the
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA); or Airbus's EASA Design
Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the approval
must include the DOA-authorized signature.

(i) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information
(MCAI) European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness Directive 2014-
0186, dated August 19, 2014, for related information. This MCAI may
be found in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-
2014-1051.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Airbus, Airworthiness Office-EIAS, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte,
31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5
61 93 44 51; email eas<EMAIL_ADDRESS>Internet http://www.airbus.com. You may view this service information at the FAA,
Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA.
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA,
call<PHONE_NUMBER>.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 13, 2015.
John P. Piccola,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-00945 Filed 1-22-15; 8:45 am]
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