82_FR_27887 82 FR 27771 - Special Conditions: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation GVII-G500; Airbag Systems on Multiple-Place and Single-Place Side-Facing Seats

82 FR 27771 - Special Conditions: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation GVII-G500; Airbag Systems on Multiple-Place and Single-Place Side-Facing Seats

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 116 (June 19, 2017)

Page Range27771-27773
FR Document2017-12617

These special conditions are issued for the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) GVII-G500 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport- category airplanes. This design feature is airbag systems on multiple- place and single-place side-facing seats. 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.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 116 (Monday, June 19, 2017) 
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 116 (Monday, June 19, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 27771-27773]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12617]



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Rules and Regulations
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents 
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed 
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published 
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents. 

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 116 / Monday, June 19, 2017 / Rules 
and Regulations

[[Page 27771]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 25

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0240; Special Conditions No. 25-691-SC]


Special Conditions: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation GVII-G500; 
Airbag Systems on Multiple-Place and Single-Place Side-Facing Seats

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final special conditions; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Gulfstream 
Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) GVII-G500 airplane. This airplane 
will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state 
of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport-
category airplanes. This design feature is airbag systems on multiple-
place and single-place side-facing seats. 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: This action is effective on Gulfstream on June 19, 2017. We must 
receive your comments by August 3, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2017-0240 
using any of the following methods:
     Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/and follow the online instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30, U.S. 
Department of Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Room 
W12-140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket 
Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202-493-2251.
    Privacy: The FAA will post all comments it receives, without 
change, to http://www.regulations.gov/, including any personal 
information the commenter provides. Using the search function of the 
docket Web site, anyone can find and read the electronic form of all 
comments received into any FAA docket, including the name of the 
individual sending the comment (or signing the comment for an 
association, business, labor union, etc.). DOT's complete Privacy Act 
Statement can be found in the Federal Register published on April 11, 
2000 (65 FR 19477-19478), as well as at http://DocketsInfo.dot.gov/ gov/.
    Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at 
http://www.regulations.gov/ at any time. Follow the online instructions 
for accessing the docket or go to Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of 
the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Sinclair, FAA, Airframe and Cabin 
Safety, ANM-115, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone 
425-227-2195; facsimile 425-227-1320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA has determined that notice of, and 
opportunity for prior public comment on, these special conditions is 
impracticable because the substance of these special conditions has 
been subject to the public comment process in several prior instances 
with no substantive comments received. The FAA therefore finds that 
good cause exists for making these special conditions effective upon 
publication in the Federal Register.

Comments Invited

    We invite interested people to take part in this rulemaking by 
sending written comments, data, or views. The most helpful comments 
reference a specific portion of the special conditions, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data.
    We will consider all comments we receive by the closing date for 
comments. We may change these special conditions based on the comments 
we receive.

Background

    On March 29, 2012, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation applied for a 
type certificate for their new Model GVII-G500 airplane. The Model 
GVII-G500 airplane will be a twin-engine, transport-category business 
jet capable of accommodating up to 19 passengers. The Model GVII-G500 
airplane will have a maximum takeoff weight of 76,850 lbs.

Type Certification Basis

    Under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 21.17, 
Gulfstream must show that the Model GVII-G500 airplane meets the 
applicable provisions of 14 CFR part 25, as amended by Amendments 25-1 
through 25-129.
    If the Administrator finds that the applicable airworthiness 
regulations (i.e., part 25) do not contain adequate or appropriate 
safety standards for the Model GVII-G500 airplane because of a novel or 
unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed under the 
provisions of Sec.  21.16.
    Special conditions are initially applicable to the model for which 
they are issued. Should the type certificate for that model be amended 
later to include any other model that incorporates the same or similar 
novel or unusual design feature, the special conditions would also 
apply to the other model under Sec.  21.101.
    In addition to the applicable airworthiness regulations and special 
conditions, Model GVII-G500 airplanes must comply with the fuel-vent 
and exhaust-emission requirements of 14 CFR part 34, and the noise-
certification requirements of 14 CFR part 36. The FAA must issue a 
finding of regulatory adequacy under Sec.  611 of Public Law 92-574, 
the ``Noise Control Act of 1972.''

[[Page 27772]]

    The FAA issues special conditions, as defined in 14 CFR 11.19, in 
accordance with Sec.  11.38, and they become part of the type 
certification basis under Sec.  21.17(a)(2).

Novel or Unusual Design Feature

    The Model GVII-G500 airplane will incorporate the following novel 
or unusual design feature:
    Airbag systems on multiple-place and single-place side-facing 
seats.

Discussion

    Side facing seats are considered a novel design for transport-
category airplanes that include 14 CFR part 25, Amendment 25-64, in 
their certification bases, because this feature was not anticipated 
when those airworthiness standards were issued. Therefore, the existing 
regulations do not provide adequate or appropriate safety standards for 
occupants of side-facing seats. For the Model GVII-G500 airplane, FAA 
Special Conditions No. 25-618-SC, ``Technical Criteria for Approving 
Side-Facing Seats,'' proposed special conditions to address the 
certification of single- and multiple-place side-facing seats. Those 
proposed special conditions include condition 2(e), which requires the 
axial rotation of the upper leg (femur) to be limited to 35 degrees in 
either direction from the nominal seat position. To accommodate that 
requirement, Gulfstream has developed a new airbag system that will be 
installed close to the floor, and which is designed to limit the axial 
rotation of the occupant's upper legs.
    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.

Applicability

    As discussed above, these special conditions are applicable to the 
Gulfstream Model GVII-G500 airplane. Should Gulfstream apply at a later 
date for a change to the type certificate to include another model 
incorporating the same novel or unusual design feature, these special 
conditions would apply to that model as well.

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
on one model of airplane. It is not a rule of general applicability.
    The substance of these special conditions has been subjected to the 
notice and comment period in several prior instances and has been 
derived without substantive change from those previously issued. It is 
unlikely that prior public comment would result in a significant change 
from the substance contained herein. Therefore, the FAA has determined 
that prior public notice and comment are unnecessary and impracticable, 
and good cause exists for adopting these special conditions upon 
publication in the Federal Register. The FAA is requesting comments to 
allow interested persons to submit views that may not have been 
submitted in response to the prior opportunities for comment described 
above.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25

    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, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the following special conditions are issued as part of 
the type certification basis for Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model 
GVII-G500 airplanes.
    In addition to the requirements of Sec. Sec.  25.562 and 25.785, 
and Special Conditions No. 25-495-SC, the following special conditions 
are part of the type certification basis for the Gulfstream Model GVII-
G500 airplane with leg-flail airbags installed on side-facing seats.
    1. For seats with a leg-flail airbag system, the system must deploy 
and provide protection under crash conditions where it is necessary to 
prevent serious injury. The means of protection must take into 
consideration a range of stature from a 2-year-old child to a 95th-
percentile male. At some buttock popliteal length and effective seat-
bottom depth, the lower legs will not be able to form a 90-degree angle 
relative to the upper leg; at this point, the lower leg flail would not 
occur. The leg-flail airbag system must provide a consistent approach 
to prevention of leg flail throughout that range of occupants whose 
lower legs can form a 90-degree angle relative to the upper legs when 
seated upright in the seat. Items that need to be considered include, 
but are not limited to, the range of occupants' popliteal height, the 
range of occupants' buttock popliteal length, the design of the seat 
effective height above the floor, and the effective depth of the seat-
bottom cushion.
    2. The leg-flail airbag system must provide adequate protection for 
each occupant regardless of the number of occupants of the seat 
assembly, considering that unoccupied seats may have an active leg-
flail airbag system.
    3. The leg-flail airbag system must not be susceptible to 
inadvertent deployment as a result of wear and tear, or inertial loads 
resulting from in-flight or ground maneuvers (including gusts and hard 
landings), and other operating and environmental conditions 
(vibrations, moisture, etc.) likely to occur in service.
    4. Deployment of the leg-flail airbag system must not introduce 
injury mechanisms to the seated occupant, nor result in injuries that 
could impede rapid egress.
    5. Inadvertent deployment of the leg-flail airbag system, during 
the most critical part of the flight, must either meet the requirement 
of Sec.  25.1309(b), or not cause a hazard to the airplane or its 
occupants.
    6. The leg-flail airbag system must not impede rapid egress of 
occupants from the airplane 10 seconds after airbag deployment.
    7. The leg-flail airbag system must be protected from lightning and 
high-intensity radiated fields (HIRF). The threats to the airplane 
specified in existing regulations regarding lightning (Sec.  25.1316) 
and HIRF (Sec.  25.1317) are incorporated by reference for the purpose 
of measuring lightning and HIRF protection.
    8. The leg-flail airbag system must function properly after loss of 
normal airplane electrical power, and after a transverse separation of 
the fuselage at the most critical location. A separation at the 
location of the leg-flail airbag system does not have to be considered.
    9. The leg-flail airbag system must not release hazardous 
quantities of gas or particulate matter into the cabin.
    10. The leg-flail airbag system installation must be protected from 
the effects of fire such that no hazard to occupants will result.
    11. A means must be available to verify the integrity of the leg-
flail airbag system's activation system prior to each flight, or the 
leg-flail airbag system's activation system must reliably operate 
between inspection intervals. The FAA considers that the loss of the 
leg-flail airbag system's deployment function alone (i.e., independent 
of the conditional event that requires the leg-flail airbag system's 
deployment) is a major-failure condition.
    12. The airbag inflatable material may not have an average burn 
rate of greater than 2.5 inches per minute when tested using the 
horizontal flammability test defined in part 25, appendix F, part I, 
paragraph (b)(5).

[[Page 27773]]

    13. The leg-flail airbag system, once deployed, must not adversely 
affect the emergency-lighting system (i.e., must not block floor-
proximity lights to the extent that the lights no longer meet their 
intended function).

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 8, 2017.
Michael Kaszycki,
Assistant Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-12617 Filed 6-16-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

27771 Rules and Regulations Federal Register Vol. 82, No. 116 Monday, June 19, 2017 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC Comments Invited contains regulatory documents having general 20590–0001. applicability and legal effect, most of which We invite interested people to take are keyed to and codified in the Code of • Hand Delivery or Courier: Take part in this rulemaking by sending Federal Regulations, which is published under comments to Docket Operations in written comments, data, or views. The 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510. Room W12–140 of the West Building most helpful comments reference a Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey specific portion of the special The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 conditions, explain the reason for any the Superintendent of Documents. a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through recommended change, and include Friday, except Federal holidays. supporting data. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION • Fax: Fax comments to Docket We will consider all comments we Operations at 202–493–2251. receive by the closing date for Federal Aviation Administration comments. We may change these special Privacy: The FAA will post all conditions based on the comments we comments it receives, without change, 14 CFR Part 25 receive. to http://www.regulations.gov/, [Docket No. FAA–2017–0240; Special including any personal information the Background Conditions No. 25–691–SC] commenter provides. Using the search On March 29, 2012, Gulfstream function of the docket Web site, anyone Aerospace Corporation applied for a Special Conditions: Gulfstream can find and read the electronic form of Aerospace Corporation GVII–G500; type certificate for their new Model all comments received into any FAA GVII–G500 airplane. The Model GVII– Airbag Systems on Multiple-Place and docket, including the name of the Single-Place Side-Facing Seats G500 airplane will be a twin-engine, individual sending the comment (or transport-category business jet capable AGENCY: Federal Aviation signing the comment for an association, of accommodating up to 19 passengers. Administration (FAA), DOT. business, labor union, etc.). DOT’s The Model GVII–G500 airplane will ACTION: Final special conditions; request complete Privacy Act Statement can be have a maximum takeoff weight of for comments. found in the Federal Register published 76,850 lbs. on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477–19478), SUMMARY: These special conditions are as well as at http://DocketsInfo.dot. Type Certification Basis issued for the Gulfstream Aerospace gov/. Under Title 14, Code of Federal Corporation (Gulfstream) GVII–G500 Docket: Background documents or Regulations (14 CFR) 21.17, Gulfstream airplane. This airplane will have a novel comments received may be read at must show that the Model GVII–G500 or unusual design feature when http://www.regulations.gov/ at any time. airplane meets the applicable provisions compared to the state of technology Follow the online instructions for of 14 CFR part 25, as amended by envisioned in the airworthiness accessing the docket or go to Docket Amendments 25–1 through 25–129. standards for transport-category Operations in Room W12–140 of the If the Administrator finds that the airplanes. This design feature is airbag West Building Ground Floor at 1200 applicable airworthiness regulations systems on multiple-place and single- New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, (i.e., part 25) do not contain adequate or place side-facing seats. The applicable DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday appropriate safety standards for the airworthiness regulations do not contain through Friday, except Federal holidays. Model GVII–G500 airplane because of a adequate or appropriate safety standards novel or unusual design feature, special for this design feature. These special FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: conditions are prescribed under the conditions contain the additional safety Alan Sinclair, FAA, Airframe and Cabin provisions of § 21.16. standards that the Administrator Safety, ANM–115, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Special conditions are initially considers necessary to establish a level Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., applicable to the model for which they of safety equivalent to that established are issued. Should the type certificate by the existing airworthiness standards. Renton, Washington 98057–3356; for that model be amended later to DATES: This action is effective on telephone 425–227–2195; facsimile include any other model that Gulfstream on June 19, 2017. We must 425–227–1320. incorporates the same or similar novel receive your comments by August 3, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA or unusual design feature, the special 2017. has determined that notice of, and conditions would also apply to the other ADDRESSES: Send comments identified opportunity for prior public comment model under § 21.101. by docket number FAA–2017–0240 on, these special conditions is In addition to the applicable using any of the following methods: impracticable because the substance of airworthiness regulations and special • Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to these special conditions has been conditions, Model GVII–G500 airplanes rmajette on DSKBCKNHB2PROD with RULES http://www.regulations.gov/and follow subject to the public comment process must comply with the fuel-vent and the online instructions for sending your in several prior instances with no exhaust-emission requirements of 14 comments electronically. substantive comments received. The CFR part 34, and the noise-certification • Mail: Send comments to Docket FAA therefore finds that good cause requirements of 14 CFR part 36. The Operations, M–30, U.S. Department of exists for making these special FAA must issue a finding of regulatory Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey conditions effective upon publication in adequacy under § 611 of Public Law 92– Avenue SE., Room W12–140, West the Federal Register. 574, the ‘‘Noise Control Act of 1972.’’ VerDate Sep<11>2014 12:20 Jun 16, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\19JNR1.SGM 19JNR1

27772 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 116 / Monday, June 19, 2017 / Rules and Regulations The FAA issues special conditions, as previously issued. It is unlikely that occupants of the seat assembly, defined in 14 CFR 11.19, in accordance prior public comment would result in a considering that unoccupied seats may with § 11.38, and they become part of significant change from the substance have an active leg-flail airbag system. the type certification basis under contained herein. Therefore, the FAA 3. The leg-flail airbag system must not § 21.17(a)(2). has determined that prior public notice be susceptible to inadvertent and comment are unnecessary and deployment as a result of wear and tear, Novel or Unusual Design Feature impracticable, and good cause exists for or inertial loads resulting from in-flight The Model GVII–G500 airplane will adopting these special conditions upon or ground maneuvers (including gusts incorporate the following novel or publication in the Federal Register. The and hard landings), and other operating unusual design feature: FAA is requesting comments to allow and environmental conditions Airbag systems on multiple-place and interested persons to submit views that (vibrations, moisture, etc.) likely to single-place side-facing seats. may not have been submitted in occur in service. Discussion response to the prior opportunities for 4. Deployment of the leg-flail airbag comment described above. system must not introduce injury Side facing seats are considered a mechanisms to the seated occupant, nor novel design for transport-category List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 25 result in injuries that could impede airplanes that include 14 CFR part 25, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting rapid egress. Amendment 25–64, in their certification and recordkeeping requirements. 5. Inadvertent deployment of the leg- bases, because this feature was not flail airbag system, during the most The authority citation for these anticipated when those airworthiness critical part of the flight, must either special conditions is as follows: standards were issued. Therefore, the meet the requirement of § 25.1309(b), or existing regulations do not provide Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701, 44702, 44704. not cause a hazard to the airplane or its adequate or appropriate safety standards occupants. for occupants of side-facing seats. For The Special Conditions 6. The leg-flail airbag system must not the Model GVII–G500 airplane, FAA Accordingly, pursuant to the impede rapid egress of occupants from Special Conditions No. 25–618–SC, authority delegated to me by the the airplane 10 seconds after airbag ‘‘Technical Criteria for Approving Side- Administrator, the following special deployment. Facing Seats,’’ proposed special conditions are issued as part of the type 7. The leg-flail airbag system must be conditions to address the certification of certification basis for Gulfstream protected from lightning and high- single- and multiple-place side-facing Aerospace Corporation Model GVII– intensity radiated fields (HIRF). The seats. Those proposed special G500 airplanes. threats to the airplane specified in conditions include condition 2(e), In addition to the requirements of existing regulations regarding lightning which requires the axial rotation of the §§ 25.562 and 25.785, and Special (§ 25.1316) and HIRF (§ 25.1317) are upper leg (femur) to be limited to 35 Conditions No. 25–495–SC, the incorporated by reference for the degrees in either direction from the following special conditions are part of purpose of measuring lightning and nominal seat position. To accommodate the type certification basis for the HIRF protection. that requirement, Gulfstream has Gulfstream Model GVII–G500 airplane 8. The leg-flail airbag system must developed a new airbag system that will with leg-flail airbags installed on side- function properly after loss of normal be installed close to the floor, and facing seats. airplane electrical power, and after a which is designed to limit the axial 1. For seats with a leg-flail airbag transverse separation of the fuselage at rotation of the occupant’s upper legs. These special conditions contain the system, the system must deploy and the most critical location. A separation additional safety standards that the provide protection under crash at the location of the leg-flail airbag Administrator considers necessary to conditions where it is necessary to system does not have to be considered. establish a level of safety equivalent to prevent serious injury. The means of 9. The leg-flail airbag system must not that established by the existing protection must take into consideration release hazardous quantities of gas or airworthiness standards. a range of stature from a 2-year-old child particulate matter into the cabin. to a 95th-percentile male. At some 10. The leg-flail airbag system Applicability buttock popliteal length and effective installation must be protected from the As discussed above, these special seat-bottom depth, the lower legs will effects of fire such that no hazard to conditions are applicable to the not be able to form a 90-degree angle occupants will result. Gulfstream Model GVII–G500 airplane. relative to the upper leg; at this point, 11. A means must be available to Should Gulfstream apply at a later date the lower leg flail would not occur. The verify the integrity of the leg-flail airbag for a change to the type certificate to leg-flail airbag system must provide a system’s activation system prior to each include another model incorporating the consistent approach to prevention of leg flight, or the leg-flail airbag system’s same novel or unusual design feature, flail throughout that range of occupants activation system must reliably operate these special conditions would apply to whose lower legs can form a 90-degree between inspection intervals. The FAA that model as well. angle relative to the upper legs when considers that the loss of the leg-flail seated upright in the seat. Items that airbag system’s deployment function Conclusion need to be considered include, but are alone (i.e., independent of the This action affects only certain novel not limited to, the range of occupants’ conditional event that requires the leg- or unusual design features on one model popliteal height, the range of occupants’ flail airbag system’s deployment) is a rmajette on DSKBCKNHB2PROD with RULES of airplane. It is not a rule of general buttock popliteal length, the design of major-failure condition. applicability. the seat effective height above the floor, 12. The airbag inflatable material may The substance of these special and the effective depth of the seat- not have an average burn rate of greater conditions has been subjected to the bottom cushion. than 2.5 inches per minute when tested notice and comment period in several 2. The leg-flail airbag system must using the horizontal flammability test prior instances and has been derived provide adequate protection for each defined in part 25, appendix F, part I, without substantive change from those occupant regardless of the number of paragraph (b)(5). VerDate Sep<11>2014 12:20 Jun 16, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\19JNR1.SGM 19JNR1

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 116 / Monday, June 19, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 27773 13. The leg-flail airbag system, once II. Background Information and comments, one by the local non-profit deployed, must not adversely affect the Regulatory History Miami Waterkeeper and the other by a emergency-lighting system (i.e., must On December 1, 2015, the Coast private citizen, supported our planned not block floor-proximity lights to the Guard published a notice of study that modification of the Miami Anchorage. extent that the lights no longer meet indicated we were evaluating amending The third and fourth comments were their intended function). submitted by the Biscayne Bay Pilots the Miami Anchorage, based on the Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 8, Association. location of coral reefs off the coast of 2017. The Biscayne Bay Pilots Association Florida. The Coast Guard received four (pilots) submitted a comment, through Michael Kaszycki, comments in response to the notice of Becky Hope of the Port of Miami, on Assistant Manager, Transport Airplane study during the period that ended on May 17, 2016. This comment requested Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. February 1, 2016. In coordination with the Coast Guard evaluate changes in the [FR Doc. 2017–12617 Filed 6–16–17; 8:45 am] several interested parties, the Coast proposed anchorage, including shifting BILLING CODE 4910–13–P Guard published a Notice of Proposed the outer anchorage west and shifting Rulemaking (NPRM) on May 10, 2016 the southern boundary of the outer (81 FR 28788). Four additional anchorage north. In response to these comments were received in response to comments, the Coast Guard met with DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND the NPRM. The comment period for the SECURITY the Pilots to discuss the requests and the NPRM closed on July 11, 2016. basis at which we arrived at the current Through continued cooperation and anchorage configuration. During the Coast Guard research with stakeholders, the Coast meeting the Coast Guard agreed to shift Guard amended the original locations the western boundary of the outer 33 CFR Part 110 and requirements stated in the NPRM, anchorage approximately 300 feet to the [Docket Number USCG–2015–0729] and published these changes in a west to provide more room for large Supplemental Notice of Proposed anchoring vessels. This change does not RIN 1625–AA01 Rulemaking (SNPRM), on February 22, have any effect on coral or hard bottom 2017 (82 FR 11329). We received five as the sea floor in that area is sand. Port of Miami Anchorage Area; Atlantic written submissions on the SNPRM On June 11, 2016, the Pilots submitted Ocean, Miami Beach, FL during the comment period that ended a follow up comment to the public on March 24, 2017. We did not receive docket expressing concern that the outer AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. any oral comments. anchorage would expose vessels to ACTION: Final rule. increased current and waves and, they III. Legal Authority and Need for Rule claim, could increase the chance a SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is dividing The Coast Guard is issuing this rule vessel would drag anchor. In order to its Miami anchorage ground into two under authority in 33 U.S.C. 471. The properly assess environmental separate anchorage areas. This action is Seventh District Commander has conditions and risk of an anchor drag, necessary to reduce potential damage to determined that the new locations of the the Coast Guard consulted with the threatened coral posed by anchoring anchorage provide both a safe anchorage National Weather Service and Maersk vessels. The area for vessels to anchor ground for vessels, as well as provide training center. The National Weather will be reduced by approximately 3 for protection of the coral reef and Service conducted a study, analyzing square nautical miles, but this rule still uphold the environmental protection the previous year’s current in the leaves vessels with approximately 1.5 mission of the Coast Guard. vicinity of the anchorage. The Weather square miles of anchorage areas. Service found that the average current DATES: This rule is effective from July IV. Discussion of Comments, Changes, and the Rule in the area of the outer anchorage over 19, 2017. the previous year was approximately 1.2 ADDRESSES: To view documents On December 1, 2015, the Coast knots, with currents ranging plus or mentioned in this preamble as being Guard published a notice of study that minus half a knot from the mean current available in the docket, go to http:// indicated we were evaluating amending seventy percent of the time. This www.regulations.gov, type USCG–2015– the Miami Anchorage to divide the information was provided to the Maersk 0729 in the ‘‘SEARCH’’ box and click anchorage into two smaller anchorage training center in Svendborg, Denmark. ‘‘SEARCH.’’ Click on Open Docket areas. The proposed amendment was Subject matter experts at the training Folder on the line associated with this designed in coordination with a variety school indicated that the conditions rule. of local stakeholders, including the posed no significant hazard and that FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If South East Florida Coral Reef Initiative captains would have the training and you have questions on this rule, call or (SEFCRI). Comment provided by these experience to set an anchor in the email Mr. Paul Lehmann, Coast Guard stakeholders, academic research, and deeper waters of the outer anchorage. Seventh District Prevention Waterways environmental reports have raised Due to the additional changes Management Division, U.S. Coast concerns with the Coast Guard about the requested by the various parties Guard; telephone (305) 415–6796, email potential for damage to the Florida Reef involved, we published a Supplemental Paul.D.Lehmann@uscg.mil. in the Miami Anchorage. Examples of Notice to Proposed Rulemaking on the body of work that influenced the February 22, 2017. The Coast Guard SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Coast Guard in proposing this received five comments in response to rmajette on DSKBCKNHB2PROD with RULES I. Table of Abbreviations amendment may be found in the docket. this SNPRM. The Florida Department of In response to the notice of study, the Environmental Protection supports this CFR Code of Federal Regulations DHS Department of Homeland Security Coast Guard received four comments. project as a means to reduce coral reef FR Federal Register These comments were addressed in an and hardbottom impacts. The additional NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking NPRM published on May 10, 2016. In comments were in support of the rule, § Section response to the NPRM, we received four citing the desire to protect natural U.S.C. United States Code additional comments. Two of the resources while acknowledging VerDate Sep<11>2014 12:20 Jun 16, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\19JNR1.SGM 19JNR1


Document Created: 2017-06-17 01:47:58
Document Modified: 2017-06-17 01:47:58
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionFinal special conditions; request for comments.
DatesThis action is effective on Gulfstream on June 19, 2017. We must receive your comments by August 3, 2017.
ContactAlan Sinclair, FAA, Airframe and Cabin Safety, ANM-115, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone 425-227-2195; facsimile 425-227-1320.
FR Citation82 FR 27771 
CFR AssociatedAircraft; Aviation Safety and Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements
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