Standards and Specifications for Timber Products Acceptable for Use by Rural Utilities Service Electric and Telecommunications Borrowers, 36961-36976 [2011-14567]
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36961
Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
Vol. 76, No. 122
Friday, June 24, 2011
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. Prices of
new books are listed in the first FEDERAL
REGISTER issue of each week.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
7 CFR Parts 1728 and 1755
Standards and Specifications for
Timber Products Acceptable for Use
by Rural Utilities Service Electric and
Telecommunications Borrowers
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
The Rural Utilities Service
(RUS) is amending its regulations on
Electric and Telecommunications
Standards and Specifications for
Materials, Equipment and Construction,
by codifying specifications for wood
poles, stubs and anchor logs, wood
crossarms (solid and laminated),
transmission timbers and pole keys, and
for quality control and inspection of
timber products. RUS is updating these
specifications to conform with revisions
to the American Wood Preservers’
Association (AWPA) standards and
follow agency policy on insurance
requirements.
DATES: Effective Date: This final rule
will become effective July 25, 2011.
Incorporation by Reference: The
incorporation by reference of certain
publications listed in this rule is
approved by the Director of the Federal
Register as of July 25, 2011.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
H. Robert Lash, Transmission Branch,
Electric Staff Division, Rural Utilities
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Room 1246, STOP 1569, 1400
Independence Ave., SW., Washington,
DC 20250–1569; telephone: (202) 720–
0486, or, e-mail:
Bob.Lash@wdc.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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SUMMARY:
Executive Order 12866
This final rule is exempted from the
Office of Management and Budget
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(OMB) review for purposes of Executive
Order 12866 and, therefore, has not
been reviewed by OMB.
Executive Order 12372
This final rule is excluded from the
scope of Executive Order 12372,
Intergovernmental Consultation, which
may require consultation with State and
local officials. A notice of final rule
entitled ‘‘Department Programs and
Activities Excluded from Executive
Order 12372’’ (50 FR 47034) exempted
the Rural Utilities Service loans and
loan guarantees from coverage under
this order.
Executive Order 12988
This final rule has been reviewed
under Executive Order 12988, Civil
Justice Reform. The Rural Utilities
Service has determined that this rule
meets the applicable standards provided
in section 3 of the Executive Order. In
addition, all State and local laws and
regulations that are in conflict with this
final rule will be preempted. No
retroactive effect will be given to this
final rule and in accordance with
section 212(e) of the Department of
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994
(7 U.S.C. 6912(e)) administrative appeal
procedures, if any, must be exhausted
before an action against the Department
or its agencies may be initiated.
Executive Order 13132
This final rule will not have
substantial direct effects on the States,
on the relationship between the national
government and the States, or on
distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various
levels of government. Under Executive
Order 13132, this final rule does not
have sufficient federalism implications
to require preparation of a Federalism
Assessment.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
The Rural Utilities Service has been
determined that the Regulatory
Flexibility Act is not applicable to this
rule since USDA Rural Utilities Service
is not required by 5 U.S.C. 551 et seq.
or any other provision of the law to
publish a notice of proposed rulemaking
with request to the subject matter of this
rule.
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Information Collection and
Recordkeeping Requirements
This information collection and
recordkeeping requirements contained
in this final rule are cleared under OMB
control number 0572–0076 pursuant to
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended).
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
The program described by this final
rule is listed in the Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance Programs under
No. 10.850, Rural Electrification Loans
and Loan Guarantees. This catalog is
available on a subscription basis from
the Superintendent of Documents, U.S.
Government Printing Office,
Washington, DC 20402–9325, telephone
number (202) 512–1800.
Executive Order 12372
This final rule is excluded from the
scope of Executive Order 12372,
Intergovernmental Consultation, which
may require consultation with State and
local officials. See the final rule related
notice titled ‘‘Department Programs and
Activities Excluded from Executive
Order 12372’’ (50 FR 47034), advising
that the Rural Utilities Service loans and
loan guarantees are excluded from the
scope of Executive Order 12372.
Unfunded Mandates
This final rule contains no Federal
Mandates (under the regulatory
provision of title II of the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 [2 U.S.C.
Chapter 25]) for State, local, and tribal
governments or the private sector. Thus,
this final rule is not subject to the
requirements of sections 202 and 205 of
the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of
1995.
National Environmental Policy Act
Certification
The Rural Utilities Service has
determined that this final rule will not
significantly affect the quality of the
human environment as defined by the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). Therefore,
this action does not require an
environmental impact statement or
assessment.
General Discussion
A proposed rule entitled ‘‘Standards
and Specifications for Timber Products
Acceptable for Use by Rural
Development Utilities Programs’
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Electric and Telecommunications
Borrowers’’ was published in the
Federal Register on September 29, 2008
at 73 FR 56513, and the public was
invited to submit comments on or before
November 28, 2008. Comments were
received and are addressed in the
Summary of Comment section of this
rule.
The Rural Utilities Service maintains
bulletins that contain construction
standards and specifications for
materials and equipment. These
standards and specifications apply to
systems constructed by electric and
telecommunications borrowers in
accordance with the loan contract, and
contain standard construction units,
materials, and equipment units used on
electric and telecommunications
borrowers’ systems. Bulletins 1728F–
700, ‘‘Specification for Wood Poles,
Stubs and Anchor Logs’’; 1728H–701,
‘‘Specification for Wood Crossarms
(Solid and Laminated), Transmission
Timbers and Pole Keys’’; and 1728H–
702, ‘‘Specification for Quality Control
and Inspection of Timber Products’’,
establish standards for the manufacture
and inspection of wood utility poles,
crossarms and poles keys. The summary
of the major changes to these three
bulletins are as follows:
1. All references cited in these
bulletins are updated to the latest
edition.
2. The definition ‘‘pole broker’’ was
added to the list of definitions to
include as many organizations as
possible to provide borrowers a source
from which they might purchase wood
products.
3. Allow borrowers six months to
notify treating plants about poles not
meeting the required preservative
retention.
4. In accordance with RUS policy on
insurance requirements for contractors
working for borrowers, the specification
was revised to require manufacturers
and inspection agencies to maintain
certain limits of liability and errors and
omission insurance.
5. All poles are required to be
sterilized during the conditioning or
treating cycle. This sterilization should
further reduce the number of poles with
pre-treatment decay.
6. Required to brand independent
inspection agency’s identification on the
face of the pole.
7. RUS revised the qualifications for
inspectors and quality control personnel
and will return to the qualifications
from the 1987 edition of the
specifications.
8. Provisions are added to further
clarify that wood products, producers
and inspection agencies maintain the
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greatest degree of separation and
eliminate any appearance of conflict of
interest.
Summary of Comments
The Agency received comments and
recommendations in response to the
proposed rule from the following
organizations: North American Wood
Pole Council (NAWPC), McFarland
Cascade, Cox Industrial Group, Wood
Quality Control (WQC), Cox Industrial
Group, Lee Inspection and Consulting
Services, A.W. Williams Inspection Co.
(AWW), Texas Electric Cooperatives
(TEC), Timber Products Inspection and
Dis-Tran Wood Products. No comments
from any other sources were received.
These comments and recommendations
and the Agency’s responses are
summarized as follows:
Comment: Lee Inspection, NAWPC,
TEC, and AWW questioned the need for
liability insurance and errors and
emission insurance and the amount of
coverage.
Agency Response: RUS has required
outside contractors doing work for
borrowers to have high levels of liability
insurance for many years. The insurance
requirement was added to stay in line
with present agency practices. The
proposed insurance was reviewed and
the errors and omission insurance
requirement was eliminated for pole
and crossarm producers. Since
inspection agencies are performing a
service, their liability and errors and
omissions insurance requirement
remains.
Comment: NAWPC and Timber
Products Inspection questioned the
need to treat kiln dried poles within 30
days after drying.
Agency Response: Paragraph 4.2.1 of
Bulletin 1728F–700 dated September
1993 requires that ‘‘kiln dried poles
shall be treated within 1 month from the
time they are removed from the kiln.’’
This has been an RUS requirement for
nearly twenty years and RUS believes
that this requirement is needed.
Comment: NAWPC and Timber
Products Inspection questioned why
there is an inconsistency in paragraph
8.1 of Bulletin 1728F–700 concerning
sterilization of Douglas fir poles.
Agency Response: The sterilization
time for Douglas-fir is revised to be in
line with other species.
Comment: McFarland, NAWPC and
Timber Products Inspection suggested
the inclusion of the modified full cell
process to help control overtreatment.
Agency Response: The modified full
cell process was added as suggested.
Comment: Timber Products
Inspection pointed out that the
maximum temperature for treatment in
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Western Red Cedar in the table in
paragraph 8.2 of Bulletin 1728F–700 is
not in agreement with American Wood
Protection Association Standards.
Agency Response: Bulletin 1728F–700
was revised to meet the AWPA
standard.
Comment: NMWPC, Timber Products
Inspection and TEC mentioned that the
wording in paragraph 9.6.2 of Bulletin
1728F–700 be revised from
‘‘supplemental groundline type
preservative’’ to ‘‘a preservative
approved for use in ground line contact
by the AWPA.’’
Agency Response: Wording was
revised to use ‘‘a preservative approved
for use by AWPA.’’
Comment: Lee Inspection, NMWPC,
Timber Products Inspection and AWW
felt to certify inspectors and quality
control personnel on the use of XRF
equipment was unreasonable.
Agency Response: RUS agrees that
this requirement may be difficult to
achieve because there is no organization
set up to perform this service. This
provision was eliminated.
Comment: McFarland and TEC raised
questions about the addition of the
inspection agency’s designation on the
face brand and the use of tags.
Agency Response: This requirement
does not add an extra line to the face
brand. It replaces the Quality Assurance
mark currently required on the second
line of the brand. Treaters will be given
6 months from the publication date of
this notice to revise their face brands.
For treaters using metal tags, if the
existing tag cannot be altered to show
the independent inspection agency
designation a separate tag showing this
information shall be added. Metal tag
users have three months to start revising
their current tags or ordering an
additional tags to show the agency
information.
Comment: Lee Inspection disagrees
with the RUS’s proposal to not allow
one independent inspection agency to
subcontract their contracted inspection
to another party.
Agency Response: When an Electric
Borrower designates an inspection
agency to act as their agent and inspect
pole on their behalf the RUS believes
they actually want that company to do
the work. RUS believes that this
requirement is reasonable.
Comment: Lee Inspection disagrees
with the RUS’s stand on not allowing
independent inspection agencies to offer
product warranties on inspected
material.
Agency Response: RUS wants, as a
secured lender, to eliminate any
appearance of a conflict of interest
between independent inspectors and
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treaters. A product warranty put out by
an inspection agency for a pole or
crossarm produced by another company
is unacceptable. RUS is not changing
this provision.
Comment: Lee Inspection and AWW
are concerned with the wording
‘‘Failure of a selected third-party
inspection agency to properly perform
their required overview responsibilities
may subject said agency to subsequent
liability claims for unsatisfactory or
inadequate product performance.’’
Agency Response: This specific
language will be from the final rule,
however, the potential liability incurred
by the inspection agency for any
improper performance will be left up to
the borrower.
Comment: Lee Inspection and AWW
felt the frequency of the precision check
by independent inspectors for the x-ray
fluorescence instrument at treating plant
weekly was too onerous.
Agency Response: In some cases this
requirement could be too burdensome.
In response, the frequency was changed
to monthly for analysis of preservative
and treated wood at the inspector’s
agency laboratory.
Comment: Cox Industrial Group and
Dis-Tran wanted to require borrowers to
store crossarms under cover to be
eligible for the one year warranty.
Agency Response: The conformance
period of one year from date of delivery
should not be affected if arms are stored
indoors, outdoors or installed on poles.
As a result, RUS will not change the
proposal.
Comment: Timber Products
Inspection noted that the radial drilling
depths were left off Table 10 in Bulletin
1728F–700.
Agency Response: This information
was added back into the bulletin.
Comment: McFarland Cascade
questioned the limiting of butt treated
poles to arid regions.
Agency Response: Since butt treated
poles have shown to have good
durability in areas other than arid
regions the final rule is revised to limit
their use to low to moderate decay
zones.
Comment: McFarland Cascade and
Timber Products questioned allowing
through boring for poles were raised.
Agency Response: In response to this,
a section on allowing through boring
was added.
Comment: WQC suggested that the
Insured Warranty program be removed
since it has not been used in many
years.
Agency Response: This plan for
supplying poles has continued to be
included to keep several options open
for suppliers. There have been a few
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instances where suppliers have tried to
start using this program again.
Comment: WQC suggested that RUS
limit the percentage of defects of a ‘‘lot’’
of poles from 15% to 5%, which is the
AWPA limit, before the entire lot is
rejected.
Agency Response: In response, RUS
will revise their reject percentage to stay
in line with AWPA Standards.
List of Subjects
7 CFR Part 1728
Electric power, Incorporation by
reference, Loan programs—energy,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Rural areas.
7 CFR Part 1755
Incorporation by reference, Loan
programs—communications, Reporting
and recordkeeping requirements, Rural
areas, Telephone.
For reasons set forth in the preamble,
chapter XVII of title 7 of the Code of
Federal Regulations is amended as
follows:
PART 1728—ELECTRIC STANDARDS
AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR
MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION
1. The authority citation for part 1728
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.; 1921 et
seq., 6941 et seq.
■
2. Revise § 1728.97 to read as follows:
§ 1728.97 Incorporation by reference of
electric standards and specifications.
The materials listed below are
incorporated by reference in the
corresponding sections noted. The
Director of the Federal Register
approves the incorporations by
reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C.
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. A notice of
any change in these materials will be
published in the Federal Register.
Standards and specifications materials
are available for purchase at the
addresses in the corresponding sections
noted below. The materials incorporated
by reference may also be inspected at
the Rural Utilities Service’s Program
Development and Regulatory Analysis,
Stop 1520, Room 5820–S, Washington,
DC 20250–1522, call (202) 720–8674.
Bulletins are also available for
inspection at the National Archives and
Records Administration (NARA). For
information on the availability of these
materials at NARA, call (202) 741–6030,
or go to: https://www.archives.gov/or at
the Office of the Federal Register, 800
North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700,
Washington, DC, or go to: https://
www.archives.gov/federal_register/
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code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_
locations.htm.
(a) The following RUS bulletins are
available from the Rural Utilities
Service, Room 1246–S, U.S. Department
of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250.
For information on the availability of
this material, call (202) 720–1900. The
bulletins containing construction
standards (50–4 and 1728F–803 to
1728F–811) may be obtained from the
Superintendent of Documents, U.S.
Government Printing Office (GPO) for
Washington, DC 20402, Phone: 1–866–
512–1800 (toll-free) 202–512–1800 (DC
Area) or go to the GPO Web site at:
https://www.gpoaccess.gov/about/
index.html.
(1) Bulletin 50–4 (D–801),
Specification and Drawings for 34.5/
19.9 kV Distribution Line Construction
(11–86), incorporation approved for
§ 1728.98.
(2) Bulletin 50–15 (DT–3), RUS
Specifications for Pole Top Pins with
13⁄8′ Diameter Lead Thread (1–51),
incorporation approved for § 1728.98.
(3) Bulletin 50–16 (DT–4), RUS
Specifications for Angle Suspension
Brackets (3–52), incorporation approved
for § 1728.98.
(4) Bulletin 50–19 (DT–7), RUS
Specifications for Clevis Bolts (8–53),
incorporation approved for § 1728.98.
(5) Bulletin 50–23 (DT–18), RUS
Specifications for 60″ Wood Crossarm
Braces (2–71), incorporation approved
for § 1728.98.
(6) Bulletin 50–31 (D–3), RUS
Specifications for Pole Top Pins with 1’’
Diameter Lead Threads (2–79),
incorporation approved for § 1728.98.
(7) Bulletin 50–32 (D–4), RUS
Specifications for Steel Crossarm
Mounted Pins with 1″ Diameter Lead
Threads (10–50), incorporation
approved for § 1728.98.
(8) Bulletin 50–33 (D–5), RUS
Specifications for Single and Double
Upset Spool Bolts (2–51), incorporation
approved for § 1728.98.
(9) Bulletin 50–34 (D–6), RUS
Specifications for Secondary Swinging
Clevises (12–70), incorporation
approved for § 1728.98.
(10) Bulletin 50–35 (D–7), RUS
Specifications for Service Swinging
Clevises (9–52), incorporation approved
for § 1728.98.
(11) Bulletin 50–36 (D–8), RUS
Specifications for Service Deadend
Clevises (9–52), incorporation approved
for § 1728.98.
(12) Bulletin 50–40 (D–14), RUS
Specifications for Pole Top Brackets for
Channel Type Pins (9–51),
incorporation approved for § 1728.98.
(13) Bulletin 50–41 (D–15), RUS
Specifications for Service Wireholders
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(11–51), incorporation approved for
§ 1728.98.
(14) Bulletin 50–55 (T–2), RUS
Specifications for Overhead Ground
Wire Support Brackets (5–53),
incorporation approved for § 1728.98.
(15) Bulletin 50–56 (T–3), RUS
Specifications for Steel Plate Anchors
for Transmission Lines (12–53),
incorporation approved for § 1728.98.
(16) Bulletin 50–60 (T–9), RUS
Specification—Single Pole Steel
Structures, Complete with Arms (12–
71), incorporation approved for
§ 1728.98.
(17) Bulletin 50–72 (U–4), RUS
Specification for Electrical Equipment
Enclosures (5–35 kV) (10–79),
incorporation approved for § 1728.98.
(18) Bulletin 50–73 (U–5), RUS
Specifications for Pad-Mounted
Transformers (Single and Three-Phase)
(1–77), incorporation approved for
§ 1728.98.
(19) Bulletin 50–74 (U–6), RUS
Specification for Secondary Pedestals
(600 Volts and Below) (10–79),
incorporation approved for § 1728.98.
(20) Bulletin 50–91 (S–3), RUS
Specifications for Step-Down
Distribution Substation Transformers
(34.4–138 kV) (1–78), incorporation
approved for § 1728.98.
(21) Bulletin 1728F–700, RUS
Specification for Wood Poles, Stubs and
Anchor Logs (3–2011), incorporation
approved for §§ 1728.98, 1728.202.
(22) Bulletin 1728F–803,
Specifications and Drawings for 24.9/
14.4 kV Line Construction (10–98),
incorporation approved for § 1728.98.
(23) Bulletin 1728F–804 (D–804),
Specification and Drawings for 12.47/
7.2 kV Line Construction, October 2005,
incorporation approved for § 1728.98.
(24) Bulletin 1728F–806 (D–806),
Specifications and Drawings for
Underground Electric Distribution, June
2000, incorporation approved for
§ 1728.98.
(25) Bulletin 1728F–810, Electric
Transmission Specifications and
Drawings, 34.5 kV to 69 kV (3–98),
incorporation approved for §§ 1728.98
and 1728.201.
(26) Bulletin 1728F–811, Electric
Transmission Specifications and
Drawings, 115 kV to 230 kV (3–98),
incorporation approved for §§ 1728.98
and 1728.201.
(b) The following material is available
for purchase from American Institute of
Timber Construction (AITC), 7012 S.
Revere Park Way, Englewood, Colorado
80112, telephone (303) 792–9559, web
address: https://www.aitc-glulam.org/
index.asp.
(1) AITC 200–2004, Manufacturing
Quality Control Systems Manual For
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Structural Glued Laminated Timber,
copyright 2004, (incorporation by
reference approved for §§ 1728.201 and
1728.202.
(2) [Reserved]
(c) The following standards are
available for purchase from the
American National Standards Institute
(ANSI), 25 West 43rd Street, New York,
New York 10036, telephone (212) 642–
4900, Web address: https://
www.ansi.org/.
(1) ANSI O5.2–2006, American
National Standard for Wood Products,
Structural Glued Laminated Timber for
Utility Structures, approved December
5, 2006, incorporation by reference
approved for §§ , 1728.201, 1728.202.
(2) ANSI O5.3.2008, American
National Standard for Wood Poles and
Wood Products, Solid Sawn-Wood
Crossarms & Braces—Specifications &
Dimensions, approved July 15, 2008,
incorporation by reference approved for
§ 1728.201.
(d) [Reserved]
(e) The following standards from the
American Wood Protection Association
(AWPA), Book of Standards, 2008
edition, are available for purchase from
AWPA, P.O. Box 361784, Birmingham,
AL 35236–1784, telephone 205–733–
4077, https://www.awpa.com/.
(1) AWPA A1–06, Standard Methods
for Analysis of Creosote and Oil-Type
Preservatives, amended in 2006,
incorporation by reference approved for
§§ 1728.201 and 1728.202.
(2) AWPA A2–08, Standard Methods
for Analysis of Waterborne Preservatives
and Fire-Retardant Formulations, 2008,
incorporation by reference approved for
§§ 1728.201 and 1728.202.
(3) AWPA A3–08, Standard Methods
for Determining Penetration of
Preservatives and Fire Retardants,
revised in 2008, incorporation by
reference approved for §§ 1728.201and
1728.202.
(4) AWPA A5–05, Standard Methods
for Analysis of Oil-Borne Preservatives,
2008, incorporation by reference
approved for §§ 1728.201 and 1728.202.
(5) AWPA A6–01, Method for the
Determination of Oil-Type Preservatives
and Water in Wood, amended in 2001,
incorporation by reference approved for
§ 1728.202.
(6) AWPA A7–04, Standard for Wet
Ashing Procedures for Preparing Wood
for Chemical Analysis, amended in
2004, incorporation by reference
approved for § 1728.202.
(7) AWPA A9–01, Standard Method
for Analysis of Treated Wood and
Treating Solutions By X-Ray
Spectroscopy, amended in 2001,
incorporation by reference approved for
§§ 1728.201 and 1728.202.
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(8) AWPA M2–07, Standard for
Inspection of Wood Products Treated
with Preservatives, reaffirmed in 2007,
incorporation by reference approved for
§ 1728.202.
(9) AWPA M3–05, Standard Quality
Control Procedures for Wood Preserving
Plants, amended in 2005, incorporation
by reference approved for § 1728.202.
(10) AWPA P1/P13–06, Standard for
Creosote Preservative, reaffirmed in
2006, incorporation by reference
approved for §§ 1728.201 and 1728.202.
(11) AWPA P5–08, Standard for
Waterborne Preservatives, revised in
2008, incorporation by reference
approved for §§ 1728.201and 1728.202.
(12) AWPA P8–08, Standard for OilBorne Preservatives, revised in 2008,
incorporation by reference approved for
§§ 1728.201and 1728.202.
(13) AWPA P9–06, Standards for
Solvents and Formulations for Organic
Preservative Systems, copyright 2008,
incorporation by reference approved for
§§ 1728.201 and 1728.202.
(f) The following material is available
from Southern Pine Inspection Bureau
Standards, 4709 Scenic Highway,
Pensacola, Florida 32504–9094,
telephone (850) 434–2611. The web
address for the Southern Pine
Inspection Bureau is https://
www.spib.org/.
(1) Special Product Rules for
Structural, Industrial, and RailroadFreight Car Lumber, effective October
15, 1991, incorporation by reference
approved for § 1728.201.
(2) [Reserved]
(g) The following material is available
for purchase from West Coast Lumber
Inspection Bureau, P.O. Box 23145,
Portland, Oregon 97281, telephone (503)
639–0651, fax (503) 684–8928. The web
address for is https://www.wclib.org/.
(1) Standard No. 17, Grading Rules for
West Coast Lumber, Revised January 1,
2004, incorporation by reference
approved for § 1728.201.
(2) [Reserved]
3. Add new § 1728.98 to read as
follows:
■
§ 1728.98 Electric standards and
specifications.
(a) To comply with this part, you
must follow the requirements contained
in the following REA/RUS bulletins.
These bulletins are incorporated by
reference in § 1728.97 of this part.
(1) Bulletin 50–4 (D–801),
Specification and Drawings for 34.5/
19.9 kV Distribution Line Construction
(11–86).
(2) Bulletin 50–15 (DT–3), RUS
Specifications for Pole Top Pins with
13⁄8′ Diameter Lead Thread (1–51).
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(3) Bulletin 50–16 (DT–4), RUS
Specifications for Angle Suspension
Brackets (3–52).
(4) Bulletin 50–19 (DT–7), RUS
Specifications for Clevis Bolts (8–53).
(5) Bulletin 50–23 (DT–18), RUS
Specifications for 60″ Wood Crossarm
Braces (2–71).
(6) Bulletin 50–31 (D–3), RUS
Specifications for Pole Top Pins with 1″
Diameter Lead Threads (2–79).
(7) Bulletin 50–32 (D–4), RUS
Specifications for Steel Crossarm
Mounted Pins with 1″ Diameter Lead
Threads (10–50).
(8) Bulletin 50–33 (D–5), RUS
Specifications for Single and Double
Upset Spool Bolts (2–51).
(9) Bulletin 50–34 (D–6), RUS
Specifications for Secondary Swinging
Clevises (12–70).
(10) Bulletin 50–35 (D–7), RUS
Specifications for Service Swinging
Clevises (9–52).
(11) Bulletin 50–36 (D–8), RUS
Specifications for Service Deadend
Clevises (9–52).
(12) Bulletin 50–40 (D–14), RUS
Specifications for Pole Top Brackets for
Channel Type Pins (9–51).
(13) Bulletin 50–41 (D–15), RUS
Specifications for Service Wireholders
(11–51).
(14) Bulletin 50–55 (T–2), RUS
Specifications for Overhead Ground
Wire Support Brackets (5–53).
(15) Bulletin 50–56 (T–3), RUS
Specifications for Steel Plate Anchors
for Transmission Lines (12–53).
(16) Bulletin 50–60 (T–9), RUS
Specification—Single Pole Steel
Structures, Complete with Arms (12–
71).
(17) Bulletin 50–72 (U–4), RUS
Specification for Electrical Equipment
Enclosures (5–35 kV) (10–79).
(18) Bulletin 50–73 (U–5), RUS
Specifications for Pad-Mounted
Transformers (Single and Three-Phase)
(1–77).
(19) Bulletin 50–74 (U–6), RUS
Specification for Secondary Pedestals
(600 Volts and Below) (10–79).
(20) Bulletin 50–91 (S–3), RUS
Specifications for Step-Down
Distribution Substation Transformers
(34.4–138 kV) (1–78).
(21) Bulletin 1728F–700, RUS
Specification for Wood Poles, Stubs and
Anchor Logs (3–2011).
(22) Bulletin 1728F–803,
Specifications and Drawings for 24.9/
14.4 kV Line Construction (10–98).
(23) Bulletin 1728F–804 (D–804),
Specification and Drawings for 12.47/
7.2 kV Line Construction, October 2005.
(24) Bulletin 1728F–806 (D–806),
Specifications and Drawings for
Underground Electric Distribution, June
2000.
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(25) Bulletin 1728F–810, Electric
Transmission Specifications and
Drawings, 34.5 kV to 69 kV (3–98).
(26) Bulletin 1728F–811, Electric
Transmission Specifications and
Drawings, 115 kV to 230 kV (3–98).
(b) The terms ‘‘RUS form’’, ‘‘RUS
standard form’’, ‘‘RUS specification’’,
and ‘‘RUS bulletin’’ have the same
meanings as the terms ‘‘REA form’’,
‘‘REA standard form’’, ‘‘REA
specification’’, and ‘‘REA bulletin’’,
respectively unless otherwise indicated.
■ 4. Sections 1728.201 and 1728.202 are
revised to read as follows:
§ 1728.201 Bulletin 1728H–701,
Specification for Wood Crossarms (Solid
and Laminated), Transmission Timbers and
Pole Keys.
(a) General Provisions. (1) This
section implements contractual
provisions between Rural Utilities
Service (RUS) and borrowers receiving
financial assistance. The contractual
agreement between RUS and its
borrowers requires the borrower’s
system to be constructed in accordance
with agency accepted plans and
specifications. Each electric borrower
must purchase only wood crossarms
produced in accordance with the
specification in this section.
(2) Each electric borrower shall
require each contractor to agree in
writing to furnish only materials
produced in accordance with the
specifications in this section.
(3) This specification describes the
minimum acceptable quality of wood
distribution crossarms and transmission
crossarms (hereinafter called crossarms)
that are purchased by or for borrowers.
Where there is conflict between this
specification and any other specification
referred to in this section, this
specification shall govern.
(4) Various requirements relating to
quality control and inspection are
contained in § 1728.202 of this part,
Specification for Quality Control and
Inspection of Timber Products. Section
1728.201 of this part, ANSI O5.2,
(incorporated by reference in § 1728.97),
and ANSI O5.3, (incorporated by
reference in § 1728.97) shall be followed
exactly and shall not be interpreted or
subjected to judgment by the quality
control person or an independent
inspector.
(5) The purchaser shall purchase from
producers only material that meets the
requirements of this specification. Each
purchaser shall use a written purchase
order to purchase material for use in
financed systems in order to ensure
compliance with the standards and
specifications of this part. The written
purchase order shall contain a provision
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36965
that specifically requires the producer to
comply with the provisions of this part.
The purchase order shall contain a
provision that specifically requires the
producer to make the treating plant and
storage areas available, during normal
business hours, in order for
representatives of either the purchaser
or this agency to inspect such to
determine compliance with the
standards and specifications of this part.
(6) The producer shall provide the
inspectors with full information
(drawings, etc.) relating to the
requirements contained in the purchase
order which is supplementary to this
specification.
(7) The producer shall maintain, or
have access to, adequate laboratory
facilities at or very near the treating
plant, and all chemical tests, assays or
analyses associated with the treatment
shall be independently performed in
this laboratory by both the quality
control designee and the borrower’s
inspector. The producer may use a
central laboratory as accepted on a caseby-case basis.
(8) Inspection and treatment of all
timber products produced under this
specification shall be performed after
receipt of the order from the purchaser,
except as provided for reserve treated
stock.
(9) The testing and inspection of the
lamination process shall be in
accordance with AITC 200
(incorporated by reference in § 1728.97).
(10) With the exception of reserve
treated stock, if requested by the
borrower invoices for treated timber
products shall be accompanied, in
duplicate, by a copy of the producer’s
Certificate of Compliance and a copy of
either the Independent Inspection
Report or a Quality Assurance Plan
Certificate. For reserve treated stock,
inspection reports shall be available
from the inspection agency. When
shipped from reserve stock, the invoice
shall bear an endorsement and a further
certification by the producer that the
material meets the requirements of this
specification and any supplementary
requirements cited in the purchase
order under which it is purchased.
(11) Crossarms shall be warranted to
conform to this specification. If any
crossarm is determined to be defective
or does not conform to this specification
within 1 year after delivery to the
borrower, it shall be replaced as
promptly as possible by the producer. In
the event of failure to do so, the
purchaser may make such replacement
and the cost of the crossarm, at
destination, shall be recoverable from
the producer.
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(12) Crossarm producers shall take out
and maintain liability insurance for not
less than $1 million. Upon request,
evidence of compliance shall be
provided. The evidence shall be in the
form of a certificate of insurance signed
by a representative of the insurance
company and include a provision that
no changes in, or cancellation of, will be
made without the prior written notice to
the Director, Electric Staff Division,
Rural Utilities Service.
(b) Definitions.
Agency refers to Rural Utilities
Service (RUS), United States
Department of Agriculture.
Arm refers to structural wood member
used to support electrical conductors
and equipment. Arm is used
interchangeably with crossarm.
Certificate of compliance is a written
certification by an authorized employee
of the producer that the material
shipped meets the requirements of this
specification and any supplementary
requirements specified in a purchase
order from a borrower or the borrower’s
contractor.
Crossarm refers to a structural wood
member used to support electrical
conductors and equipment and is a term
used interchangeably with arm.
Independent inspection relates to
examination of material by an
independent inspector employed by a
commercial inspection agency.
Inspection means an examination of
material in sufficient detail to ensure
conformity to all phases of the
specification under which it was
purchased.
Lot is a quantity of crossarms of like
size, conditioning, and fabrication,
usually making up one treating charge.
Producer is used to describe the party
who manufactures and/or treats
crossarms.
Purchaser refers to either the
borrower or contractors acting as the
borrower’s agent, except where a part of
the specification specifically refers to
only the borrower or the contractor.
Quality control designee refers to an
individual designated by the producer
to oversee proper operation of the
manufacturer’s internal quality control
system.
Reserve treated stock consists of
timber products treated in accordance
with this specification, prior to and in
anticipation of the receipt of specific
orders, and held in storage ready for
immediate shipment.
Supplier is a term used
interchangeably with producer, or in
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some cases, may be the distributor
selling crossarms to the borrower.
Treating plant is the organization that
applies the preservative treatment to the
crossarms.
(c) Independent Inspection Plan. This
plan or a Quality Assurance Plan, as
described in paragraph (e) of this
section, is acceptable for supplying
crossarms. All crossarms purchased
under the Independent Inspection Plan,
for use on an agency financed system
shall be inspected by a qualified
independent inspector in accordance
with § 1728.202 of this part.
(1) The borrower has the prerogative
to contract directly with the inspection
agency for service. The borrower
should, where practical, select the
inspection agency so that continual
employment is dependent only on
performance acceptable to the borrower
and in accordance with this
specification. The selected inspection
agency shall not be allowed to
subcontract the service to any other
inspection agency.
(2) The producer shall not be
permitted to be a party to the selection
of the inspection agency by the
borrower and shall not interfere with
the work of the inspector, except to
provide notification of the readiness of
material for inspection. To obtain
inspection services for reserve stock, the
producer may deal directly with the
inspection agency. The producer shall
not be permitted to treat material before
it has been properly inspected and
hammered with the appropriate
inspection/quality assurance mark.
(3) The methods of inspection
described in this section and in
§ 1728.202 of this part shall be used no
matter which plan crossarms are
produced under, i.e., Independent
Inspection Plan, or Quality Assurance
Plans, as described in this section
(d) Quality Assurance Plans. The
producer shall furnish crossarms
conforming to this specification as
monitored by an acceptable Quality
Assurance Plan. Borrower groups or
agents for borrower groups endeavoring
to operate Quality Assurance Plans shall
submit their plan for assuring quality
control to the Chairman, Technical
Standards Committee ‘‘A’’, Electric Staff
Division, Rural Utilities Service, Stop
1569, Washington, DC 20250–1569.
(e) Material Requirements. (1)
Material and Grade. All crossarms
furnished under this specification shall
be free of brashy wood, decay, and
insect holes larger than 3/32 of an inch
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and shall meet additional requirements
as shown on specific drawings.
Crossarms shall be made of one of the
following:
(i) Douglas-fir which conforms to the
applicable crossarm provisions of
paragraphs 170 and 170a, or the
applicable transmission arm provisions
of paragraphs 169 and 169a of the
Standard No. 17 Grading Rules for West
Coast Lumber (incorporated by
reference in § 1728.97). Only coastal
origin Douglas-fir shall be used for
Douglas-fir crossarms manufactured
under this specification;
(ii) Southern Yellow Pine which
conforms to the provisions of Dense
Industrial Crossarm 65, as described in
paragraph 31.2 in the 2001 Southern
Pine Inspection Bureau’s Special
Product Rules for Structural, Industrial,
and Railroad-Freight Car Lumber,
(incorporated by reference at § 1728.97);
or
(iii) Laminated wood crossarms shall
conform to ANSI O5.2 (incorporated by
reference at § 1728.97) and have at least
the same load carrying capacity as the
solid sawn arm it replaces. The load
carrying capacity of the laminated arms
shall be determined by one of the
procedures outlined in ANSI O5.2.
(2) Borrowers may use alternative
crossarms that are listed in
Informational Publication 202–1, List of
Materials Acceptable for Use on
Systems of USDA Rural Utilities Service
Borrowers. For information on the
availability of this material, call RUS at
(202) 720–1900, or go to: https://
www.rurdev.usda.gov/UEP_Engineering
_LOM.html.
(3) Knots. Sound, firm, and tight
knots, if well spaced, are allowed.
(i) Slightly decayed knots are
permitted, except on the top face,
provided the decay extends no more
than 3⁄4 of an inch into the knot and
provided the cavities will drain water
when the arm is installed. For knots to
be considered well spaced, the sum of
the sizes of all knots in any 6 inches of
length of a piece shall not exceed twice
the size of the largest knot permitted.
More than one knot of maximum
permissible size shall not be in the same
6 inches of length. Slightly decayed,
firm, or sound ‘‘pin knots’’ (3⁄8 of an
inch or less) are not considered in size,
spacing, or zone considerations.
(ii) Knots are subject to limits on size
and location as detailed in Tables I and
II.
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36967
TABLE I—KNOT LIMITS FOR DISTRIBUTION ARMS (SEE FIGURE 1, APPENDIX A)
[All dimensions in inches]
Maximum
Diameter
Class of knot and location
Knot
Close grain
Round Knots
Single Knot: Maximum Diameter Center Section*
Upper Half ......................................................................................................................
Lower Half ......................................................................................................................
Elsewhere .............................................................................................................................
Sum of Diameters in a 6-Inch Length: Maximum:
Center Section
Upper Half ......................................................................................................................
Lower Half ......................................................................................................................
Elsewhere .............................................................................................................................
Dense grain
34
⁄
1
11⁄4
........................
........................
........................
1
11⁄4
11⁄2
11⁄2
2
21⁄2
........................
........................
........................
2
21⁄2
3
* No knot shall be closer than its diameter to the pole mounting hole.
TABLE II—KNOT LIMITS FOR TRANSMISSION ARMS (SEE FIGURE 2, APPENDIX A)
[All dimensions in inches]
Maximum diameter for
Single Knot
Pole mounting hole zone *
UPPER HALF (inner zone) ......................................................................................................................................................
UPPER HALF (outer zone) .....................................................................................................................................................
3⁄4.
1 for close grain.
11⁄4 dense grain.
Wide face (two sides)
Other locations transmission arm size **
Narrow face
Along
centerline
Edge
45⁄8 × 55⁄8 or less .........................................................................................................................
55⁄8 × 73⁄8 .....................................................................................................................................
35⁄8 × 93⁄8 .....................................................................................................................................
1
11⁄4
3⁄4
11⁄4
13⁄8
13⁄4
11⁄4
17⁄8
21⁄4
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* No knot shall be closer than its diameter to the pole mounting hole.
** For cross sections not shown, refer to grading rules.
(iii) Knot clusters shall be prohibited
unless the entire cluster, measured on
the worst face, is equal to or less than
the round knot allowed at the specific
location.
(iv) Spike knots shall be prohibited in
deadend arms. Any spike knot across
the top face shall be limited to the
equivalent displacement of a knot 3⁄8 of
an inch deep on one face and the
maximum round knot for its particular
location on the worst face, with a
maximum width of 1 inch measured at
the midpoint of the spiked section.
Elsewhere across the bottom or side
faces, spike knots shall not exceed 1⁄2
the equivalent displacement of a round
knot permitted at that location,
provided that the depth of the knot on
the worst face shall not exceed the
maximum round knot allowed at that
location.
(v) Loose knots and knot holes shall
be such that they can drain water when
the arm is installed in its normal
position. In the center section, upper
half, loose knots shall not be greater
than 1⁄2 the dimensions of round knots.
Elsewhere, loose knots shall not be
greater than the round knot dimension.
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Loose knots shall be prohibited in
deadend arms.
(vi) All knots except those ‘‘spike’’
knots intersecting a corner shall be
measured on the least diameter of the
knot.
(vii) A knot shall be considered to
occupy a specific zone or section if the
center of the knot (i.e., pith of knot) is
within the zone or on the zone’s
boundary.
(viii) If a round or oval knot appears
on two faces and is in two zones, each
face shall be judged independently.
When this does not occur, average the
least dimension showing on both faces.
Knots which occur on only one face of
a free of heart center (FOHC) arm shall
be permitted to be 25 percent larger than
the stated size.
(ix) Two or more knots opposite each
other on any face shall be limited by a
sum not to exceed the size of a
maximum single knot permitted for the
location. On all four faces, all knots
shall be well spaced.
(x) Knots which have a maximum of
5⁄8 inch diameter may intersect pin holes
in the center section. One inch diameter
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knots may intersect insulator pin holes
elsewhere.
(4) Miscellaneous characteristics,
features, and requirements. (i) The top
face of distribution crossarms shall not
have more than four medium pitch and
bark pockets in 8-foot arms, and not
more than five pitch and bark pockets
in 10-foot arms. Elsewhere a maximum
of six medium pockets in 8-foot arms
and eight in 10-foot arms shall be
permitted. Equivalent smaller pockets
shall be permissible. An occasional
large pocket is permissible.
(ii) Shakes shall be prohibited.
(iii) Prior to treatment on properly
seasoned arms, single face checks shall
not exceed an average penetration of 1⁄4
the depth from any face and shall be
limited to 10 inches long on the top
face, and 1⁄3 the arm length on the other
faces. Checks shall not be repeated in
the same line of grain in adjacent pin
holes. The sum of the average depths of
checks occurring in the same plane on
opposite faces shall be limited to 1⁄4 the
face depth.
(iv) Compression wood shall be
prohibited on any face. Compression
wood is permitted if wholly enclosed in
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the arm, more than six annual rings
from the surface, and not over 3⁄8 of an
inch in width.
(v) Insect holes 3⁄32 of an inch and
larger shall be prohibited. Insect pin
holes (i.e. holes not over 1⁄16 of an inch
diameter) shall be allowed if scattered
and not exceeding 10 percent of the arm
girth.
(vi) Wane shall be allowed on one
edge, limited to approximately 1 inch
measured across the corner. Outside of
the top center section, an aggregate
length not to exceed 2 feet may have
wane up to 11⁄2 inches on an occasional
piece on one or both edges. Bark shall
be removed.
(vii) Prior to and after preservative
treatment, crook, bow, or twist shall not
exceed 1⁄2 of an inch in 8 foot arms and
5⁄8 of an inch in 10 foot arms.
(f) Manufacturing. (1) All dimensions
and tolerances shall conform to those
shown on the drawings in this section
or drawings supplied with the purchase
order. Drawings supplied shall meet or
exceed minimum dimensions and
tolerances shown on the drawings in
this section. Cross-sectional dimensions
shall be measured and judged at about
1⁄4 the arm length, except when the
defects of ‘‘skip dressing’’ or ‘‘machine
bite or offset’’ are involved.
(2) Lamination techniques shall
comply with ANSI O5.2 (incorporated
by reference at § 1728.97).
(3) Pin and bolt holes shall be
smoothly bored without undue
splintering where drill bits break
through the surface. The center of any
hole shall be within 1⁄8 of an inch of the
center-line locations on the face in
which it appears. Holes shall be
perpendicular to the starting and
finishing faces.
(4) Shape. The shape of the arms at
any cross section, except for permissible
wane, shall be as shown on the
respective drawings in this section or
supplied with the order. The two top
edges may be either chamfered or
rounded 3⁄8 of an inch radius. The two
bottom edges shall be slightly eased 1⁄8
of an inch radius for the entire length.
(5) Incising. The lengthwise surfaces
of Douglas-fir crossarms shall be incised
approximately 1⁄4 of an inch deep. The
incision shall be reasonably clean cut
with a spacing pattern that ensures
uniform penetration of preservative.
(6) Quality of work. All crossarms
shall be of the highest quality
production. Crossarms shall be dressed
on four sides, although ‘‘hit and miss
skips’’ may occur on two adjacent faces
on occasional pieces.
(g) Conditioning prior to treatment. (1)
All solid sawn crossarms shall be made
of lumber which has been kiln-dried.
Douglas-fir arms shall have an average
moisture content of 19 percent or less,
with a maximum not to exceed 22
percent in a single arm. Southern
Yellow Pine arms shall have an average
moisture content of 22 percent or less,
with a maximum not to exceed 30
percent in a single arm.
(2) Moisture content levels shall be
measured at about 1⁄4 the length and at
a depth of about 1⁄5 the crossarm’s
thickness. Additionally, the moisture
content gradient between the shell (i.e.
1⁄4 of an inch deep) and the core (i.e.
about 1 inch deep) shall not exceed 5
percentage points.
(3) A minimum of at least 20 solid
sawn crossarms per treating charge shall
be measured to verify moisture content
and shall be duly recorded by the
quality control designee.
(4) The moisture content of lumber
used in laminating shall, at the time of
gluing, be within the range of 8 to 12
percent, inclusive.
(h) Preservatives. (1) The
preservatives shall be:
(i) Creosote which conforms to the
requirements of AWPA P1/13–06
(incorporated by reference at § 1728.97),
when analyzed in accordance with the
methods in AWPA A1–06 (incorporated
by reference at § 1728.97), sections 2, 3,
4, either 5 or 9, and 6;
(ii) Pentachlorophenol which contains
not less than 95 percent chlorinated
phenols and conforms to AWPA P8–08
(incorporated by reference at § 1728.97)
when analyzed in accordance with
AWPA A5–05 (incorporated by
reference at § 1728.97) or AWPA A9–01
(incorporated by reference at § 1728.97).
The hydrocarbon solvents for
introducing the preservative into the
wood shall meet the requirements of
AWPA P9–06 (incorporated by reference
at § 1728.97) Type A;
(2) Waterborne Preservatives shall be
any of the following:
(i) Ammoniacal Copper Arsenates
(ACA) and Ammoniacal Copper Zinc
Arsenate (ACZA) which shall meet the
requirements of AWPA P5–08
(incorporated by reference at § 1728.97),
when analyzed in accordance with
methods in AWPA A2–08 (incorporated
by reference at § 1728.97) or AWPA A9–
01 (incorporated by reference at
§ 1728.97); and
(ii) Chromated Copper Arsenates
(CCA) which shall meet the
requirements of one of the formulations
given in AWPA P5–08 (incorporated by
reference at § 1728.97) sections 4, 5 or
6, and 10. Tests to establish conformity
shall be made in accordance with
AWPA A2–08 (incorporated by
reference at § 1728.97) or A9–01
(incorporated by reference at § 1728.97).
(A) The pH of treating solutions of the
waterborne preservatives shown in
AWPA P5–08 (incorporated by reference
at § 1728.97) section 10, shall be
determined in accordance with AWPA
A2–08, (incorporated by reference at
§ 1728.97) section 8.
(B) The oxide formulations of
waterborne preservatives shall be
supplied.
(C) Douglas-fir crossarms shall not be
treated with CCA preservatives.
(D) Materials treated with waterborne
preservatives shall be free of visible
surface deposits.
(iii) Copper Naphthenate (CuN)
concentrate used to prepare wood
preserving solutions shall contain not
less than 6 percent nor more than 8
percent copper in the form of CuN and
shall conform to AWPA P8–08
(incorporated by reference at § 1728.97)
when analyzed in accordance with
AWPA A5–05 (incorporated by
reference at § 1728.97). The
hydrocarbon solvents for introducing
the preservative into the wood shall
meet the requirements of AWPA P9–06
(incorporated by reference at § 1728.97)
Type A.
(i) Preservative treatment. (1) All
timber products treated under this
specification shall be treated by either a
pressure or a thermal (non-pressure)
process.
(2) These materials may be further
conditioned by steaming, or by heating
in hot oil (Douglas-fir), within the
following limits:
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Time hours
(max.)
Steam .........................................................................................................................................................................
Heating in Preservation ..............................................................................................................................................
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 122 / Friday, June 24, 2011 / Rules and Regulations
(3) A final steam or hot oil bath may
be used only to meet cleanliness
requirements of paragraph (k) of this
section. Total duration of the final steam
bath shall not exceed 2 hours and the
temperature shall not exceed 240
degrees Fahrenheit.
(j) Results of treatments. (1) The
quality control designee shall test or
supervise the testing of each treated
charge for penetration and retention.
(2) Method of sampling. When testing
penetration and retention, a borer core
shall be taken from not less than 20
crossarms in each treating charge. The
borings shall be taken from any face
except the top face at a point as close
to the end as possible, being at least 3
inches from the end of the arm and no
closer than 3 inches from the edge of the
holes. The bored holes shall be plugged
with preservative-treated plugs driven
into the arm. Borings from laminated
arms shall not be taken from the same
laminate unless there is an end joint
separation.
(3) As determined in accordance with
AWPA A3–08 (incorporated by
reference at § 1728.97) all sapwood
present in Douglas-fir or Southern
36969
Yellow Pine crossarms shall be
completely penetrated with
preservative. In the heartwood of
Douglas-fir crossarms, the penetration
shall be not less than 3 inches
longitudinally from the edge of holes
and ends, and at least 3⁄16 inch from the
surface of any face.
(4) Retention of preservative in the
outer 6⁄10 of an inch for Douglas-fir and
one inch for Southern Yellow Pine assay
zones at the treating plant shall be not
less than:
Retention
(pcf)
Preservation
Creosote ...........................................................................................................................................................
Pentachlorophenol ............................................................................................................................................
ACA, ACZA, or CCA ........................................................................................................................................
Copper Naphthenate ........................................................................................................................................
8
* 0.4
0.4
0.04
AWPA analysis
method **
A6.
A5.
A2, A7, or A9.
A5, or A9.
jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with RULES
* The pentachlorophenol retention is for the lime ignition method. The copper pyridine method, retention 0.36 pcf is required when timbers may
have been in contact with salt water, and for all species native to the Pacific coast region. It is not required when it specifically states on the
rough sawn material invoice that this material has not been in contact with salt water or is shown by analysis to have no additional chlorides
present in the wood before treating.
** All the AWPA Analysis Methods are incorporated by reference at § 1728.97.
(5) Cleanliness of lengthwise surfaces
of all crossarms shall be free from tarry,
greasy, or sticky material, and from oil
exudation and pentachlorophenol
crystallization (blooming).
(6) Re-treatment of materials which do
not meet the penetration and retention
requirements of this specification may
be done only twice. Initial treatment
steaming time plus re-treatment
steaming time, combined, shall not
exceed time allowed in paragraph (i) of
this section.
(k) Marks and brands. (1) All
crossarms shall be legibly branded (hot
brand) or die-stamped and to a depth of
approximately 1⁄16 of an inch before
treatment.
(2) The letters and figures shall be not
less than 1⁄2 of an inch in height. The
top of the brand shall be oriented to the
top of the arm.
(3) The brand or die-stamp shall
include:
(i) The manufacturer’s identification
symbol;
(ii) Month and year of manufacture;
(iii) Species of timber such as DF for
Douglas-fir and SP for Southern Yellow
Pine; and
(iv) The preservative notated with a C
for creosote, P for penta, S for
waterbornes, or N for Copper
Naphthenate.
(4) An example is:
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M–6–06 Manufacturer—Month—Year
DF–P Douglas-fir—penta treated
(5) The brand or stamp shall be placed
on either of the wide surfaces of the
arms, oriented with letters right side up
towards the top of the arm and
preferably about 1 foot from the
midpoint of the arm.
(6) Each producer should mark each
type of arm in approximately the same
location on the arm.
(7) Brands, inspection marks, or
quality assurance marks shall be
removed from arms that do not meet
these specifications.
(l) Storage. (1) Producers may treat
crossarms for reserve stock under any of
the agency approved plans.
(2) Crossarms treated with oil-borne
preservatives which have been held in
storage for more than 1 year before
shipment to the borrower, shall be reassayed before shipment and shall be retreated if found nonconforming for
retention on orders placed in
accordance with this section.
(3) Crossarms shall meet the assay
after re-treatment in accordance with
paragraph (k) of this section.
(4) Crossarms which are held in
storage after final acceptance shall be
stacked in piles or on skids in such a
manner as to assure good ventilation.
The stacks shall be covered or stored
indoors for protection from the sun and
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weather to reduce checking, bending,
and loss of preservative.
(m) Drawings. (1) The drawings of
Appendix B of this section, Crossarm
Drilling Guide, have a type number and
show in detail the hole size, shape, and
pattern desired for crossarms ordered
under this specification.
(2) Purchase orders shall indicate the
type crossarm required.
(3) Crossarms shall be furnished in
accordance with the details of these
drawings or in accordance with
drawings attached to the purchase
order.
(4) Appropriate drawings for
transmission arms are to be specified
and included with purchase orders.
Technical drawings for transmission
crossarms are published in Bulletin
1728F–811, ‘‘Electric Transmission
Specifications and Drawings, 115kV
through 230kV’’ (incorporated by
reference at § 1728.97), and Bulletin
1728F–810, ‘‘Electric Transmission
Specification and Drawings, 34.5kV
through 69kV’’ (incorporated by
reference at § 1728.97).
(n) Destination inspection. All
crossarms shall meet or exceed their
minimum dimensions for at least 1 year
after date of delivery to the borrower.
BILLING CODE P
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36970
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BILLING CODE C
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 122 / Friday, June 24, 2011 / Rules and Regulations
36972
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 122 / Friday, June 24, 2011 / Rules and Regulations
APPENDIX C TO § 1728.201—METRIC CONVERSION FACTORS
To convert from
To
Foot (ft) .........................................................................................................................
Inch (in) ........................................................................................................................
Pound per cubic foot (pcf) (lb/ft 3) ................................................................................
Pound per square inch (psi) (lb/in 2) ............................................................................
Degrees Fahrenheit (°F) ..............................................................................................
Meter (m) ..................................................
Centimeter ................................................
Kilogram per cubic meter (kg/m 3) ............
Kilogram per square meter (kg/m 2) .........
Degrees Celsius (°C) ................................
jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with RULES
§ 1728.202 Bulletin 1728H–702,
Specification for Quality Control and
Inspection of Timber Products.
(a) Scope. This specification describes
in more detail the responsibilities and
procedures pertaining to quality control
for crossarms, as specified in section
1728.201 of this part, and poles, covered
in Bulletin 1728F–700, ‘‘Specification
for Wood Poles, Stubs and Anchor
Logs,’’ incorporated by reference in
§ 1728.97 of this part and in § 1755.97
of 7 CFR part 1755.
(b) General stipulations. (1)
Conformance of poles and crossarms to
agency specifications for the most part
is the responsibility of the producer’s
management.
A member of the producer’s staff shall
be designated quality control designee
and charged with the responsibility for
the exercise of proper quality control
procedures.
(2) The requirements of AWPA M3–05
(incorporated by reference at § 1728.97),
covering records, adequate laboratory,
plant gauges, and other plant facilities
including proper storage, shall be
followed.
(3) The methods of inspection
described in this section shall be used
no matter which plan timber products
are purchased under, i.e., Insured
Warranty Plan, Independent Inspection
Plan, or Quality Assurance Plans, as
described in § 1728.201 of this part or
Bulletin 1728F–700 (incorporated by
reference at § 1728.97). The number of
poles and crossarms actually inspected
by monitors for quality control under a
Quality Assurance Plan or the Insured
Warranty Plan may vary from the
number of poles and crossarms
inspected under the Independent
Inspection Plan. Under the Independent
Inspection Plan, each pole and a sample
number of crossarms shall be inspected.
(4) Under the Independent Inspection
Plan, the borrower should designate in
the purchase order which inspection
agency it has selected. Unless the
borrower contracts for inspection as a
separate transaction, the treating
company shall obtain the services of the
borrower’s designated inspection
agency. For reserve treated stock for
purchase under the Independent
Inspection Plan, the treating company
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shall obtain the services of an
inspection agency.
(5) Individual inspectors in the
employ of Independent Inspection
Agencies shall be experienced and
competent. The inspector shall perform
all phases of the inspection personally
and in the proper sequence. The
primary responsibility of the inspector
is to determine, for the borrower, by
careful inspection and verification, that
the timber products, preservative, and
treatment meet the requirements of
Bulletins 1728F–700 (incorporated by
reference at § 1728.97) and § 1728.201 of
this part (Bulletin 1728H–701) and that
the methods, storage facilities, and
production equipment conform to
applicable specifications. For details of
the inspector’s qualifications see
Appendix A of this section.
(6) Independent inspection agencies
and inspectors shall maintain their
impartiality. To do so, inspection
agencies, inspectors, producers and
brokers must maintain the greatest
degree of separation and eliminate even
the appearance of a conflict of interest.
Inspection agencies shall not receive
gratuities from or enter into financial
agreements, other than for inspection
services, with suppliers for which they
perform inspection. Inspection agencies
shall not provide gratuities or free
services to suppliers. Inspection
agencies shall not offer product
warranties on inspected material.
(7) Failure of an individual inspector
to follow proper procedures or failure of
an inspection agency to properly train
and supervise inspectors or follow the
appropriate RUS specifications
constitutes grounds for RUS debarment
of said company from future inspection
of RUS financed material
(8) Inspection agencies shall have and
maintain liability insurance in the
amount of $500,000 and a surety bond
or miscellaneous errors and omission
insurance for consequential damages for
not less than $250,000. Upon request,
evidence of compliance to this
requirement shall be forwarded to the
agency. The evidence shall be in the
form of a certificate of insurance or a
Bond signed by a representative of the
insurance or Surety Bonding company
and include a provision that no change
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0.3048
2.54
16.01846
703.0696
5/9(F°¥32)
in, or cancellation of, will be made
without the prior written notice to
Chairman, Technical Standards
Committee ‘‘A’’ (Electric).
(9) Inspection agencies shall maintain
their own laboratory that is properly
equipped, and capable of completely
analyzing the respective preservatives
and retentions, and at a minimum able
to run referee methods. This laboratory
shall be independent from any treating
plant laboratory. Independent
Inspection Agencies may use one
central laboratory.
(10) Laminated materials
manufactured for use on borrower
systems shall comply with
manufacturing and quality control
requirements specified in ANSI O5.2
(incorporated by reference in § 1728.97).
The product shall be marked and
certified.
(i) Laminated material shall be
inspected in accordance with ANSI
O5.2, (incorporated by reference in
§ 1728.97).
(ii) Quality control of material shall be
performed to determine conformance
with § 1728.201 of this part and AITC
200, (incorporated by reference in
§ 1728.97).
(c) Quality control and inspection
procedures for product acceptance. It is
the responsibility of the plant quality
control designee to perform the
following procedures to ensure that a
particular lot of material conforms to the
requirements of the applicable Agency
specification prior to treatment. After
the plant quality control designee has
performed these procedures, a particular
lot of material shall be released to the
inspector for verification of
conformance.
(1) Poles can be purchased under any
of the three purchase plans. These plans
are Insured Warranty Plan, Independent
Inspection Plan, or a Quality Assurance
Plan. Under all of these plans, all poles
in a lot shall be inspected by the plant
quality control designee.
Under the Insured Warranty Plan and
a Quality Assurance Plan, the number of
poles inspected by a third party
inspector may be less than every pole,
depending on the terms of the plans.
(i) Ample space and assistance shall
be provided by the treating plant for
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handling and turning to ensure that the
surfaces of all items can be adequately
inspected.
(ii) Under the Independent Inspection
Plan, all poles shall be inspected by the
Independent Inspector for conformance
to the requirements of Bulletin 1728F–
700 (incorporated by reference at
§ 1728.97). If a pole is rejected and the
cause of rejection is corrected, the
rejected pole may be offered again for
inspection as new material.
(iii) Dimensions, length, and
circumference shall be measured by a
standard steel tape to determine that
they are in agreement with the details
for class and length in the brand and
butt stamp. If it is obvious by visual
comparison with a measured pole that
the brand information is correct,
individual poles need not be measured.
Pole circumference dimensions made
prior to treatment shall govern
acceptance. Reduction in dimension
due to treatment and shipping shall be
not more than 2 percent below the
minimum for the pole class.
(iv) If 5 percent of the poles in a lot
offered for inspection are defective, the
inspector shall terminate the inspection.
Re-examination of an entire lot by plant
quality control shall be required when
the number of rejected poles equals or
exceeds 5 percent of the lot inspected.
All defective or nonconforming poles
either shall be removed from the lot or
have their brands marked out.
(v) Poles in a lot shall be inspected for
decay and all poles shall be of the same
seasoning condition. If the plant quality
control designee suspects that decay is
present, a slice from both ends shall be
cut for closer examination. If 3 percent
of the inspected poles in a lot show
evidence of decay, the entire lot shall be
unconditionally rejected without further
sorting.
(vi) Moisture content, when limited
by the purchaser, as stated on the
purchaser’s purchase order, shall be
measured by calibrated electronic
moisture meter. Calibration of the meter
shall include not only the zero settings
for the X and Y readings, but also two
resistance standards for 12 and 22
percent moisture content.
(vii) Material failing to conform for
moisture content may be retested upon
request after a recalibration of the
instrument. The results of the second
test shall govern disposition of the lot.
(viii) Re-examination for any
mechanical damage or deterioration and
for original acceptance shall be
conducted on timber products not
treated within 10 days after original
inspection.
(2) Crossarms can be purchased only
under either of two purchase plans.
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These plans are the Independent
Inspection Plan or Quality Assurance
Plans. Under the Independent
Inspection Plan, crossarms are to be
inspected prior to manufacture, during
manufacture, and after treatment. Under
a Quality Assurance Plan, crossarms are
inspected according to the terms of the
quality assurance program acceptable to
Rural Utilities Service.
(i) Inspection prior to treatment shall
include:
(A) Surface inspection of all ends of
all arms. This is usually done on the
stacks of arms prior to manufacture.
Particular attention shall be paid to
defects commonly found in the ends,
such as compression wood, red heart
and other forms of decay, shakes, splits,
through checks, scantiness, honeycomb,
and low density, determined by rings
per inch and percent of summerwood.
All non-conforming arms shall be
rejected. Whenever the number of
nonconforming arms is found to exceed
0.5 percent of the lot or one arm,
whichever is greater, the entire lot shall
be rejected for excess number of
defective ends. After the producer has
removed or marked out the defective
material, the arms may be resubmitted
for inspection.
(B) Surface inspection of the
lengthwise sides performed on a
random representative sample. The
sample size shall equal 20 percent of a
lot size or 200 arms, whichever is
smaller. The inspector shall examine
side surfaces as they are slowly rotated.
When necessary, the rotation may be
stopped for closer inspection. All nonconforming arms shall be rejected.
Whenever the number of
nonconforming arms is found to exceed
2 percent of the sample size, the entire
lot shall be rejected. After the producer
has removed or marked out the
defective material, the arms may be
resubmitted for inspection.
(C) Check of moisture content of the
random sample by a calibrated moisture
meter.
(D) Check of crossarm dimensions of
the random sample measured after
surfacing.
(ii) Inspection during manufacture
shall consist of:
(A) Checking bolt and insulator pin
holes for squareness and excessive
splintering;
(B) Checking brands for completeness,
location, and legibility; and
(C) Checking arms for conformance.
(iii) Under the Independent
Inspection Plan, there shall be a final
inspection after treatment for
preservative retention and penetration
and for damage.
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36973
(3) Structural glued laminated timber
shall be tested and inspected in
accordance with AITC 200
(incorporated by reference in § 1728.97).
Grade of lumber shall be inspected by
a qualified grader for specified quality,
so marked. Adhesives used for all
structural arms shall meet requirements
of ANSI O5.2 (incorporated by reference
at § 1728.97) paragraph 5.2. Melamine
urea adhesives shall not be used. End
joint spacing and limitations shall be in
accordance with ANSI O5.2.
(d) Preservatives. (1) Creosote shall
conform to the requirements of AWPA
P1/P13–06 (incorporated by reference in
§ 1728.97) when analyzed by AWPA
A–06, (incorporated by reference in
§ 1728.97) sections 2, 3, 4, either 5 or 9,
and 6, as follows:
(i) Each occasional charge; and
(ii) The first charge and one of every
five charges randomly selected in
consecutive charges shall be analyzed.
(2) Solutions of waterborne
preservatives shall be analyzed for
components in accordance with AWPA
A2–08 (incorporated by reference in
§ 1728.97)) or AWPA A9–01
(incorporated by reference in § 1728.97)
and shall meet the requirements of
AWPA P5–08 (incorporated by reference
in § 1728.97) for composition. AWPA
A2–08 shall be used as a referee
method.
(3) Pentachlorophenol shall contain
not less than 95 percent chlorinated
phenols and should conform to AWPA
P8–08 (incorporated by reference in
§ 1728.297), in hydrocarbon solvent
AWPA P9–06, Type A (incorporated by
reference in § 1728.97).
(4) Copper Naphthenate in
hydrocarbon solvent AWPA P9–06 Type
A (incorporated by reference in
§ 1728.97), shall contain not less than 6
percent nor more than 8 percent copper
in the form of Copper Naphthenate and
shall conform to AWPA P8–08
(incorporated by reference in § 1728.97),
when analyzed in accordance with
AWPA A5–05 (incorporated by
reference in § 1728.97).
(e) Plant facilities and inspection
during treatment. (1) Manufacturing and
treating plant facilities shall conform to
paragraph 3, AWPA M3–05
(incorporated by reference in § 1728.97),
Pressure plants shall be equipped with
recording instruments to register time,
pressure, temperature and vacuum
during each cycle of treatment. Pressure
plants shall also be equipped with
indicating thermometers and pressure
and vacuum gauges to check the
accuracy of the recorders. Work tanks
shall be equipped with a thermometer.
Thermal treating vats shall be equipped
with a time and temperature recorder
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and with an indicating thermometer.
Temperature recording devices are not
mandatory for plants treating
exclusively with waterborne
preservatives.
(2) Temperature and humidity
readings throughout the kiln shall be
recorded on a recording chart and
verified by observation of direct reading
equipment. Gauges and recording
equipment shall be calibrated annually.
(3) Recording instruments shall be
checked with calibrated indicating
gauges and thermometers, per AWPA
M3–05 (incorporated by reference in
§ 1728.97). Inaccuracies shall be referred
to the treating plant for prompt
correction. If an inaccuracy which
indicates error resulting in noncompliance with this specification
indicating possible damage to the
material, the inspector shall reject the
charge.
(f) Results of treatment. (1) Poles shall
be tested for retention and penetration
by means of a calibrated increment
borer 0.2 inches ± 0.02 inches in
diameter in accordance with procedures
in AWPA M2–07 (incorporated by
reference in § 1728.97). Under the
Independent Inspection Plan, all
treating charges shall be tested for
retention and penetration. Plant quality
control and independent inspection
shall do their analyses separately. Under
the Insured Warranty Plan and Quality
Assurance Plans, the frequency of
testing retention and penetration may
vary according to the agency approved
plan.
(i) Unless otherwise specified, borings
shall be taken approximately 1 foot
above the face brand to 1 foot below the
face brand. For pressure treated Western
Red Cedar and all butt treated poles,
borings shall be taken approximately 1
foot below groundline.
(ii) Penetration compliance shall be
determined in accordance with AWPA
A3–08 (incorporated by reference in
§ 1728.97). Chrome Azurol S and PentaCheck shall be used to determine
penetration of copper containing
preservatives and penta, respectively.
(2) Retention sampling shall be when
there are 20 or more poles in the treating
Number of poles
Class/length
charge, the retention sample for creosote
shall consist of 20 assay zones from
southern pine and Douglas-fir poles. All
poles in charges with fewer than 20
poles shall be bored once. Charges with
less than 15 poles shall be bored once
and bored again on a random basis to
obtain a minimum of 15 assay zones.
(i) Retention samples shall be taken
from 20 poles in charges of 20 or more
poles.
(ii) Retention samples for Alaska
yellow, western red, and northern white
cedars shall consist of a minimum of 30
assay zones for creosote and waterborne
preservatives. For penta charges of
fewer than 30 poles, the sample shall
contain the assay zone from each pole
in the lot.
(iii) Retention samples shall consist of
borings, representative of pole volumes
for each class and length in the charge.
Further selection and marking of poles
of mixed seasoning, volume, and
location on the tram shall be made as
illustrated in the following table:
Vol. in cu. ft.
% of total
volume
Number of
borings
27 .....................................................................................................................
26 .....................................................................................................................
11 .....................................................................................................................
55 * ...................................................................................................................
7/30
4/35
5/35
6/35
232
447
163
704
15
29
10
46
3
6
2
9
Total ..........................................................................................................
........................
1,526
........................
........................
jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with RULES
* If a portion of these poles were green and some partially seasoned, then the number of borings should reflect the approximate percentage of
each.
(iv) When material in a lot consists of
fewer pieces than the designated
minimum number of samples for assay,
additional borings shall be taken so as
to make up at least the minimum
sample, and in such manner that the
sample is representative of the lot of
material with respect to any variations
in size, seasoning condition, or other
features that might affect the results of
treatment.
(v) Analyses for preservative retention
shall be performed as follows:
(A) Creosote retention shall be
analyzed by AWPA A6–01
(incorporated by reference in § 1728.97);
(B) Penta retention shall be analyzed
by AWPA A5–05 (incorporated by
reference in § 1728.97) or AWPA A9–01
(incorporated by reference at § 1728.97).
Copper pyridine method is required
when timber may have been in contact
with salt water and for all species native
to the Pacific coast region, unless the
raw material invoice specifically states
that the material either has not been in
contact with salt water or has been
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shown by analysis to have contained no
additional chlorides before treating;
(C) Copper Naphthenate retention
shall be analyzed by tests in accordance
with AWPA A5–05 (incorporated by
reference in § 1728.97) or AWPA A9–01
(incorporated by reference in § 1728.97);
(D) Waterborne preservatives
retention shall be analyzed by tests in
accordance with AWPA A2–08
(incorporated by reference in § 1728.97),
AWPA A7–04 (incorporated by
reference in § 1728.97); or AWPA A9–01
(incorporated by reference in § 1728.97);
and,
(E) Prior to unloading a tram, the
inspectors may take their own samples
and analyze them concurrently with the
quality control designee, but each shall
work independently, and quality control
data shall be presented before
acceptance of the charge.
(3) The penetration sampling of poles
shall conform as follows:
(i) Group A poles consist of poles
with a circumference of 37.5 inches or
less at 6 feet from butt.
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(A) Bore 20 Group A poles or 20
percent of the poles, whichever is
greater. Accept if 100 percent of the
sample conform; otherwise, bore all
poles.
(B) Re-treat the charge if more than 5
percent of the borings are found to be
nonconforming.
(C) Re-treat all nonconforming poles if
5 percent or fewer fail the requirement.
(ii) Group B poles consist of poles
with circumference greater than 37.5
inches at 6 feet from the butt.
(A) For Group B poles 45 feet and
shorter, bore each pole and re-treat only
those found to be nonconforming,
unless more than 5 percent fail; in that
case, re-treat the entire lot.
(B) For Group B 50 feet and longer,
bore each pole twice at 90 degrees apart
around the pole and accept only those
poles conforming to the penetration
requirement in both borings. All
nonconforming poles may be re-treated
only twice.
(iii) All bored holes (nominal 0.2 of an
inch diam. bit) shall be promptly filled
with treated, tight-fitting wood plugs.
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(4) Under the Independent Inspection
Plan, all treated charges of crossarms
shall be tested for retention and
penetration. Plant quality control
inspectors and independent inspectors
shall do their analyses independently.
Under the Quality Assurance Plans, the
frequency of testing retention and
penetration may vary according to the
plan.
(i) The penetration and retention
sample shall consist of 20 (48 for
creosote) outer 6⁄10 of an inch for
Douglas-fir and 1 inch for Southern
Yellow Pine zones from borings taken
from any face except the top face at a
location as close to the end as possible
being at least 3 inches from the end of
the arm and no closer than 3 inches
from the edge of any holes. For
laminated material, borings shall be
taken from laminates on a random basis.
(ii) Preservative penetration shall be
tested by taking not less than 20 borings
from 20 crossarms in each charge,
determined in accordance with AWPA
A3–08 (incorporated by reference in
§ 1728.97). Chrome Azurol S and PentaCheck shall be used to determine
penetration of copper containing
preservatives and penta, respectively.
(5) Laminated material shall be
checked for any evidence of
delamination due to treatment and for
the identifying quality stamp of AITC or
American Plywood Association (APA).
(6) If used for analysis, x-ray
fluorescence instruments (XRF) shall be
accurate and reliable, and they shall
generate reproducible results.
Instruments shall have thorough
instructions which should include
recommendations on drying techniques,
equipment, and density calculations.
These drying recommendations shall be
followed when using XRF instruments.
(7) To check the precision and
accuracy of the in-plant x-ray
fluorescence units (XRF) being used by
producers, at least once monthly the
independent inspector shall take a
retention sample previously analyzed in
the producer’s laboratory and rerun it in
the inspection agency’s own laboratory.
This sample shall be run utilizing either
the XRF or recognized referee method
for the given preservative. If the
analytical results are within ± 5% of
retention value that was previously
obtained on the sample using the plant’s
XRF unit, the plant instrument needs no
further calibration. All XRF units
maintained by independent agencies as
part of their required laboratories shall
be calibrated at least quarterly either by
the referee method for each preservative
treatment being analyzed by said agency
or by comparison with a set of
graduated treated wood standards.
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(8) Each independent inspector and
plant quality control personnel that use
XRF instruments, shall be properly
trained in the analysis of treated wood
and preservatives under the supervision
of a competent instructor. Proof of
training shall be kept on file.
(g) Product acceptance. Under the
Independent Inspection Plan, the
inspector shall signify acceptance by
marking each piece of accepted material
with a clear, legible hammer stamp in
one end prior to treatment and in the
other end after treatment. The inspector
shall personally mark each piece, and
shall not delegate this responsibility to
another person.
(1) Charge Inspection Reports.
(2) Inspection Reports shall include
the following:
(i) Total pieces offered by the
producer, number of pieces rejected and
cause of rejection;
(ii) Conditioning details of the
material prior to treatment;
(iii) Copy of preservative analysis by
preservative supplier;
(iv) The details of treatment; and
(v) The results of treatment. Results
shall include the following:
(A) The depth of penetration for each
sample and a summary of all poles
rejected for insufficient penetration;
(B) Separate worksheets for retention
analyses, prepared by quality control
designee and independent inspector.
(3) On each inspection report the
independent inspector and the plant
quality control designee shall certify, in
writing, that the material listed on the
report has been inspected before and
after treatment, and that the preservative
used was analyzed in accordance with
the requirements of this section.
(4) Each inspector or inspection
agency shall permanently retain for a
period of 1 year a copy or transcript of
each report of inspection, together with
laboratory worksheets covering
retention by assay and preservative
analyses for the purchaser, and on
request shall furnish a copy or transcript
of any of these reports to the Chairman,
Technical Standards Committee ‘‘A’’,
Electric Staff Division, Rural Utilities
Service, Washington, DC 20250–1569.
(h) Charge numbers on re-treat poles.
(1) The letter ‘‘R’’ shall be added to the
original charge number in the butts of
all poles that are re-treated for
insufficient penetration or retention of
preservative.
(2) All poles that fail to meet
treatment requirements after two retreatments shall be permanently
rejected.
(i) Safety provisions. Poles intended
for agency borrowers shall not be
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36975
inspected when, in the opinion of the
inspector, unsafe conditions are present.
APPENDIX A TO § 1728.202—
INSPECTOR’S QUALIFICATIONS
Inspection agencies should see that
inspectors assigned to the inspection of
timber products and treatment for borrowers
are competent and experienced. In general,
any of the following examples are considered
as minimum qualifying experience before a
new inspector may be permitted to inspect
timber products for borrowers:
(a) Three years’ experience as an inspector
of timber and the preservative treatment of
timber; or
(b) Three years’ experience in timber
treating plant quality control work; or
(c) Under the direct, on site, supervision of
an experience, well-qualified inspector, the
prospective inspector shall have performed
the following:
(1) Inspected at least 10,000 poles and/or
crossarms ‘‘in the white.’’
(2) Checked preservative penetration
results on at least 10,000 poles and
crossarms;
(3) Made at least 100 wood assays for
preservative retention;
(4) Made at lease 25 analyses of each type
preservative used on material the person is
assigned to inspect; and
(d) In both (a) and (b) of this Appendix A,
the experience should be not less than that
required in (c).
(e) Inspectors experienced in the
inspections of one product, such as poles,
should not be qualified to inspect another
product, such as crossarms, until the above
experience is gained for each respective
product.
(f) The inspector should be especially well
informed in wood preservation and the
operation of a timber treating plant, and be
competent in preservative analysis and other
laboratory work.
(g) In all cases, an inspector should be
thoroughly instructed in the application of
the specifications and the standards
pertaining thereto before being permitted to
independently inspect timber products and
the treatments applied to them. Knowledge of
these specifications and standards, as well as
the inspector’s proficiency, may be checked
routinely by members of the agency staff.
PART 1755—TELECOMMUNICATIONS
STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS
FOR MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT AND
CONSTRUCTION
4. The authority citation for part 1755
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq., 1921 et
seq., 6941 et seq.
■
5. Revise § 1755.97 to read as follows:
§ 1755.97 Telephone standards and
specifications.
(a) To comply with the provisions of
this part, you must follow the
requirements set out in the following
RUS telecommunications bulletins.
These bulletins are approved for
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36976
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 122 / Friday, June 24, 2011 / Rules and Regulations
incorporation by reference by the
Director of the Office of the Federal
Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C.
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. These
bulletins contain construction standards
and specifications for materials and
equipment and may be obtained from
the Rural Utilities Service, Program
Development and Regulatory Analysis,
1400 Independence Ave., SW., Stop
1522, Room 4028 South Building,
Washington, DC 20250–1522, phone
(202) 720–8674. The bulletins are
available for inspection at RUS, at the
address above, and at the National
Archives and Records Administration
(NARA). For information on the
availability of this material at NARA,
call 202–741–6030, or go to: https://
www.archives.gov/federal_register/
code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_
locations.html. These materials are
incorporated as they exist on the date of
the approval and notice of any change
in these materials will be published in
the Federal Register. The terms ‘‘RUS
form’’, ‘‘RUS standard form’’, ‘‘RUS
specification’’, and ‘‘RUS bulletin’’ have
the same meaning as the terms ‘‘REA
form’’, ‘‘REA standards form’’, ‘‘REA
specification’’, and ‘‘REA bulletin’’,
respectively, unless otherwise
indicated. For information on other
standards incorporated by reference into
this part see § 1755.901.
(b) The following RUS bulletins are
available from the Superintendent of
Documents, U.S. Government Printing
Office (GPO) for Washington, DC 20402,
Phone: 1–866–512–1800 (toll-free) 202–
512–1800 (DC Area) or go to the GPO
Web site at: https://www.gpoaccess.gov/
about/.
(1) Bulletin 345–39, RUS specification
for telephone station protectors, August
19, 1985.
(2) Bulletin 345–50 PE–60, RUS
specification for trunk carrier systems,
September 1979.
(3) Bulletin 345–54 PE–52, RUS
specification for telephone cable
splicing connectors, December 1971.
(4) Bulletin 345–55 PE–61, RUS
specification for central office loop
extenders and loop extender voice
frequency repeater combinations,
December 1973.
(5) Bulletin 345–65, PE–65,
Specification for shield bonding
connectors, March 22, 1985.
(6) Bulletin 345–66 PE–64, RUS
specification for subscriber carrier
systems, September 1979.
(7) Bulletin 345–69 PE–29, RUS
specification for two-wire voice
frequency repeater equipment, January
1978.
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18:39 Jun 23, 2011
Jkt 223001
(8) Bulletin 345–72 PE–74, RUS
specification for filled splice closures,
October 1985.
(9) Bulletin 345–78 PE–78, RUS
specification for carbon arrester
assemblies for use in protectors,
February 1980.
(10) Bulletin 345–180 Form 397a,
RUS specifications for voice frequency
repeaters and voice frequency
repeatered trunks, January 1963.
(11) Bulletin 345–183 Form 397d,
RUS design specifications for point-topoint microwave radio systems June
1970.
(12) Bulletin 345–184 Form 397e,
RUS design specifications for mobile
and fixed dial radio telephone
equipment May 1971.
(13) Bulletin 1728F–700, RUS
Specification for Wood Poles, Stubs and
Anchor Logs, (3–2011).
(14) Bulletin 1753F–150 Form 515a,
Specifications and Drawings for
Construction of Direct Buried Plant,
September 30, 2010.
(15) Bulletin 1753F–151 Form 515b,
Specifications and Drawings for
Construction of Underground Plan,
September 12, 2001.
(16) Bulletin 1753F–152 Form 515c,
Specifications and Drawings for
Construction of Aerial Plant, September
17, 2001.
(17) Bulletin 1753F–153 Form 515d,
Specifications and Drawings for Service
Installation at Customer Access
Locations, September 17, 2001.
Dated: May 31, 2011.
Jonathan Adelstein,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2011–14567 Filed 6–23–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
NATIONAL CREDIT UNION
ADMINISTRATION
12 CFR Part 701
RIN 3133–AD76
Sample Income Data To Meet the LowIncome Definition
National Credit Union
Administration (NCUA).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
The NCUA is amending its
regulation to permit federal credit
unions (FCUs) that do not qualify for a
low-income designation using the geocoding software the agency has
developed for that purpose to submit an
analysis of a statistically valid sample of
member income data as evidence they
qualify for the designation. The final
rule, by permitting FCUs to use a
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
statistically valid sample of member
incomes drawn from loan files or a
survey, eases the burden on FCUs
seeking to qualify for a low-income
designation. The final rule is very
similar to the proposed, with additional
wording about not combining a survey
and loan file review.
DATES: This rule is effective July 25,
2011.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The
following agency staff may be contacted
at the address or the telephone numbers
provided here: John Worth, Chief
Economist, Office of the Chief
Economist, telephone (703) 518–6308;
Olga Bruslavski, Economist, Office of
the Chief Economist, (703) 518–6495;
Robert Leonard, Director of Consumer
Access, Office of Consumer Protection,
(703) 518–1143; Regina Metz, Staff
Attorney, Office of General Counsel,
(703) 518–6540; National Credit Union
Administration, 1775 Duke Street,
Alexandria, Virginia 22314–3428.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Federal Credit Union Act (Act)
authorizes the NCUA Board to define
‘‘low-income members’’ so that credit
unions with a membership
predominantly consisting of low-income
members can benefit from certain
statutory relief and receive assistance
from the Community Development
Revolving Loan Fund. 12 U.S.C.
1752(5), 1757a(b)(2)(A), 1757a(c)(2)(B),
1772c–1. Currently, NCUA uses geocoding software during the examination
processes to designate low-income
credit unions, as follows:
NCUA will make the determination of
whether a majority of an FCU’s members are
low-income based on data it obtains during
the examination process. This will involve
linking member address information to
publicly available information from the U.S.
Census Bureau to estimate member earnings.
Using automated, geo-coding software,
NCUA will use member street addresses
collected during FCU examinations to
determine the geographic area and
metropolitan area for each member account.
NCUA will then use income information for
the geographic area from the Census Bureau
and assign estimated earnings to each
member.
73 FR at 71910–11.
Credit unions also currently have the
option to submit actual member data for
purposes of qualifying for the lowincome designation. NCUA’s regulation
at section 701.34(a)(3) provides that:
Federal credit unions that do not receive
notification that they qualify for a lowincome credit union designation but believe
they qualify may submit information to the
regional director to demonstrate they qualify
E:\FR\FM\24JNR1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 122 (Friday, June 24, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36961-36976]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-14567]
========================================================================
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.
Prices of new books are listed in the first FEDERAL REGISTER issue of each
week.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 122 / Friday, June 24, 2011 / Rules
and Regulations
[[Page 36961]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
7 CFR Parts 1728 and 1755
Standards and Specifications for Timber Products Acceptable for
Use by Rural Utilities Service Electric and Telecommunications
Borrowers
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is amending its regulations
on Electric and Telecommunications Standards and Specifications for
Materials, Equipment and Construction, by codifying specifications for
wood poles, stubs and anchor logs, wood crossarms (solid and
laminated), transmission timbers and pole keys, and for quality control
and inspection of timber products. RUS is updating these specifications
to conform with revisions to the American Wood Preservers' Association
(AWPA) standards and follow agency policy on insurance requirements.
DATES: Effective Date: This final rule will become effective July 25,
2011.
Incorporation by Reference: The incorporation by reference of
certain publications listed in this rule is approved by the Director of
the Federal Register as of July 25, 2011.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. H. Robert Lash, Transmission
Branch, Electric Staff Division, Rural Utilities Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Room 1246, STOP 1569, 1400 Independence
Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-1569; telephone: (202) 720-0486, or, e-
mail: Bob.Lash@wdc.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Executive Order 12866
This final rule is exempted from the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) review for purposes of Executive Order 12866 and,
therefore, has not been reviewed by OMB.
Executive Order 12372
This final rule is excluded from the scope of Executive Order
12372, Intergovernmental Consultation, which may require consultation
with State and local officials. A notice of final rule entitled
``Department Programs and Activities Excluded from Executive Order
12372'' (50 FR 47034) exempted the Rural Utilities Service loans and
loan guarantees from coverage under this order.
Executive Order 12988
This final rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988,
Civil Justice Reform. The Rural Utilities Service has determined that
this rule meets the applicable standards provided in section 3 of the
Executive Order. In addition, all State and local laws and regulations
that are in conflict with this final rule will be preempted. No
retroactive effect will be given to this final rule and in accordance
with section 212(e) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act
of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6912(e)) administrative appeal procedures, if any,
must be exhausted before an action against the Department or its
agencies may be initiated.
Executive Order 13132
This final rule will not have substantial direct effects on the
States, on the relationship between the national government and the
States, or on distribution of power and responsibilities among the
various levels of government. Under Executive Order 13132, this final
rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to require
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
The Rural Utilities Service has been determined that the Regulatory
Flexibility Act is not applicable to this rule since USDA Rural
Utilities Service is not required by 5 U.S.C. 551 et seq. or any other
provision of the law to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking with
request to the subject matter of this rule.
Information Collection and Recordkeeping Requirements
This information collection and recordkeeping requirements
contained in this final rule are cleared under OMB control number 0572-
0076 pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter
35, as amended).
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
The program described by this final rule is listed in the Catalog
of Federal Domestic Assistance Programs under No. 10.850, Rural
Electrification Loans and Loan Guarantees. This catalog is available on
a subscription basis from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S.
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325, telephone number
(202) 512-1800.
Executive Order 12372
This final rule is excluded from the scope of Executive Order
12372, Intergovernmental Consultation, which may require consultation
with State and local officials. See the final rule related notice
titled ``Department Programs and Activities Excluded from Executive
Order 12372'' (50 FR 47034), advising that the Rural Utilities Service
loans and loan guarantees are excluded from the scope of Executive
Order 12372.
Unfunded Mandates
This final rule contains no Federal Mandates (under the regulatory
provision of title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 [2
U.S.C. Chapter 25]) for State, local, and tribal governments or the
private sector. Thus, this final rule is not subject to the
requirements of sections 202 and 205 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act of 1995.
National Environmental Policy Act Certification
The Rural Utilities Service has determined that this final rule
will not significantly affect the quality of the human environment as
defined by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.). Therefore, this action does not require an environmental
impact statement or assessment.
General Discussion
A proposed rule entitled ``Standards and Specifications for Timber
Products Acceptable for Use by Rural Development Utilities Programs'
[[Page 36962]]
Electric and Telecommunications Borrowers'' was published in the
Federal Register on September 29, 2008 at 73 FR 56513, and the public
was invited to submit comments on or before November 28, 2008. Comments
were received and are addressed in the Summary of Comment section of
this rule.
The Rural Utilities Service maintains bulletins that contain
construction standards and specifications for materials and equipment.
These standards and specifications apply to systems constructed by
electric and telecommunications borrowers in accordance with the loan
contract, and contain standard construction units, materials, and
equipment units used on electric and telecommunications borrowers'
systems. Bulletins 1728F-700, ``Specification for Wood Poles, Stubs and
Anchor Logs''; 1728H-701, ``Specification for Wood Crossarms (Solid and
Laminated), Transmission Timbers and Pole Keys''; and 1728H-702,
``Specification for Quality Control and Inspection of Timber
Products'', establish standards for the manufacture and inspection of
wood utility poles, crossarms and poles keys. The summary of the major
changes to these three bulletins are as follows:
1. All references cited in these bulletins are updated to the
latest edition.
2. The definition ``pole broker'' was added to the list of
definitions to include as many organizations as possible to provide
borrowers a source from which they might purchase wood products.
3. Allow borrowers six months to notify treating plants about poles
not meeting the required preservative retention.
4. In accordance with RUS policy on insurance requirements for
contractors working for borrowers, the specification was revised to
require manufacturers and inspection agencies to maintain certain
limits of liability and errors and omission insurance.
5. All poles are required to be sterilized during the conditioning
or treating cycle. This sterilization should further reduce the number
of poles with pre-treatment decay.
6. Required to brand independent inspection agency's identification
on the face of the pole.
7. RUS revised the qualifications for inspectors and quality
control personnel and will return to the qualifications from the 1987
edition of the specifications.
8. Provisions are added to further clarify that wood products,
producers and inspection agencies maintain the greatest degree of
separation and eliminate any appearance of conflict of interest.
Summary of Comments
The Agency received comments and recommendations in response to the
proposed rule from the following organizations: North American Wood
Pole Council (NAWPC), McFarland Cascade, Cox Industrial Group, Wood
Quality Control (WQC), Cox Industrial Group, Lee Inspection and
Consulting Services, A.W. Williams Inspection Co. (AWW), Texas Electric
Cooperatives (TEC), Timber Products Inspection and Dis-Tran Wood
Products. No comments from any other sources were received. These
comments and recommendations and the Agency's responses are summarized
as follows:
Comment: Lee Inspection, NAWPC, TEC, and AWW questioned the need
for liability insurance and errors and emission insurance and the
amount of coverage.
Agency Response: RUS has required outside contractors doing work
for borrowers to have high levels of liability insurance for many
years. The insurance requirement was added to stay in line with present
agency practices. The proposed insurance was reviewed and the errors
and omission insurance requirement was eliminated for pole and crossarm
producers. Since inspection agencies are performing a service, their
liability and errors and omissions insurance requirement remains.
Comment: NAWPC and Timber Products Inspection questioned the need
to treat kiln dried poles within 30 days after drying.
Agency Response: Paragraph 4.2.1 of Bulletin 1728F-700 dated
September 1993 requires that ``kiln dried poles shall be treated within
1 month from the time they are removed from the kiln.'' This has been
an RUS requirement for nearly twenty years and RUS believes that this
requirement is needed.
Comment: NAWPC and Timber Products Inspection questioned why there
is an inconsistency in paragraph 8.1 of Bulletin 1728F-700 concerning
sterilization of Douglas fir poles.
Agency Response: The sterilization time for Douglas-fir is revised
to be in line with other species.
Comment: McFarland, NAWPC and Timber Products Inspection suggested
the inclusion of the modified full cell process to help control
overtreatment.
Agency Response: The modified full cell process was added as
suggested.
Comment: Timber Products Inspection pointed out that the maximum
temperature for treatment in Western Red Cedar in the table in
paragraph 8.2 of Bulletin 1728F-700 is not in agreement with American
Wood Protection Association Standards.
Agency Response: Bulletin 1728F-700 was revised to meet the AWPA
standard.
Comment: NMWPC, Timber Products Inspection and TEC mentioned that
the wording in paragraph 9.6.2 of Bulletin 1728F-700 be revised from
``supplemental groundline type preservative'' to ``a preservative
approved for use in ground line contact by the AWPA.''
Agency Response: Wording was revised to use ``a preservative
approved for use by AWPA.''
Comment: Lee Inspection, NMWPC, Timber Products Inspection and AWW
felt to certify inspectors and quality control personnel on the use of
XRF equipment was unreasonable.
Agency Response: RUS agrees that this requirement may be difficult
to achieve because there is no organization set up to perform this
service. This provision was eliminated.
Comment: McFarland and TEC raised questions about the addition of
the inspection agency's designation on the face brand and the use of
tags.
Agency Response: This requirement does not add an extra line to the
face brand. It replaces the Quality Assurance mark currently required
on the second line of the brand. Treaters will be given 6 months from
the publication date of this notice to revise their face brands. For
treaters using metal tags, if the existing tag cannot be altered to
show the independent inspection agency designation a separate tag
showing this information shall be added. Metal tag users have three
months to start revising their current tags or ordering an additional
tags to show the agency information.
Comment: Lee Inspection disagrees with the RUS's proposal to not
allow one independent inspection agency to subcontract their contracted
inspection to another party.
Agency Response: When an Electric Borrower designates an inspection
agency to act as their agent and inspect pole on their behalf the RUS
believes they actually want that company to do the work. RUS believes
that this requirement is reasonable.
Comment: Lee Inspection disagrees with the RUS's stand on not
allowing independent inspection agencies to offer product warranties on
inspected material.
Agency Response: RUS wants, as a secured lender, to eliminate any
appearance of a conflict of interest between independent inspectors and
[[Page 36963]]
treaters. A product warranty put out by an inspection agency for a pole
or crossarm produced by another company is unacceptable. RUS is not
changing this provision.
Comment: Lee Inspection and AWW are concerned with the wording
``Failure of a selected third-party inspection agency to properly
perform their required overview responsibilities may subject said
agency to subsequent liability claims for unsatisfactory or inadequate
product performance.''
Agency Response: This specific language will be from the final
rule, however, the potential liability incurred by the inspection
agency for any improper performance will be left up to the borrower.
Comment: Lee Inspection and AWW felt the frequency of the precision
check by independent inspectors for the x-ray fluorescence instrument
at treating plant weekly was too onerous.
Agency Response: In some cases this requirement could be too
burdensome. In response, the frequency was changed to monthly for
analysis of preservative and treated wood at the inspector's agency
laboratory.
Comment: Cox Industrial Group and Dis-Tran wanted to require
borrowers to store crossarms under cover to be eligible for the one
year warranty.
Agency Response: The conformance period of one year from date of
delivery should not be affected if arms are stored indoors, outdoors or
installed on poles. As a result, RUS will not change the proposal.
Comment: Timber Products Inspection noted that the radial drilling
depths were left off Table 10 in Bulletin 1728F-700.
Agency Response: This information was added back into the bulletin.
Comment: McFarland Cascade questioned the limiting of butt treated
poles to arid regions.
Agency Response: Since butt treated poles have shown to have good
durability in areas other than arid regions the final rule is revised
to limit their use to low to moderate decay zones.
Comment: McFarland Cascade and Timber Products questioned allowing
through boring for poles were raised.
Agency Response: In response to this, a section on allowing through
boring was added.
Comment: WQC suggested that the Insured Warranty program be removed
since it has not been used in many years.
Agency Response: This plan for supplying poles has continued to be
included to keep several options open for suppliers. There have been a
few instances where suppliers have tried to start using this program
again.
Comment: WQC suggested that RUS limit the percentage of defects of
a ``lot'' of poles from 15% to 5%, which is the AWPA limit, before the
entire lot is rejected.
Agency Response: In response, RUS will revise their reject
percentage to stay in line with AWPA Standards.
List of Subjects
7 CFR Part 1728
Electric power, Incorporation by reference, Loan programs--energy,
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Rural areas.
7 CFR Part 1755
Incorporation by reference, Loan programs--communications,
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Rural areas, Telephone.
For reasons set forth in the preamble, chapter XVII of title 7 of
the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as follows:
PART 1728--ELECTRIC STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR MATERIALS AND
CONSTRUCTION
0
1. The authority citation for part 1728 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.; 1921 et seq., 6941 et seq.
0
2. Revise Sec. 1728.97 to read as follows:
Sec. 1728.97 Incorporation by reference of electric standards and
specifications.
The materials listed below are incorporated by reference in the
corresponding sections noted. The Director of the Federal Register
approves the incorporations by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C.
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. A notice of any change in these materials
will be published in the Federal Register. Standards and specifications
materials are available for purchase at the addresses in the
corresponding sections noted below. The materials incorporated by
reference may also be inspected at the Rural Utilities Service's
Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, Stop 1520, Room 5820-S,
Washington, DC 20250-1522, call (202) 720-8674. Bulletins are also
available for inspection at the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of these
materials at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: https://www.archives.gov/or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North
Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC, or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.htm.
(a) The following RUS bulletins are available from the Rural
Utilities Service, Room 1246-S, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Washington, DC 20250. For information on the availability of this
material, call (202) 720-1900. The bulletins containing construction
standards (50-4 and 1728F-803 to 1728F-811) may be obtained from the
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) for
Washington, DC 20402, Phone: 1-866-512-1800 (toll-free) 202-512-1800
(DC Area) or go to the GPO Web site at: https://www.gpoaccess.gov/about/.
(1) Bulletin 50-4 (D-801), Specification and Drawings for 34.5/19.9
kV Distribution Line Construction (11-86), incorporation approved for
Sec. 1728.98.
(2) Bulletin 50-15 (DT-3), RUS Specifications for Pole Top Pins
with 1\3/8\' Diameter Lead Thread (1-51), incorporation approved for
Sec. 1728.98.
(3) Bulletin 50-16 (DT-4), RUS Specifications for Angle Suspension
Brackets (3-52), incorporation approved for Sec. 1728.98.
(4) Bulletin 50-19 (DT-7), RUS Specifications for Clevis Bolts (8-
53), incorporation approved for Sec. 1728.98.
(5) Bulletin 50-23 (DT-18), RUS Specifications for 60'' Wood
Crossarm Braces (2-71), incorporation approved for Sec. 1728.98.
(6) Bulletin 50-31 (D-3), RUS Specifications for Pole Top Pins with
1'' Diameter Lead Threads (2-79), incorporation approved for Sec.
1728.98.
(7) Bulletin 50-32 (D-4), RUS Specifications for Steel Crossarm
Mounted Pins with 1'' Diameter Lead Threads (10-50), incorporation
approved for Sec. 1728.98.
(8) Bulletin 50-33 (D-5), RUS Specifications for Single and Double
Upset Spool Bolts (2-51), incorporation approved for Sec. 1728.98.
(9) Bulletin 50-34 (D-6), RUS Specifications for Secondary Swinging
Clevises (12-70), incorporation approved for Sec. 1728.98.
(10) Bulletin 50-35 (D-7), RUS Specifications for Service Swinging
Clevises (9-52), incorporation approved for Sec. 1728.98.
(11) Bulletin 50-36 (D-8), RUS Specifications for Service Deadend
Clevises (9-52), incorporation approved for Sec. 1728.98.
(12) Bulletin 50-40 (D-14), RUS Specifications for Pole Top
Brackets for Channel Type Pins (9-51), incorporation approved for Sec.
1728.98.
(13) Bulletin 50-41 (D-15), RUS Specifications for Service
Wireholders
[[Page 36964]]
(11-51), incorporation approved for Sec. 1728.98.
(14) Bulletin 50-55 (T-2), RUS Specifications for Overhead Ground
Wire Support Brackets (5-53), incorporation approved for Sec. 1728.98.
(15) Bulletin 50-56 (T-3), RUS Specifications for Steel Plate
Anchors for Transmission Lines (12-53), incorporation approved for
Sec. 1728.98.
(16) Bulletin 50-60 (T-9), RUS Specification--Single Pole Steel
Structures, Complete with Arms (12-71), incorporation approved for
Sec. 1728.98.
(17) Bulletin 50-72 (U-4), RUS Specification for Electrical
Equipment Enclosures (5-35 kV) (10-79), incorporation approved for
Sec. 1728.98.
(18) Bulletin 50-73 (U-5), RUS Specifications for Pad-Mounted
Transformers (Single and Three-Phase) (1-77), incorporation approved
for Sec. 1728.98.
(19) Bulletin 50-74 (U-6), RUS Specification for Secondary
Pedestals (600 Volts and Below) (10-79), incorporation approved for
Sec. 1728.98.
(20) Bulletin 50-91 (S-3), RUS Specifications for Step-Down
Distribution Substation Transformers (34.4-138 kV) (1-78),
incorporation approved for Sec. 1728.98.
(21) Bulletin 1728F-700, RUS Specification for Wood Poles, Stubs
and Anchor Logs (3-2011), incorporation approved for Sec. Sec.
1728.98, 1728.202.
(22) Bulletin 1728F-803, Specifications and Drawings for 24.9/14.4
kV Line Construction (10-98), incorporation approved for Sec. 1728.98.
(23) Bulletin 1728F-804 (D-804), Specification and Drawings for
12.47/7.2 kV Line Construction, October 2005, incorporation approved
for Sec. 1728.98.
(24) Bulletin 1728F-806 (D-806), Specifications and Drawings for
Underground Electric Distribution, June 2000, incorporation approved
for Sec. 1728.98.
(25) Bulletin 1728F-810, Electric Transmission Specifications and
Drawings, 34.5 kV to 69 kV (3-98), incorporation approved for
Sec. Sec. 1728.98 and 1728.201.
(26) Bulletin 1728F-811, Electric Transmission Specifications and
Drawings, 115 kV to 230 kV (3-98), incorporation approved for
Sec. Sec. 1728.98 and 1728.201.
(b) The following material is available for purchase from American
Institute of Timber Construction (AITC), 7012 S. Revere Park Way,
Englewood, Colorado 80112, telephone (303) 792-9559, web address:
https://www.aitc-glulam.org/index.asp.
(1) AITC 200-2004, Manufacturing Quality Control Systems Manual For
Structural Glued Laminated Timber, copyright 2004, (incorporation by
reference approved for Sec. Sec. 1728.201 and 1728.202.
(2) [Reserved]
(c) The following standards are available for purchase from the
American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 West 43rd Street, New
York, New York 10036, telephone (212) 642-4900, Web address: https://www.ansi.org/.
(1) ANSI O5.2-2006, American National Standard for Wood Products,
Structural Glued Laminated Timber for Utility Structures, approved
December 5, 2006, incorporation by reference approved for Sec. Sec. ,
1728.201, 1728.202.
(2) ANSI O5.3.2008, American National Standard for Wood Poles and
Wood Products, Solid Sawn-Wood Crossarms & Braces--Specifications &
Dimensions, approved July 15, 2008, incorporation by reference approved
for Sec. 1728.201.
(d) [Reserved]
(e) The following standards from the American Wood Protection
Association (AWPA), Book of Standards, 2008 edition, are available for
purchase from AWPA, P.O. Box 361784, Birmingham, AL 35236-1784,
telephone 205-733-4077, https://www.awpa.com/.
(1) AWPA A1-06, Standard Methods for Analysis of Creosote and Oil-
Type Preservatives, amended in 2006, incorporation by reference
approved for Sec. Sec. 1728.201 and 1728.202.
(2) AWPA A2-08, Standard Methods for Analysis of Waterborne
Preservatives and Fire-Retardant Formulations, 2008, incorporation by
reference approved for Sec. Sec. 1728.201 and 1728.202.
(3) AWPA A3-08, Standard Methods for Determining Penetration of
Preservatives and Fire Retardants, revised in 2008, incorporation by
reference approved for Sec. Sec. 1728.201and 1728.202.
(4) AWPA A5-05, Standard Methods for Analysis of Oil-Borne
Preservatives, 2008, incorporation by reference approved for Sec. Sec.
1728.201 and 1728.202.
(5) AWPA A6-01, Method for the Determination of Oil-Type
Preservatives and Water in Wood, amended in 2001, incorporation by
reference approved for Sec. 1728.202.
(6) AWPA A7-04, Standard for Wet Ashing Procedures for Preparing
Wood for Chemical Analysis, amended in 2004, incorporation by reference
approved for Sec. 1728.202.
(7) AWPA A9-01, Standard Method for Analysis of Treated Wood and
Treating Solutions By X-Ray Spectroscopy, amended in 2001,
incorporation by reference approved for Sec. Sec. 1728.201 and
1728.202.
(8) AWPA M2-07, Standard for Inspection of Wood Products Treated
with Preservatives, reaffirmed in 2007, incorporation by reference
approved for Sec. 1728.202.
(9) AWPA M3-05, Standard Quality Control Procedures for Wood
Preserving Plants, amended in 2005, incorporation by reference approved
for Sec. 1728.202.
(10) AWPA P1/P13-06, Standard for Creosote Preservative, reaffirmed
in 2006, incorporation by reference approved for Sec. Sec. 1728.201
and 1728.202.
(11) AWPA P5-08, Standard for Waterborne Preservatives, revised in
2008, incorporation by reference approved for Sec. Sec. 1728.201and
1728.202.
(12) AWPA P8-08, Standard for Oil-Borne Preservatives, revised in
2008, incorporation by reference approved for Sec. Sec. 1728.201and
1728.202.
(13) AWPA P9-06, Standards for Solvents and Formulations for
Organic Preservative Systems, copyright 2008, incorporation by
reference approved for Sec. Sec. 1728.201 and 1728.202.
(f) The following material is available from Southern Pine
Inspection Bureau Standards, 4709 Scenic Highway, Pensacola, Florida
32504-9094, telephone (850) 434-2611. The web address for the Southern
Pine Inspection Bureau is https://www.spib.org/.
(1) Special Product Rules for Structural, Industrial, and Railroad-
Freight Car Lumber, effective October 15, 1991, incorporation by
reference approved for Sec. 1728.201.
(2) [Reserved]
(g) The following material is available for purchase from West
Coast Lumber Inspection Bureau, P.O. Box 23145, Portland, Oregon 97281,
telephone (503) 639-0651, fax (503) 684-8928. The web address for is
https://www.wclib.org/.
(1) Standard No. 17, Grading Rules for West Coast Lumber, Revised
January 1, 2004, incorporation by reference approved for Sec.
1728.201.
(2) [Reserved]
0
3. Add new Sec. 1728.98 to read as follows:
Sec. 1728.98 Electric standards and specifications.
(a) To comply with this part, you must follow the requirements
contained in the following REA/RUS bulletins. These bulletins are
incorporated by reference in Sec. 1728.97 of this part.
(1) Bulletin 50-4 (D-801), Specification and Drawings for 34.5/19.9
kV Distribution Line Construction (11-86).
(2) Bulletin 50-15 (DT-3), RUS Specifications for Pole Top Pins
with 1\3/8\' Diameter Lead Thread (1-51).
[[Page 36965]]
(3) Bulletin 50-16 (DT-4), RUS Specifications for Angle Suspension
Brackets (3-52).
(4) Bulletin 50-19 (DT-7), RUS Specifications for Clevis Bolts (8-
53).
(5) Bulletin 50-23 (DT-18), RUS Specifications for 60'' Wood
Crossarm Braces (2-71).
(6) Bulletin 50-31 (D-3), RUS Specifications for Pole Top Pins with
1'' Diameter Lead Threads (2-79).
(7) Bulletin 50-32 (D-4), RUS Specifications for Steel Crossarm
Mounted Pins with 1'' Diameter Lead Threads (10-50).
(8) Bulletin 50-33 (D-5), RUS Specifications for Single and Double
Upset Spool Bolts (2-51).
(9) Bulletin 50-34 (D-6), RUS Specifications for Secondary Swinging
Clevises (12-70).
(10) Bulletin 50-35 (D-7), RUS Specifications for Service Swinging
Clevises (9-52).
(11) Bulletin 50-36 (D-8), RUS Specifications for Service Deadend
Clevises (9-52).
(12) Bulletin 50-40 (D-14), RUS Specifications for Pole Top
Brackets for Channel Type Pins (9-51).
(13) Bulletin 50-41 (D-15), RUS Specifications for Service
Wireholders (11-51).
(14) Bulletin 50-55 (T-2), RUS Specifications for Overhead Ground
Wire Support Brackets (5-53).
(15) Bulletin 50-56 (T-3), RUS Specifications for Steel Plate
Anchors for Transmission Lines (12-53).
(16) Bulletin 50-60 (T-9), RUS Specification--Single Pole Steel
Structures, Complete with Arms (12-71).
(17) Bulletin 50-72 (U-4), RUS Specification for Electrical
Equipment Enclosures (5-35 kV) (10-79).
(18) Bulletin 50-73 (U-5), RUS Specifications for Pad-Mounted
Transformers (Single and Three-Phase) (1-77).
(19) Bulletin 50-74 (U-6), RUS Specification for Secondary
Pedestals (600 Volts and Below) (10-79).
(20) Bulletin 50-91 (S-3), RUS Specifications for Step-Down
Distribution Substation Transformers (34.4-138 kV) (1-78).
(21) Bulletin 1728F-700, RUS Specification for Wood Poles, Stubs
and Anchor Logs (3-2011).
(22) Bulletin 1728F-803, Specifications and Drawings for 24.9/14.4
kV Line Construction (10-98).
(23) Bulletin 1728F-804 (D-804), Specification and Drawings for
12.47/7.2 kV Line Construction, October 2005.
(24) Bulletin 1728F-806 (D-806), Specifications and Drawings for
Underground Electric Distribution, June 2000.
(25) Bulletin 1728F-810, Electric Transmission Specifications and
Drawings, 34.5 kV to 69 kV (3-98).
(26) Bulletin 1728F-811, Electric Transmission Specifications and
Drawings, 115 kV to 230 kV (3-98).
(b) The terms ``RUS form'', ``RUS standard form'', ``RUS
specification'', and ``RUS bulletin'' have the same meanings as the
terms ``REA form'', ``REA standard form'', ``REA specification'', and
``REA bulletin'', respectively unless otherwise indicated.
0
4. Sections 1728.201 and 1728.202 are revised to read as follows:
Sec. 1728.201 Bulletin 1728H-701, Specification for Wood Crossarms
(Solid and Laminated), Transmission Timbers and Pole Keys.
(a) General Provisions. (1) This section implements contractual
provisions between Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and borrowers
receiving financial assistance. The contractual agreement between RUS
and its borrowers requires the borrower's system to be constructed in
accordance with agency accepted plans and specifications. Each electric
borrower must purchase only wood crossarms produced in accordance with
the specification in this section.
(2) Each electric borrower shall require each contractor to agree
in writing to furnish only materials produced in accordance with the
specifications in this section.
(3) This specification describes the minimum acceptable quality of
wood distribution crossarms and transmission crossarms (hereinafter
called crossarms) that are purchased by or for borrowers. Where there
is conflict between this specification and any other specification
referred to in this section, this specification shall govern.
(4) Various requirements relating to quality control and inspection
are contained in Sec. 1728.202 of this part, Specification for Quality
Control and Inspection of Timber Products. Section 1728.201 of this
part, ANSI O5.2, (incorporated by reference in Sec. 1728.97), and ANSI
O5.3, (incorporated by reference in Sec. 1728.97) shall be followed
exactly and shall not be interpreted or subjected to judgment by the
quality control person or an independent inspector.
(5) The purchaser shall purchase from producers only material that
meets the requirements of this specification. Each purchaser shall use
a written purchase order to purchase material for use in financed
systems in order to ensure compliance with the standards and
specifications of this part. The written purchase order shall contain a
provision that specifically requires the producer to comply with the
provisions of this part. The purchase order shall contain a provision
that specifically requires the producer to make the treating plant and
storage areas available, during normal business hours, in order for
representatives of either the purchaser or this agency to inspect such
to determine compliance with the standards and specifications of this
part.
(6) The producer shall provide the inspectors with full information
(drawings, etc.) relating to the requirements contained in the purchase
order which is supplementary to this specification.
(7) The producer shall maintain, or have access to, adequate
laboratory facilities at or very near the treating plant, and all
chemical tests, assays or analyses associated with the treatment shall
be independently performed in this laboratory by both the quality
control designee and the borrower's inspector. The producer may use a
central laboratory as accepted on a case-by-case basis.
(8) Inspection and treatment of all timber products produced under
this specification shall be performed after receipt of the order from
the purchaser, except as provided for reserve treated stock.
(9) The testing and inspection of the lamination process shall be
in accordance with AITC 200 (incorporated by reference in Sec.
1728.97).
(10) With the exception of reserve treated stock, if requested by
the borrower invoices for treated timber products shall be accompanied,
in duplicate, by a copy of the producer's Certificate of Compliance and
a copy of either the Independent Inspection Report or a Quality
Assurance Plan Certificate. For reserve treated stock, inspection
reports shall be available from the inspection agency. When shipped
from reserve stock, the invoice shall bear an endorsement and a further
certification by the producer that the material meets the requirements
of this specification and any supplementary requirements cited in the
purchase order under which it is purchased.
(11) Crossarms shall be warranted to conform to this specification.
If any crossarm is determined to be defective or does not conform to
this specification within 1 year after delivery to the borrower, it
shall be replaced as promptly as possible by the producer. In the event
of failure to do so, the purchaser may make such replacement and the
cost of the crossarm, at destination, shall be recoverable from the
producer.
[[Page 36966]]
(12) Crossarm producers shall take out and maintain liability
insurance for not less than $1 million. Upon request, evidence of
compliance shall be provided. The evidence shall be in the form of a
certificate of insurance signed by a representative of the insurance
company and include a provision that no changes in, or cancellation of,
will be made without the prior written notice to the Director, Electric
Staff Division, Rural Utilities Service.
(b) Definitions.
Agency refers to Rural Utilities Service (RUS), United States
Department of Agriculture.
Arm refers to structural wood member used to support electrical
conductors and equipment. Arm is used interchangeably with crossarm.
Certificate of compliance is a written certification by an
authorized employee of the producer that the material shipped meets the
requirements of this specification and any supplementary requirements
specified in a purchase order from a borrower or the borrower's
contractor.
Crossarm refers to a structural wood member used to support
electrical conductors and equipment and is a term used interchangeably
with arm.
Independent inspection relates to examination of material by an
independent inspector employed by a commercial inspection agency.
Inspection means an examination of material in sufficient detail to
ensure conformity to all phases of the specification under which it was
purchased.
Lot is a quantity of crossarms of like size, conditioning, and
fabrication, usually making up one treating charge.
Producer is used to describe the party who manufactures and/or
treats crossarms.
Purchaser refers to either the borrower or contractors acting as
the borrower's agent, except where a part of the specification
specifically refers to only the borrower or the contractor.
Quality control designee refers to an individual designated by the
producer to oversee proper operation of the manufacturer's internal
quality control system.
Reserve treated stock consists of timber products treated in
accordance with this specification, prior to and in anticipation of the
receipt of specific orders, and held in storage ready for immediate
shipment.
Supplier is a term used interchangeably with producer, or in some
cases, may be the distributor selling crossarms to the borrower.
Treating plant is the organization that applies the preservative
treatment to the crossarms.
(c) Independent Inspection Plan. This plan or a Quality Assurance
Plan, as described in paragraph (e) of this section, is acceptable for
supplying crossarms. All crossarms purchased under the Independent
Inspection Plan, for use on an agency financed system shall be
inspected by a qualified independent inspector in accordance with Sec.
1728.202 of this part.
(1) The borrower has the prerogative to contract directly with the
inspection agency for service. The borrower should, where practical,
select the inspection agency so that continual employment is dependent
only on performance acceptable to the borrower and in accordance with
this specification. The selected inspection agency shall not be allowed
to subcontract the service to any other inspection agency.
(2) The producer shall not be permitted to be a party to the
selection of the inspection agency by the borrower and shall not
interfere with the work of the inspector, except to provide
notification of the readiness of material for inspection. To obtain
inspection services for reserve stock, the producer may deal directly
with the inspection agency. The producer shall not be permitted to
treat material before it has been properly inspected and hammered with
the appropriate inspection/quality assurance mark.
(3) The methods of inspection described in this section and in
Sec. 1728.202 of this part shall be used no matter which plan
crossarms are produced under, i.e., Independent Inspection Plan, or
Quality Assurance Plans, as described in this section
(d) Quality Assurance Plans. The producer shall furnish crossarms
conforming to this specification as monitored by an acceptable Quality
Assurance Plan. Borrower groups or agents for borrower groups
endeavoring to operate Quality Assurance Plans shall submit their plan
for assuring quality control to the Chairman, Technical Standards
Committee ``A'', Electric Staff Division, Rural Utilities Service, Stop
1569, Washington, DC 20250-1569.
(e) Material Requirements. (1) Material and Grade. All crossarms
furnished under this specification shall be free of brashy wood, decay,
and insect holes larger than 3/32 of an inch and shall meet additional
requirements as shown on specific drawings. Crossarms shall be made of
one of the following:
(i) Douglas-fir which conforms to the applicable crossarm
provisions of paragraphs 170 and 170a, or the applicable transmission
arm provisions of paragraphs 169 and 169a of the Standard No. 17
Grading Rules for West Coast Lumber (incorporated by reference in Sec.
1728.97). Only coastal origin Douglas-fir shall be used for Douglas-fir
crossarms manufactured under this specification;
(ii) Southern Yellow Pine which conforms to the provisions of Dense
Industrial Crossarm 65, as described in paragraph 31.2 in the 2001
Southern Pine Inspection Bureau's Special Product Rules for Structural,
Industrial, and Railroad-Freight Car Lumber, (incorporated by reference
at Sec. 1728.97); or
(iii) Laminated wood crossarms shall conform to ANSI O5.2
(incorporated by reference at Sec. 1728.97) and have at least the same
load carrying capacity as the solid sawn arm it replaces. The load
carrying capacity of the laminated arms shall be determined by one of
the procedures outlined in ANSI O5.2.
(2) Borrowers may use alternative crossarms that are listed in
Informational Publication 202-1, List of Materials Acceptable for Use
on Systems of USDA Rural Utilities Service Borrowers. For information
on the availability of this material, call RUS at (202) 720-1900, or go
to: https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UEP_Engineering_LOM.html.
(3) Knots. Sound, firm, and tight knots, if well spaced, are
allowed.
(i) Slightly decayed knots are permitted, except on the top face,
provided the decay extends no more than \3/4\ of an inch into the knot
and provided the cavities will drain water when the arm is installed.
For knots to be considered well spaced, the sum of the sizes of all
knots in any 6 inches of length of a piece shall not exceed twice the
size of the largest knot permitted. More than one knot of maximum
permissible size shall not be in the same 6 inches of length. Slightly
decayed, firm, or sound ``pin knots'' (\3/8\ of an inch or less) are
not considered in size, spacing, or zone considerations.
(ii) Knots are subject to limits on size and location as detailed
in Tables I and II.
[[Page 36967]]
Table I--Knot Limits for Distribution Arms (See Figure 1, Appendix A)
[All dimensions in inches]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum Diameter
Class of knot and location ---------------- Knot ---------------
Close grain Dense grain
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Round Knots
Single Knot: Maximum Diameter Center Section*
Upper Half.............................................. \3/4\ .............. 1
Lower Half.............................................. 1 .............. 1\1/4\
Elsewhere................................................... 1\1/4\ .............. 1\1/2\
Sum of Diameters in a 6-Inch Length: Maximum:
Center Section
Upper Half.............................................. 1\1/2\ .............. 2
Lower Half.............................................. 2 .............. 2\1/2\
Elsewhere................................................... 2\1/2\ .............. 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* No knot shall be closer than its diameter to the pole mounting hole.
Table II--Knot Limits for Transmission Arms (See Figure 2, Appendix A)
[All dimensions in inches]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pole mounting hole zone * Maximum diameter for Single Knot
------------------------------------------------------------------------
UPPER HALF (inner zone)............. \3/4\.
UPPER HALF (outer zone)............. 1 for close grain.
1\1/4\ dense grain.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wide face (two sides)
-------------------------------
Other locations transmission arm size ** Narrow face Along
Edge centerline
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4\5/8\ x 5\5/8\ or less......................................... 1 1\1/4\ 1\1/4\
5\5/8\ x 7\3/8\................................................. 1\1/4\ 1\3/8\ 1\7/8\
3\5/8\ x 9\3/8\................................................. \3/4\ 1\3/4\ 2\1/4\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* No knot shall be closer than its diameter to the pole mounting hole.
** For cross sections not shown, refer to grading rules.
(iii) Knot clusters shall be prohibited unless the entire cluster,
measured on the worst face, is equal to or less than the round knot
allowed at the specific location.
(iv) Spike knots shall be prohibited in deadend arms. Any spike
knot across the top face shall be limited to the equivalent
displacement of a knot \3/8\ of an inch deep on one face and the
maximum round knot for its particular location on the worst face, with
a maximum width of 1 inch measured at the midpoint of the spiked
section. Elsewhere across the bottom or side faces, spike knots shall
not exceed \1/2\ the equivalent displacement of a round knot permitted
at that location, provided that the depth of the knot on the worst face
shall not exceed the maximum round knot allowed at that location.
(v) Loose knots and knot holes shall be such that they can drain
water when the arm is installed in its normal position. In the center
section, upper half, loose knots shall not be greater than \1/2\ the
dimensions of round knots. Elsewhere, loose knots shall not be greater
than the round knot dimension. Loose knots shall be prohibited in
deadend arms.
(vi) All knots except those ``spike'' knots intersecting a corner
shall be measured on the least diameter of the knot.
(vii) A knot shall be considered to occupy a specific zone or
section if the center of the knot (i.e., pith of knot) is within the
zone or on the zone's boundary.
(viii) If a round or oval knot appears on two faces and is in two
zones, each face shall be judged independently. When this does not
occur, average the least dimension showing on both faces. Knots which
occur on only one face of a free of heart center (FOHC) arm shall be
permitted to be 25 percent larger than the stated size.
(ix) Two or more knots opposite each other on any face shall be
limited by a sum not to exceed the size of a maximum single knot
permitted for the location. On all four faces, all knots shall be well
spaced.
(x) Knots which have a maximum of \5/8\ inch diameter may intersect
pin holes in the center section. One inch diameter knots may intersect
insulator pin holes elsewhere.
(4) Miscellaneous characteristics, features, and requirements. (i)
The top face of distribution crossarms shall not have more than four
medium pitch and bark pockets in 8-foot arms, and not more than five
pitch and bark pockets in 10-foot arms. Elsewhere a maximum of six
medium pockets in 8-foot arms and eight in 10-foot arms shall be
permitted. Equivalent smaller pockets shall be permissible. An
occasional large pocket is permissible.
(ii) Shakes shall be prohibited.
(iii) Prior to treatment on properly seasoned arms, single face
checks shall not exceed an average penetration of \1/4\ the depth from
any face and shall be limited to 10 inches long on the top face, and
\1/3\ the arm length on the other faces. Checks shall not be repeated
in the same line of grain in adjacent pin holes. The sum of the average
depths of checks occurring in the same plane on opposite faces shall be
limited to \1/4\ the face depth.
(iv) Compression wood shall be prohibited on any face. Compression
wood is permitted if wholly enclosed in
[[Page 36968]]
the arm, more than six annual rings from the surface, and not over \3/
8\ of an inch in width.
(v) Insect holes \3/32\ of an inch and larger shall be prohibited.
Insect pin holes (i.e. holes not over \1/16\ of an inch diameter) shall
be allowed if scattered and not exceeding 10 percent of the arm girth.
(vi) Wane shall be allowed on one edge, limited to approximately 1
inch measured across the corner. Outside of the top center section, an
aggregate length not to exceed 2 feet may have wane up to 1\1/2\ inches
on an occasional piece on one or both edges. Bark shall be removed.
(vii) Prior to and after preservative treatment, crook, bow, or
twist shall not exceed \1/2\ of an inch in 8 foot arms and \5/8\ of an
inch in 10 foot arms.
(f) Manufacturing. (1) All dimensions and tolerances shall conform
to those shown on the drawings in this section or drawings supplied
with the purchase order. Drawings supplied shall meet or exceed minimum
dimensions and tolerances shown on the drawings in this section. Cross-
sectional dimensions shall be measured and judged at about \1/4\ the
arm length, except when the defects of ``skip dressing'' or ``machine
bite or offset'' are involved.
(2) Lamination techniques shall comply with ANSI O5.2 (incorporated
by reference at Sec. 1728.97).
(3) Pin and bolt holes shall be smoothly bored without undue
splintering where drill bits break through the surface. The center of
any hole shall be within \1/8\ of an inch of the center-line locations
on the face in which it appears. Holes shall be perpendicular to the
starting and finishing faces.
(4) Shape. The shape of the arms at any cross section, except for
permissible wane, shall be as shown on the respective drawings in this
section or supplied with the order. The two top edges may be either
chamfered or rounded \3/8\ of an inch radius. The two bottom edges
shall be slightly eased \1/8\ of an inch radius for the entire length.
(5) Incising. The lengthwise surfaces of Douglas-fir crossarms
shall be incised approximately \1/4\ of an inch deep. The incision
shall be reasonably clean cut with a spacing pattern that ensures
uniform penetration of preservative.
(6) Quality of work. All crossarms shall be of the highest quality
production. Crossarms shall be dressed on four sides, although ``hit
and miss skips'' may occur on two adjacent faces on occasional pieces.
(g) Conditioning prior to treatment. (1) All solid sawn crossarms
shall be made of lumber which has been kiln-dried. Douglas-fir arms
shall have an average moisture content of 19 percent or less, with a
maximum not to exceed 22 percent in a single arm. Southern Yellow Pine
arms shall have an average moisture content of 22 percent or less, with
a maximum not to exceed 30 percent in a single arm.
(2) Moisture content levels shall be measured at about \1/4\ the
length and at a depth of about \1/5\ the crossarm's thickness.
Additionally, the moisture content gradient between the shell (i.e. \1/
4\ of an inch deep) and the core (i.e. about 1 inch deep) shall not
exceed 5 percentage points.
(3) A minimum of at least 20 solid sawn crossarms per treating
charge shall be measured to verify moisture content and shall be duly
recorded by the quality control designee.
(4) The moisture content of lumber used in laminating shall, at the
time of gluing, be within the range of 8 to 12 percent, inclusive.
(h) Preservatives. (1) The preservatives shall be:
(i) Creosote which conforms to the requirements of AWPA P1/13-06
(incorporated by reference at Sec. 1728.97), when analyzed in
accordance with the methods in AWPA A1-06 (incorporated by reference at
Sec. 1728.97), sections 2, 3, 4, either 5 or 9, and 6;
(ii) Pentachlorophenol which contains not less than 95 percent
chlorinated phenols and conforms to AWPA P8-08 (incorporated by
reference at Sec. 1728.97) when analyzed in accordance with AWPA A5-05
(incorporated by reference at Sec. 1728.97) or AWPA A9-01
(incorporated by reference at Sec. 1728.97). The hydrocarbon solvents
for introducing the preservative into the wood shall meet the
requirements of AWPA P9-06 (incorporated by reference at Sec. 1728.97)
Type A;
(2) Waterborne Preservatives shall be any of the following:
(i) Ammoniacal Copper Arsenates (ACA) and Ammoniacal Copper Zinc
Arsenate (ACZA) which shall meet the requirements of AWPA P5-08
(incorporated by reference at Sec. 1728.97), when analyzed in
accordance with methods in AWPA A2-08 (incorporated by reference at
Sec. 1728.97) or AWPA A9-01 (incorporated by reference at Sec.
1728.97); and
(ii) Chromated Copper Arsenates (CCA) which shall meet the
requirements of one of the formulations given in AWPA P5-08
(incorporated by reference at Sec. 1728.97) sections 4, 5 or 6, and
10. Tests to establish conformity shall be made in accordance with AWPA
A2-08 (incorporated by reference at Sec. 1728.97) or A9-01
(incorporated by reference at Sec. 1728.97).
(A) The pH of treating solutions of the waterborne preservatives
shown in AWPA P5-08 (incorporated by reference at Sec. 1728.97)
section 10, shall be determined in accordance with AWPA A2-08,
(incorporated by reference at Sec. 1728.97) section 8.
(B) The oxide formulations of waterborne preservatives shall be
supplied.
(C) Douglas-fir crossarms shall not be treated with CCA
preservatives.
(D) Materials treated with waterborne preservatives shall be free
of visible surface deposits.
(iii) Copper Naphthenate (CuN) concentrate used to prepare wood
preserving solutions shall contain not less than 6 percent nor more
than 8 percent copper in the form of CuN and shall conform to AWPA P8-
08 (incorporated by reference at Sec. 1728.97) when analyzed in
accordance with AWPA A5-05 (incorporated by reference at Sec.
1728.97). The hydrocarbon solvents for introducing the preservative
into the wood shall meet the requirements of AWPA P9-06 (incorporated
by reference at Sec. 1728.97) Type A.
(i) Preservative treatment. (1) All timber products treated under
this specification shall be treated by either a pressure or a thermal
(non-pressure) process.
(2) These materials may be further conditioned by steaming, or by
heating in hot oil (Douglas-fir), within the following limits:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time hours
(max.) Temperature
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steam............................ 3 220[deg] F
Heating in Preservation.......... 3 210[deg] F
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 36969]]
(3) A final steam or hot oil bath may be used only to meet
cleanliness requirements of paragraph (k) of this section. Total
duration of the final steam bath shall not exceed 2 hours and the
temperature shall not exceed 240 degrees Fahrenheit.
(j) Results of treatments. (1) The quality control designee shall
test or supervise the testing of each treated charge for penetration
and retention.
(2) Method of sampling. When testing penetration and retention, a
borer core shall be taken from not less than 20 crossarms in each
treating charge. The borings shall be taken from any face except the
top face at a point as close to the end as possible, being at least 3
inches from the end of the arm and no closer than 3 inches from the
edge of the holes. The bored holes shall be plugged with preservative-
treated plugs driven into the arm. Borings from laminated arms shall
not be taken from the same laminate unless there is an end joint
separation.
(3) As determined in accordance with AWPA A3-08 (incorporated by
reference at Sec. 1728.97) all sapwood present in Douglas-fir or
Southern Yellow Pine crossarms shall be completely penetrated with
preservative. In the heartwood of Douglas-fir crossarms, the
penetration shall be not less than 3 inches longitudinally from the
edge of holes and ends, and at least \3/16\ inch from the surface of
any face.
(4) Retention of preservative in the outer \6/10\ of an inch for
Douglas-fir and one inch for Southern Yellow Pine assay zones at the
treating plant shall be not less than:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AWPA analysis method
Preservation Retention (pcf) **
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Creosote....................... 8 A6.
Pentachlorophenol.............. * 0.4 A5.
ACA, ACZA, or CCA.............. 0.4 A2, A7, or A9.
Copper Naphthenate............. 0.04 A5, or A9.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The pentachlorophenol retention is for the lime ignition method. The
copper pyridine method, retention 0.36 pcf is required when timbers
may have been in contact with salt water, and for all species native
to the Pacific coast region. It is not required when it specifically
states on the rough sawn material invoice that this material has not
been in contact with salt water or is shown by analysis to have no
additional chlorides present in the wood before treating.
** All the AWPA Analysis Methods are incorporated by reference at Sec.
1728.97.
(5) Cleanliness of lengthwise surfaces of all crossarms shall be
free from tarry, greasy, or sticky material, and from oil exudation and
pentachlorophenol crystallization (blooming).
(6) Re-treatment of materials which do not meet the penetration and
retention requirements of this specification may be done only twice.
Initial treatment steaming time plus re-treatment steaming time,
combined, shall not exceed time allowed in paragraph (i) of this
section.
(k) Marks and brands. (1) All crossarms shall be legibly branded
(hot brand) or die-stamped and to a depth of approximately \1/16\ of an
inch before treatment.
(2) The letters and figures shall be not less than \1/2\ of an inch
in height. The top of the brand shall be oriented to the top of the
arm.
(3) The brand or die-stamp shall include:
(i) The manufacturer's identification symbol;
(ii) Month and year of manufacture;
(iii) Species of timber such as DF for Douglas-fir and SP for
Southern Yellow Pine; and
(iv) The preservative notated with a C for creosote, P for penta, S
for waterbornes, or N for Copper Naphthenate.
(4) An example is:
M-6-06 Manufacturer--Month--Year
DF-P Douglas-fir--penta treated
(5) The brand or stamp shall be placed on either of the wide
surfaces of the arms, oriented with letters right side up towards the
top of the arm and preferably about 1 foot from the midpoint of the
arm.
(6) Each producer should mark each type of arm in approximately the
same location on the arm.
(7) Brands, inspection marks, or quality assurance marks shall be
removed from arms that do not meet these specifications.
(l) Storage. (1) Producers may treat crossarms for reserve stock
under any of the agency approved plans.
(2) Crossarms treated with oil-borne preservatives which have been
held in storage for more than 1 year before shipment to the borrower,
shall be re-assayed before shipment and shall be re-treated if found
nonconforming for retention on orders placed in accordance with this
section.
(3) Crossarms shall meet the assay after re-treatment in accordance
with paragraph (k) of this section.
(4) Crossarms which are held in storage after final acceptance
shall be stacked in piles or on skids in such a manner as to assure
good ventilation. The stacks shall be covered or stored indoors for
protection from the sun and weather to reduce checking, bending, and
loss of preservative.
(m) Drawings. (1) The drawings of Appendix B of this section,
Crossarm Drilling Guide, have a type number and show in detail the hole
size, shape, and pattern desired for crossarms ordered under this
specification.
(2) Purchase orders shall indicate the type crossarm required.
(3) Crossarms shall be furnished in accordance with the details of
these drawings or in accordance with drawings attached to the purchase
order.
(4) Appropriate drawings for transmission arms are to be specified
and included with purchase orders. Technical drawings for transmission
crossarms are published in Bulletin 1728F-811, ``Electric Transmission
Specifications and Drawings, 115kV through 230kV'' (incorporated by
reference at Sec. 1728.97), and Bulletin 1728F-810, ``Electric
Transmission Specification and Drawings, 34.5kV through 69kV''
(incorporated by reference at Sec. 1728.97).
(n) Destination inspection. All crossarms shall meet or exceed
their minimum dimensions for at least 1 year after date of delivery to
the borrower.
BILLING CODE P
[[Page 36970]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR24JN11.013
[[Page 36971]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR24JN11.014
BILLING CODE C
[[Page 36972]]
Appendix C to Sec. 1728.201--Metric Conversion Factors
------------------------------------------------------------------------
To convert from To Multiply by
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Foot (ft)......................... Meter (m)........... 0.3048
Inch (in)......................... Centimeter.......... 2.54
Pound per cubic foot (pcf) (lb/ft Kilogram per cubic 16.01846
\3\). meter (kg/m \3\).
Pound per square inch (psi) (lb/in Kilogram per square 703.0696
\2\). meter (kg/m \2\).
Degrees Fahrenheit ([deg]F)....... Degrees Celsius 5/9(F[deg]-32)
([deg]C).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec. 1728.202 Bulletin 1728H-702, Specification for Quality Control
and Inspection of Timber Products.
(a) Scope. This specification describes in more detail the
responsibilities and procedures pertaining to quality control for
crossarms, as specified in section 1728.201 of this part, and poles,
covered in Bulletin 1728F-700, ``Specification for Wood Poles, Stubs
and Anchor Logs,'' incorporated by reference in Sec. 1728.97 of this
part and in Sec. 1755.97 of 7 CFR part 1755.
(b) General stipulations. (1) Conformance of poles and crossarms to
agency specifications for the most part is the responsibility of the
producer's management.
A member of the producer's staff shall be designated quality
control designee and charged with the responsibility for the exercise
of proper quality control procedures.
(2) The requirements of AWPA M3-05 (incorporated by reference at
Sec. 1728.97), covering records, adequate laboratory, plant gauges,
and other plant facilities including proper storage, shall be followed.
(3) The methods of inspection described in this section shall be
used no matter which plan timber products are purchased under, i.e.,
Insured Warranty Plan, Independent Inspection Plan, or Quality
Assurance Plans, as described in Sec. 1728.201 of this part or
Bulletin 1728F-700 (incorporated by reference at Sec. 1728.97). The
number of poles and crossarms actually inspected by monitors for
quality control under a Quality Assurance Plan or the Insured Warranty
Plan may vary from the number of poles and crossarms inspected under
the Independent Inspection Plan. Under the Independent Inspection Plan,
each pole and a sample number of crossarms shall be inspected.
(4) Under the Independent Inspection Plan, the borrower should
designate in the purchase order which inspection agency it has
selected. Unless the borrower contracts for inspection as a separate
transact
