July 10, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fisheries; Closure of the 2012 Trimester 2 Directed Longfin Squid Fishery
Document Number: 2012-16917
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS announces that 90 percent of the Trimester 2 longfin squid (longfin) quota is projected to be harvested by 0001 hours, July 10, 2012. Therefore, the directed longfin fishery in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) will be closed as of 0001 hours, July 10, 2012, and vessels issued a Federal permit are prohibited from possessing or landing more than 2,500 lb (1.13 mt) of longfin for the remainder of Trimester 2 (through August 31, 2012). The directed longfin fishery will re-open for Trimester 3 on September 1, 2012. This action is necessary to prevent the fishery from exceeding its Trimester 2 allocation of 12,490,290 lb (5,666 mt), and to allow for effective management of this stock.
Export Administration Regulations
Document Number: 2012-16905
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security
Removal of Category IIIa, IIIb, and IIIc Definitions; Confirmation of Effective Date and Response to Public Comments
Document Number: 2012-16846
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Department of Transportation
This action confirms the effective date of the direct final rule published on February 16, 2012 (77 FR 9163), and responds to the comments received on that direct final rule. In that document, the FAA proposed to remove the definitions of Category IIIa, IIIb, and IIIc operations because the definitions are outdated and no longer used for aircraft certification or operational authorization.
Operations Specifications; OMB Approval of Information Collection
Document Number: 2012-16840
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
This document notifies the public of the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) approval of the information collection requirement contained in the FAA's final rule, ``Operations Specifications,'' which was published on February 10, 2011.
High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act; Identification and Certification Procedures To Address Shark Conservation
Document Number: 2012-16838
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This proposed action sets forth identification and certification procedures established by the Shark Conservation Act to address shark conservation in areas beyond any national jurisdiction. The objectives of these procedures are to promote the conservation and sustainable management of sharks. Agency actions and recommendations under this rule will be in accordance with U.S. obligations under applicable international trade law, including the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement. This action would also amend the definition of illegal, unreported, or unregulated (IUU) fishing for purposes of the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Amendment 34
Document Number: 2012-16837
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 34 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP) for review, approval, and implementation by NMFS. Amendment 34 proposes to modify the income qualification requirements for the renewal of Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) commercial reef fish permits and revise the crew size regulations for dual-permitted vessels (i.e. vessels that possess both a charter vessel/headboat permit for Gulf reef fish and a commercial vessel permit for Gulf reef fish) while fishing commercially. The intent of Amendment 34 is to remove permit requirements that may no longer be applicable to current commercial fishing practices and to improve vessel safety in the Gulf reef fish fishery.
Privacy Act of 1974; Implementation
Document Number: 2012-16822
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Department of Justice
Elsewhere in the Federal Register, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), a component of the Department of Justice, has published a notice of a new Privacy Act system of records, JUSTICE/FBI- 022, the FBI Data Warehouse System. In this notice of proposed rulemaking, the FBI proposes to exempt this system from certain provisions of the Privacy Act in order to avoid interference with the national security and criminal law enforcement functions and responsibilities of the FBI. Public comment is invited.
Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Furnace Fans: Public Meeting and Availability of the Preliminary Technical Support Document
Document Number: 2012-16816
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Department of Energy
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will hold a public meeting to discuss and receive comments on the product classes that DOE plans to analyze for purposes of establishing energy conservation standards for residential furnace fans; the analytical framework, models, and tools that DOE is using to evaluate potential standards for these products; the results of preliminary analyses performed by DOE for these products; the potential energy conservation standard levels derived from these analyses that DOE could consider for these products; and any other issues relevant to the development of energy conservation standards for residential furnace fans. In addition, DOE encourages written comments on these subjects. To inform interested parties and to facilitate this process, DOE has prepared an agenda, a preliminary technical support document (preliminary TSD), and briefing materials, which are available on the DOE Web site.
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) Benefits for Survivors of Former Prisoners of War Rated Totally Disabled at Time of Death
Document Number: 2012-16812
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending its adjudication regulation regarding benefits for survivors of former prisoners of war who were rated totally disabled at the time of death. This amendment is necessary to conform the regulation to the authorizing statutory provision. The effect of this amendment is to liberalize the eligibility criteria for dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) based on the death of a former prisoner of war whose service-connected disabilities had been continuously rated totally disabling for at least 1 year when he or she died.
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Payable to a Surviving Spouse With One or More Children Under Age 18
Document Number: 2012-16810
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is issuing this final rule to amend its adjudication regulation regarding the additional statutory amount of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payable to a surviving spouse with one or more children below the age of 18. The Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2006 redesignated the statutory section cited in VA's governing regulation. This amendment is necessary to conform the regulation to the statutory provision.
Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Maryland; Revision for the Control of Volatile Organic Compounds Emissions From Vehicle Refinishing
Document Number: 2012-16809
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
EPA is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Maryland. The SIP revision amends Maryland's COMAR 26.11.19.23 ``Control of Volatile Organic Compounds Emissions from Vehicle Refinishing'' to establish new volatile organic compounds (VOC) content limits for coating and cleaning solvents used in vehicle refinishing and standards for coating application, work practices, monitoring, and recordkeeping. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Corporation Turboshaft Engines
Document Number: 2012-16797
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Rolls-Royce Corporation (RRC) 250-C20, -C20B, and -C20R/2 turboshaft engines. This AD was prompted by seven cases reported of released turbine blades and shrouds, which led to loss of power and engine in- flight shutdowns (IFSDs). This AD requires a one-time visual inspection and fluorescent penetrant inspection (FPI) on certain 3rd and 4th stage turbine wheels for cracks in the turbine blades. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of 3rd or 4th stage turbine wheel blades which could cause engine failure and damage to the airplane.
Safety Zone; ESI Ironman 70.3 Augusta Triathlon, Savannah River; Augusta, GA
Document Number: 2012-16793
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security
The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone on the Savannah River in Augusta, Georgia during the ESI Ironman 70.3 Augusta Triathlon on Sunday, September 30, 2012. The temporary safety zone would be necessary for the safety of the race participants, participant vessels, spectators, and the general public during the 1.1 mile swim portion of the competition. Persons and vessels would be prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the temporary safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Savannah or a designated representative.
Safety Zone; Detroit Symphony Orchestra at Ford House Fireworks, Lake St. Clair, Grosse Pointe Shores, MI
Document Number: 2012-16789
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security
The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on Lake St. Clair, Grosse Pointe Shores, MI. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with a fireworks display.
Safety Zone; Water Main Crossing; Choctawhatchee Bay; Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Document Number: 2012-16788
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security
The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone for a portion of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway in Choctawhatchee Bay, Santa Rosa Beach, FL. This action is necessary for the protection of persons and vessels, on navigable waters, during the construction of a subaqueous water main. Entry into or transiting in this zone, during daylight hours, will be prohibited to all vessels, mariners, and persons unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Mobile or a designated representative.
Swim Events in the Captain of the Port New York Zone; Hudson River, East River, Upper New York Bay, Lower New York Bay; New York, NY
Document Number: 2012-16784
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security
The Coast Guard is establishing seven temporary safety zones for swim events within the Captain of the Port (COTP) New York Zone. These zones will be established on the navigable waters of the Hudson River, East River, Upper New York Bay and Lower New York Bay. These temporary safety zones are necessary to protect the maritime public and event participants from the hazards associated with these events. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, mooring, or anchoring within the safety zones unless authorized by the COTP New York or the designated representative.
Security Zones, Seattle's Seafair Fleet Week Moving Vessels, Puget Sound, WA
Document Number: 2012-16782
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security
The U.S. Coast Guard is establishing security zones around designated participating vessels that are not protected by the Naval Vessel Protection Zone in Seattle's Seafair Fleet Week, while those vessels are in the Sector Puget Sound Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone. A designated participating vessel is a vessel that is named by the Coast Guard each year prior to the event in a Federal Register notice, as well as the Local Notice to Mariners. These security zones are necessary to help ensure the security of the vessels from sabotage or other subversive acts during Seattle's Seafair Fleet Week Parade of Ships and while moored in the Port of Seattle. The Coast Guard will ensure the security of these vessels by prohibiting any person or vessel from entering or remaining in the security zones unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Puget Sound or Designated Representative.
Safety Zone; Major Motion Picture Filming, Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway; Southport, NC
Document Number: 2012-16780
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security
The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway near Southport, North Carolina. The safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway due to the filming of a movie involving explosions and other dangerous stunts on water. The temporary safety zone is necessary to protect the surrounding public and vessels from the hazards associated with the stunts that will be performed on the river during the filming of this motion picture.
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Oakland Inner Harbor Tidal Canal, Alameda, CA
Document Number: 2012-16779
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security
The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating regulation that governs the Park Street Drawbridge across Oakland Inner Harbor Tidal Canal, mile 5.2, at Alameda, CA. The deviation is necessary to allow the County of Alameda Public Works Agency to perform necessary repairs on the drawbridge. This deviation allows single leaf operation of the double leaf bascule style drawbridge during the project.
Safety Zone; GR Symphony Fireworks Display, Kalamazoo Lake, Saugatuck, MI
Document Number: 2012-16778
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security
The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on Kalamazoo Lake in Saugatuck Michigan. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of Kalamazoo Lake during the GR Symphony Fireworks display. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with a fireworks display.
Safety Zone; Fireworks Display in Captain of the Port, Puget Sound Zone
Document Number: 2012-16777
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security
The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone in Shilshole Bay for a fireworks display. The safety zone is necessary to help ensure the safety of the maritime public during the display and will do so by prohibiting all persons and vessels from entering the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or his Designated Representative.
Modification of Regulations Regarding the Definition of Factual Information and Time Limits for Submission of Factual Information
Document Number: 2012-16715
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration
The Department of Commerce (the Department) proposes to modify its regulations which define ``factual information'' and establish time limits for the submission of factual information in antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) proceedings. The modifications to the definition of factual information, if adopted, will more clearly describe the types of information that can be submitted by a person or placed on the record by the Department in a segment of a proceeding. The modifications to the time limits in which such information may be submitted or placed on the record, if adopted, will enable the Department to efficiently determine what type of information is being submitted and whether it is timely filed, and to provide sufficient opportunity for the Department to review submissions of factual information.
Federal Acquisition Regulation; Price Analysis Techniques
Document Number: 2012-16709
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Department of Defense, General Services Administration, Agencies and Commissions, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to clarify the use of a price analysis technique in order to establish a fair and reasonable price.
Soybean Promotion and Research: Amend the Order To Adjust Representation on the United Soybean Board
Document Number: 2012-16703
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This proposed rule would adjust the number of members on the United Soybean Board (Board) to reflect changes in production levels that have occurred since the Board was last reapportioned in 2009. As required by the Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act (Act), membership on the Board is reviewed every 3 years and adjustments are made accordingly. This proposed change would result in an increase in Board membership for one State, increasing the total number of Board members from 69 to 70. These changes would be reflected in the Soybean Promotion and Research Order (Order) and would be effective for the 2013 appointment process.
Special Regulations; Areas of the National Park System, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Bicycle Routes
Document Number: 2012-16702
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
The National Park Service proposes to designate certain multi- use pathways in Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area as routes for bicycle use. National Park Service regulations require promulgation of a special regulation to designate routes for bicycle use off park roads and outside developed areas. Several segments of multi-use pathways at Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area have been, or are planned to be, constructed as part of an effort to replace eroded social trails with sustainable trail systems. Allowing bicycling on the new trail system will improve connectivity to regional trail networks, enhance opportunities for non-motorized enjoyment of the park, and encourage the use of alternate transportation by park visitors and staff.
Revocation and Modification of Multiple Domestic, Alaskan, and Hawaiian Compulsory Reporting Points
Document Number: 2012-16698
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
This action removes eighteen Domestic and Alaskan compulsory reporting points defined by navigation aids previously decommissioned, removed, or shutdown and taken out of the FAA aeronautical database as compulsory reporting points. Additionally, this action also requires changes to the name of four navigation aids that define associated compulsory reporting points. The FAA is removing the outdated Part 71 compulsory reporting points since they are no longer valid, and amending those Part 71 compulsory reporting points that require name changes, to be consistent with the FAA's aeronautical database.
Establishment of Area Navigation (RNAV) Routes; Southwestern United States
Document Number: 2012-16696
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
This action corrects a final rule published in the Federal Register on June 14, 2012, that establishes two RNAV routes in the southwest United States. This action corrects the latitude/longitude coordinates for the NOCHI waypoint (WP) as appears in the description of RNAV route T-310.
Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace; Lakehurst, NJ
Document Number: 2012-16674
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
This action changes the name of the airport associated with the Class D and Class E airspace at Lakehurst, NJ. The airport's name is being changed to Lakehurst Naval Support Activity/Maxfield Field (Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst). The FAAs Aeronautical Products office requested the change to reflect the current airport name.
Amendment of Class E Airspace; Memphis, TN
Document Number: 2012-16672
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
This action amends Class E Airspace at Memphis, TN area, as the West Memphis Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) has been decommissioned and new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures have been developed at Memphis International Airport. This action also removes West Memphis Municipal Airport, West Memphis, from the existing airspace surrounding Memphis International Airport, Memphis, TN. This action enhances the safety and airspace management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. This action also makes a minor adjustment to the geographic coordinates of General DeWitt Spain Airport and makes a minor correction to the regulatory text.
Unique Device Identification System
Document Number: 2012-16621
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to establish a unique device identification system to implement the requirement added to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) by section 226 of the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 (FDAAA), Section 226 of FDAAA amended the FD&C Act to add new section 519(f), which directs FDA to promulgate regulations establishing a unique device identification system for medical devices. The system established by this rule would require the label of medical devices and device packages to include a unique device identifier (UDI), except where the rule provides for alternative placement of the UDI or provides an exception for a particular device or type of device such as devices sold over-the-counter and low risk devices. Each UDI would have to be provided in a plain-text version and in a form that uses automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) technology. The UDI would also be required to be directly marked on the device itself for certain categories of devices for which the labeling requirement may not be sufficient, for example, those that remain in use for an extended period of time and devices that are likely to become separated from their labeling. The rule would require the submission of information concerning each device to a database that FDA intends to make public, to ensure that the UDI can be used to adequately identify the device through its distribution and use.
New Express Mail Price Category-Express Mail Padded Flat Rate Envelope
Document Number: 2012-16488
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Postal Service, Agencies and Commissions
The Postal Service is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]), to expand Express Mail[supreg] product options to include a new Padded Flat Rate Envelope.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for Buena Vista Lake Shrew
Document Number: 2012-16479
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce that we are further revising our proposed revised designation of critical habitat for the Buena Vista Lake shrew (Sorex ornatus relictus) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In 2009, we proposed to revise our critical habitat designation to consist of 4,649 acres (1,881 hectares) of land in five units in Kern County. That acreage has been recalculated, with use of current Geographic Information Systems technology, as 4,657 acres (1,885 hectares). In this revised proposal, we propose to add 525 acres (212 hectares) as critical habitat in the general areas of Kings and Kern Counties, California, including new units near Lemoore, Kings County, and near Semitropic, Kern County, California. In total, we are now proposing to designate approximately 5,182 acres (2,098 hectares) as critical habitat for the Buena Vista Lake shrew. We are reopening the comment period to allow interested parties an opportunity to comment on the proposal to revise the designation of critical habitat for the Buena Vista Lake shrew as proposed to be further revised in this document.
Revocation of Class D Airspace; Andalusia, AL; and Amendment of Class E Airspace; Fort Rucker, AL
Document Number: 2012-16429
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
This action removes Class D Airspace at Andalusia, AL, as the Air Traffic Control Tower at South Alabama Regional Airport at Bill Benton Field has closed, and amends Class E Airspace at Fort Rucker, AL, by recognizing the airport's name change to South Alabama Regional Airport at Bill Benton Field. This action also updates the geographic coordinates of the three listed Class E airports. This action enhances the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.
Procedures for the Handling of Retaliation Complaints Under Section 219 of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008
Document Number: 2012-16411
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
This document provides the final text of regulations governing the employee protection (whistleblower) provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). An interim final rule governing these provisions and request for public comment was published in the Federal Register on August 31, 2010. Three comments were received. This rule responds to those comments and establishes the final procedures and time frames for the handling of retaliation complaints under CPSIA, including procedures and time frames for employee complaints to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), investigations by OSHA, appeals of OSHA determinations to an administrative law judge (ALJ) for a hearing de novo, hearings by ALJs, review of ALJ decisions by the Administrative Review Board (ARB) (acting on behalf of the Secretary of Labor), and judicial review of the Secretary's final decision.
Electronic Fund Transfers (Regulation E); Correction
Document Number: 2012-16245
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection
The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) is correcting a final rule with an official interpretation (Final Rule) that appeared in the Federal Register of February 7, 2012. The Final Rule provides new protections, including disclosures and error resolution and cancellation rights, to consumers who send remittance transfers to other consumers or businesses in a foreign country. The Final Rule inadvertently did not reflect certain technical and conforming changes made by the interim final rule published on December 27, 2011. The Final Rule also contained a technical error in the formatting of certain model forms. This document corrects the error and the formatting of the model forms.
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes
Document Number: 2012-15897
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A300 series airplanes; all Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model 300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called A300-600 series airplanes). This AD was prompted by reports of an inoperative fire shut-off valve (FSOV) as a result of damage due to over-length of the bonding lead. This AD requires a one- time detailed inspection for length of the FSOV bonding leads and for contact or chafing of the wires, and corrective actions, if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct contact or chafing of wires and bonding leads which, if not detected could be a source of sparks in the wing trailing edge, and could lead to an uncontrolled engine fire.
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
Document Number: 2012-15894
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-07-10
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 747-100, 747-100B, 747-200B, 747- 200C, 747-200F, 747-400F, 747SR, and 747SP series airplanes, without a stretched upper deck or stretched upper deck modification. That AD currently requires repetitive inspections for cracks of each affected tension tie and of the surrounding structure, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This new AD requires, for certain airplanes, modifying the tension tie structure or tension tie and frame structure at certain stations; and a post-modification inspection of the modified area and post-modification repetitive inspections of the unmodified area, and repair if necessary. Doing the modification would terminate the repetitive inspection requirements in the existing AD. This AD reduces the compliance time and adds inspections for certain airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports that certain airplanes have tension ties that are susceptible to widespread fatigue damage. This AD also results from reports of cracks on the forward and aft tension tie channels at station (STA) 740 and STA 760, and a determination that initial inspection intervals need to be reduced. We are issuing this AD to prevent tension ties from becoming severed or disconnected from the frames, which could lead to rapid in-flight decompression.
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