Department of Transportation April 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and Alamo Regional Mobility Authority (Alamo RMA) issued a notice of intent to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) would be prepared for proposed improvements to Loop 1604 in San Antonio, Texas, within Bexar County limits to enhance mobility and improve safety from FM 1957 to IH 35 North, a distance of approximately 32.35 miles in Bexar County Texas. FHWA, TxDOT and Alamo RMA are issuing this amended notice of intent to advise the public of changes to the aforementioned EIS for proposed Loop 1604 improvements. Specifically, the southwestern limit of the proposed improvements is changing from FM 1957 to U.S. Highway 90 for a total distance of approximately 37 miles. The change to the limits of the proposed improvements is consistent with the updated San Antonio- Bexar County Metropolitan Planning Organization Mobility 2035 Plan (December 2009) and in response to comments received during the first scoping meetings held in October 2009.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a current information collection. 14 CFR part 61 prescribes certification standards for pilots, flight instructors, and ground instructors. The information collected is used to determine compliance with applicant eligibility.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of discretionary funds in Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 for the Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) program funds and FY 2009 and 2010 Clean Fuels Grant program funds, augmented with FY 2010 Section 5309 Bus and Bus Facilities program funds. These discretionary program funds will be distributed in accordance with the mission of each program and in support of the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) environmental sustainability efforts.

In accordance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval for an extension of a currently approved information collection related to the use of and satisfaction with the nation's transportation system. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on February 2, 2010 (75 FR 5370) and the comment period ended on April 5, 2010. The 60-day notice produced no comments.

The FAA, with National Park Service (NPS) as a cooperating agency, has initiated development of an Air Tour Management Plan (ATMP) for Mount Rainier National Park (MORA), pursuant to the National Parks Air Tour Management Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-181) and its implementing regulations (14 CFR Part 136, Subpart B, National Parks Air Tour Management). The objective of the ATMP is to develop acceptable and effective measures to mitigate or prevent the significant adverse impacts, if any, of commercial air tour operations upon the natural resources, cultural resources, and visitor experiences of a national park unit and any tribal lands within or abutting the park. It should be noted that the ATMP has no authorization over other non-air-tour operations such as military and general aviation operations. In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and FAA Order 1050.1E, CHG 1, an Environmental Assessment is being prepared. This supplemental notice of intent extends the date by which scoping comments must be submitted (see DATES) because the original Federal Register notice published on April 2, 2010 (Vol. 75, No. 63, 16899-16900) referenced a link to the FAA Web site that had the wrong public scoping packet. The correct public scoping packet has now been posted.

This action will establish Class E airspace at Rifle, CO. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate aircraft executing new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Garfield County Regional Airport. This will improve the safety of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. This action also changes the airport name in the existing Class E airspace description.

This action proposes to revise the applicability for function and reliability flight testing to include all turbine-powered airplanes weighing 6,000 pounds or less. Revising the applicability is necessary because advancements in aviation technology have invalidated the reasons for excluding these airplanes. The proposed revision would improve aviation safety for these airplanes.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is issuing this Notice of Availability to inform interested parties of the availability of the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) database system to report PFC quarterly report information. In accordance with 14 CFR part 158.63, the public agency approved to collect PFCs must provide quarterly PFC reports to air carriers collecting PFCs for the public agency and the FAA. In accordance with Sec. 158.65, each air carrier collecting PFCs for a public agency must provide quarterly reports to the public agency unless otherwise agreed to by the collecting air carrier and the public agency. The FAA has developed a national PFC database system in order to more easily track the PFC program on a nationwide basis. The PFC database system was developed in three phases. The first phase was a national internal database for FAA use. The second phase expanded the database to allow public agencies to enter and access the PFC quarterly reports for their airport(s). The third phase expands the system to provide database access to the air carriers. The first and second phases of the database are complete. The third phase will allow air carriers to enter PFC collection and remittance information directly into the PFC database on a monthly basis. Use of the PFC database is voluntary and is not the sole means of complying with sections 158.63 and 158.65. However, as stated in 158.20(b), once the air carriers have access to the FAA's PFC database system, those air carriers and public agencies participating in the system will no longer be required to transmit quarterly reports to any interested party.

This action amends low altitude Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-254 in the Houston, TX, terminal area by eliminating the segment between the Centex, TX, VHF Omnidirectional Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) and the College Station, TX, VORTAC. The FAA is taking this action to eliminate a portion of T-254 that is no longer needed; thus, enhancing safety and the efficient use of the navigable airspace in the Houston, TX, terminal area.

On October 9, 2008, the Department of Transportation published an interim final rule that established America's Marine Highway Program, under which the Secretary will designate marine highway corridors and identify and support short sea transportation projects to expand domestic water transportation services as an alternative means of moving containerized and wheeled freight cargoes; mitigate the economic, environmental and energy costs of landside congestion; integrate the marine highway into the transportation planning process; and research improvements in efficiencies and environmental sustainability. This action is required by Public Law 110-140, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The interim final rule solicited comments, which are discussed in the ``Section by Section Review'' below and incorporated in this final rule. In addition, the interim final rule sought recommendations for designation of Marine

This action proposes to amend the Class D airspace at Seymour Johnson AFB, Goldsboro, NC, to reflect the part-time operating status of the control tower, enhancing the safety and management of aircraft operations.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Model 777-200, -200LR, -300, and -300ER series airplanes. This proposed AD would require removing and repairing the sealant at the four lower corners of the wing center section and the four lower t- chord segment gaps on each side of the wing center section. This proposed AD results from reports of fuel leakage from the center tank. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct improperly applied sealant, which could result in the disbonding and displacing of sealant, and consequent fuel leaks. On the ground, uncontained fuel leakage could result in pooling, and pooling combined with an ignition source could result in a fire.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires inspecting to determine if certain carriage spindles are installed, repetitive inspections for corrosion and indications of corrosion on affected carriage spindles, and if necessary, related investigative and corrective actions. The existing AD also provides an optional terminating action. This proposed AD would mandate the optional terminating action, which would eliminate the need for the repetitive inspections. The proposed AD results from reports of corrosion found on carriage spindles that are located on the outboard trailing edge flaps. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct corrosion of the carriage spindle, which could result in fracture. Fracture of both the inboard and outboard carriage spindles, in the forward ends through the large diameters, on a flap, could adversely affect the airplane's continued safe flight and landing.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and its implementing regulations, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) hereby announces that it is seeking approval of the following information collection activities. Before submitting these information collection requirements for clearance by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified below.

This action amends Class E airspace in the Dallas-Fort Worth, TX area. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAP) at Bridgeport Municipal Airport, Bridgeport, TX. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at Bridgeport Municipal Airport.

The FHWA, in coordination with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), is issuing a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for improvement to the U.S. 421 Ohio River Bridge between Milton, KY and Madison, IN. The project is needed to improve the functionally obsolete/structurally deficient bridge; to maintain cross-river mobility and community connectivity between Milton and Madison; and to improve safety.

On October 15, 2009, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a notice in the Federal Register to invite comments on a proposed revision to an information collection under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control No. 2137-0584, titled ``Gas and Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Program.'' Three comments were received. PHMSA is publishing this notice to respond to those comments, provide the public with an additional 30 days to comment on the proposed revision, and announce that the revised Information Collection will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval.

This document responds to two petitions for reconsideration of a May 12, 2009 final rule that upgraded the agency's safety standard on roof crush resistance. The first petition requested the agency to reconsider its decision to apply a lower roof strength-to-weight ratio requirement to heavier light vehicles, i.e., ones with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 2,722 kilograms (6,000 pounds), than to other light vehicles. The second requested reconsideration of that decision as well as the agency's decision not to adopt a dynamic rollover test requirement as part of this rulemaking. After carefully considering the petitions, we are denying them. This document also responds to supplemental requests made by the petitioners.