January 19, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on information needed to provide self-certified statements in support of various types of claims processed by VA.

Under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 4314(c)(4) agencies are required to publish a notice in the Federal Register of the appointment of Performance Review Board (PRB) members. This notice updates the VA Performance Review Board of the Department of Veterans Affairs that was published in the Federal Register on November 2, 2004 (Vol. 69,211).

This final rule allows sample copies of authorized and pending Periodicals publications to be enclosed with merchandise mailed at Parcel Post or Bound Printed Matter postage rates.

This notice proposes special conditions for the installation of an AMSAFE, Inc., Inflatable Three-Point Restraint Safety Belt with an Integrated Airbag Device on Mooney models M20K, M20M, M20R, and M20S. These airplanes, as modified by AMSAFE, Inc., will have novel and unusual design features associated with the lap belt portion of the safety belt, which contains an integrated airbag device. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. The proposed special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

This action amends Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, part 71 (14 CFR 71) by revising Class E airspace at Coffeyville, KS. A review of controlled airspace for Coffeyville Municipal Airport revealed it does not comply with the criteria for 700 feet above ground level (AGL) airspace required for diverse departures. The area is modified and enlarged to conform to the criteria in FAA Orders.

This notice proposes to create a Class E surface area at Ankeny, IA. It also proposes to modify the Class E5 airspace at Ankeny, IA.

The FAA will hold two informational meetings to discuss the proposed policy (Draft Order 8110.RC) that the FAA's Aircraft Certification Service personnel, Flight Standards Service Personnel, persons designated by the Administrator, and organizations associated with the certification process required by Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) will use during the certification evaluation of restricted category aircraft. These public meetings will be a continuation of information gathering for the evaluation of Restricted Category Aircraft Applications originally offered to the public for comments in the Federal Register dated October 8, 2004, Page 60454 (Volume 69, Number 195). Notes from these informational meetings will be posted on the Internet at: https://www.faa.gov/Certification/ Aircraft/DraftDoc/Comments.htm.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is issuing this Notice of Intent to announce publicly that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared and considered for the proposed extension of Runway 9R/27L including associated improvements described below at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone in the vicinity of the HOVENSA refinery facility in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. This security zone extends approximately 2 miles seaward from the HOVENSA facility waterfront area along the south coast of the island of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. This security zone is needed for national security reasons to protect the public and the HOVENSA facility from potential subversive acts. Vessels without scheduled arrivals must receive permission from the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port San Juan prior to entering this temporary security zone.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the City of Tucson, Department of Transportation (TDOT), intend to prepare an Alternatives Analysis (AA) and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on a proposal by the City of Tucson to provide additional transit service to the urban core of the City of Tucson. The AA/EIS will consider the following alternatives: (1) A No-Build Alternative, consisting of improvements contained in the Pima Association of Governments (PAG) 2025 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP); (2) Transportation System Management Alternative (TSM), consisting of all reasonable cost- effective transit service improvements within the urban core short of a major investment in a New Starts project; (3) Rubber Tired Rapid Bus Circulator operating in mixed traffic (4) Modern Streetcar operating in mixed traffic; and (5) Heritage Trolley in mixed traffic. The type, location, and need for ancillary facilities, such as maintenance facilities, will also be considered for each alternative. In addition, alternatives that are identified from the scoping process will be evaluated in the AA. This notice is an update to replace the notice published in the Federal Register on 12/21/04. Scoping will be accomplished through correspondence and discussions with interested persons; organizations; and Federal, State, and local agencies; and through public and agency meetings. Depending on the outcome of the scoping process and the analysis of a wide range of transit alternatives in the Draft EIS (DEIS), a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) will be selected and evaluated in the Final EIS (FEIS). The FEIS will evaluate the potential impacts of the selected investment strategy (the Build Alternative) and a No-Build Alternative.

The Farm Credit Administration (FCA, we, or our) is proposing to amend our regulations affecting the governance of the Farm Credit System. The proposed rule does not affect the governance of the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation. The proposed rule provides guidance on director qualifications; requires Farm Credit System institution boards of directors to complete training on corporate governance topics and conduct evaluations of their own performance; and addresses the number, selection, terms of service, and removal of outside directors. The proposed rule also addresses board committees, providing requirements for nominating committees, establishing compensation committees, and extending audit committee requirements to all Farm Credit System institutions. Finally, the proposed rule clarifies and expands the current rule on disclosure of conflicts of interest and compensation.

The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) to revise AD 98-20-38, which applies to all Beech 200 series airplanes. AD 98-20-38 requires you to revise the FAA-approved Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to specify procedures that would prohibit flight in severe icing conditions (as determined by certain visual cues), limit or prohibit the use of various flight control devices while in severe icing conditions, and provide the flight crew with recognition cues for and procedures for exiting from severe icing conditions. Part of the applicability of AD 98-20-38 includes the Raytheon Models B200 and B200C airplanes. AD 96-09-13 already requires AFM revisions on this subject for these airplane models. Consequently, FAA is revising AD 98-20-38 to remove the Models B200 and B200C from the applicability and add clarification that AD 96-09-13 affects these airplanes. We are issuing this AD to minimize the potential hazards associated with operating these airplanes in severe icing conditions by providing more clearly defined procedures and limitations.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) to supersede Airworthiness Directive 2004-10-15, which applies to certain GTX 330 and GTX 330D Mode S transponders that are installed on airplanes. AD 2004-10-15 currently requires you to install GTX 330/330D Software Upgrade Version 3.03, 3.04, or 3.05. This AD applies to certain GTX 33, GTX 33D, GTX 330, and GTX 330D Mode S transponders that are installed on airplanes and is the result of observations that the GTX 33/33D/330/330D may detect, from other airplanes, the S1 (suppression) interrogating pulse below the minimum trigger level (MTL) and, in some circumstances, not reply. The GTX 33/33D/330/330D should still reply even if it detects S1 interrogating pulses below the MTL. Consequently, this AD would require you to install a GTX 33/33D/330/ 330D Software Upgrade to at least Version 3.06. No additional action is necessary for those airplanes that have transponders Software Upgrade 3.03 installed. Software Upgrade Versions 3.03 and 3.06 correct a TAS, TCAD, and TCAS I system ``whisper-shout'' problem that could potentially lead to the aircraft not being visible at certain ranges. TCAS II systems are not affected. We are issuing this AD to prevent interrogating aircraft from possibly receiving inaccurate replies due to suppression from aircraft equipped with the GTX 33/33D/330/330D Mode S transponders when the pulses are below the MTL. The inaccurate replies could result in reduced vertical separation.

This notice announces the initial filing of a pesticide petition proposing the establishment of regulations for residues of a certain pesticide chemical in or on various food commodities.

The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) to supersede AD 98-03-14, which applies to certain EXTRA Flugzeugbau GmbH (EXTRA) Model EA-300 and EA-300/S airplanes. AD 98-03-14 currently requires you to inspect the upper longeron cutout-bridge for cracks, to repair any cracks found, and to modify this area. This AD retains the actions of AD 98-03-14 and incorporates new service information. For owner/ operators of the affected airplanes that were able to do the modification required in AD 98-03-14, no further action is required. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Germany. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the upper longeron cutout-bridge, which could cause the upper longeron cutout-bridge to fail resulting in structural damage to the fuselage. This condition could lead to loss of control of the airplane.

This notice announces a teleconference meeting of the National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee (NOSAC) on the proposed formation of a NOSAC subcommittee. NOSAC will meet to discuss the formation of a subcommittee on the application of the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention to the various types of offshore support vessels working in foreign locations, including offshore supply vessels (OSVs), anchor handling vessels, liftboats, crew boats, dive support vessels, and seismic vessels.