January 21, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice proposed to establish Class E4 airspace at Cocoa Beach Patrick AFB, FL. Class E4 airspace designated as an extension to Class D airspace is required when the control tower is open to contain existing Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and other Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. This action would establish a Class E4 airspace extension that is 6.8 miles wide and extends 7.3 miles northeast of the airport. This airspace is currently being protected by Notice to Airmen.

These special conditions are issued for Cessna Aircraft Company Model 501 and 551 series airplanes modified by Shadin Company, Inc. These airplanes will have novel and unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. The modification incorporates the installation of two Shadin Company Air Data Computers (ADC), Model ADC-6000. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for the protection of these systems from the effects of high-intensity-radiated fields (HIRF). These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

EPA is proposing to find that the Las Vegas Valley nonattainment area in the State of Nevada has attained the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for carbon monoxide by the applicable December 31, 2000 attainment date. Based on this proposal, EPA also proposes to determine that the Clean Air Act's requirements for contingency provisions will no longer apply to the area.

The Department seeks comment on a proposal to revise its rules on charter operations. This proposal arises from a petition filed by the National Air Carrier Association (NACA). NACA seeks to make changes to the definitions and standards the Department uses to determine whether to grant or deny foreign air carrier requests to conduct certain types of international charter flights. The Department grants NACA's petition, and proposes to make some, but not all of the changes sought by NACA. The Department proposes to make revisions to definitions relating to charter types, and to modify the Department's current charter application form so as to require updated reciprocity information as well as numbers of U.S.-homeland services vs. U.S.-non-homeland services. The Department does not anticipate adopting NACA's requests to impose a reciprocity standard that ensures substantially equivalent opportunities for U.S. carriers in the homeland of the applicant, or to accord U.S. carriers a right of ``first refusal'' over foreign carrier requests to conduct certain U.S.-originating charter operations. Specifically, the Department proposes to clarify the definition of ``fifth freedom charter'' by adding definitions of ``sixth- and seventh-freedom charters.'' The Department also proposes modifications to OST Form 4540 (Foreign Air Carrier Application for Statement of Authorization). Specifically, the Department proposes to require an updated reciprocity statement by foreign carriers for a statement of authorization to allow us to ensure that our reciprocity standards have been satisfied and are properly supported. The Department also proposes to require that foreign carrier applicants for a statement of authorization include historical data relative to the applicant's U.S.- home country operations to allow the Department to readily evaluate levels of third- and fourth-freedom versus fifth-, sixth-, and seventh- freedom operations. This data will allow the Department to satisfy any concerns we might have as to the applicant's reliance on fifth-, sixth- and seventh-freedom operations. These proposed modifications will ensure that the Department has the most current information on the state of reciprocity for each foreign carrier applicant for fifth-, sixth-, or seventh-freedom charter authority.

The Coast Guard is establishing permanent safety zones on a portion of Lake Ontario. These safety zones are necessary to ensure the safety of spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with fireworks displays. These safety zones restrict vessel traffic from portions of Lake Ontario, New York, during annual fireworks displays.

This direct final rule makes a minor editorial correction to the definition of ``transmission line'' in the Federal safety regulations for natural gas pipelines. The correction is intended to clarify that gathering lines are excluded from the definition of transmission line. Because gathering lines have never been included in the definition of transmission line, the correction will not result in any substantive change in the definition.

This final rule describes the general rules and procedures applicable to the collection, through the Treasury Offset Program (TOP), of delinquent, nontax debts owed to Federal agencies. TOP is a program administered by the Financial Management Service (FMS), a bureau of the Treasury Department.

This proposed rule would revise the regulations under the single-family mortgage insurance program that require mortgagees to report the status of all single-family mortgages insured by HUD that are in default after 60 days or that are 90 or more days delinquent, as applicable. The rule would require mortgagees to report to HUD mortgages that are 30 or more days delinquent on the last day of the month. The Department believes that the rule would, among other things, provide HUD with more recent delinquency information. The receipt of more up-to-date information will enable HUD to better monitor its loss mitigation program and strengthen the soundness of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Mortgage Insurance Funds.