February 15, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action proposes to revise Class E airspace at Middleton Island, AK. Two Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) are being revised, and two SIAPs are being produced for the Middleton Island Airport. Adoption of this proposal would result in revision of Class E airspace upward from 700 feet (ft.) and 1,200 ft. above the surface at Middleton Island, AK.

The General Services Administration (GSA) is requesting comments from both Government and industry on areas in which the General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) can be revised to improve clarity and simplify procedures.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace at Galbraith Lake, AK. Two Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) are being published for the Galbraith Lake Airport. Adoption of this proposal would result in establishment of Class E airspace upward from 700 feet (ft.) above the surface at Galbraith Lake, AK.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires a revision of the airplane flight manual (AFM) to alert the flightcrew that both flight management computers (FMC) must be installed and operational. The existing AD also requires an inspection to determine the serial number of the FMCs; and follow-on corrective actions, if necessary, which terminate the AFM revision. The existing AD also requires an inspection to verify if a certain modification is on the identification plates of the FMCs; and applicable follow-on and corrective actions. This proposed AD would require installation of upgraded flight management computer software, which would terminate the existing AD. This proposed AD would also add airplanes to the applicability, including adding Model MD-10-10F and MD-10-30F airplanes. This proposed AD results from a report that the FMC does not acknowledge the pre-set glareshield control panel (GCP) altitude when profile (PROF) mode is engaged in descent mode. We are proposing this AD to prevent the un-commanded descent of an airplane below the selected level-off altitude, which could result in an unacceptable reduction in the separation between the airplane and nearby air traffic or terrain.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Goodrich Evacuation Systems approved under TSO-C69b and installed on certain Airbus Model A330-200 and -300 series airplanes; Model A340- 200 and -300 series airplanes; and Model A340-541 and -642 airplanes. This proposed AD would require inspecting to determine the part number of the pressure relief valves on the affected Goodrich evacuation systems, and corrective action if necessary. This proposed AD results from a report indicating that, during maintenance testing, the pressure relief valves on the affected Goodrich evacuation systems did not seal when activated, which caused the pressure in the escape slide/raft to drop below the minimum allowable raft mode pressure. We are proposing this AD to prevent loss of pressure in the escape slides/rafts after an emergency evacuation, which could result in inadequate buoyancy to support the raft's passenger capacity during ditching, and increase the chance for injury to raft passengers.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Boeing Model 747 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires repetitive inspections for cracking of the top and side panel webs and panel stiffeners of the nose wheel well (NWW), and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD would reduce the interval for certain repetitive inspections and remove a certain optional inspection. This proposed AD would also require replacing the NWW side and top panels with new panels. The replacement would terminate the repetitive inspections. This proposed AD results from the development of a new modification. We are proposing this AD to prevent fatigue cracks in the top and side panel webs and stiffeners of the NWW, which could compromise the structural integrity of the NWW and could lead to the rapid decompression of the airplane.

This final rule amends the NASA FAR Supplement (NFS) by revising the definition for ``Head of the contracting activity (HCA).''

This action establishes 16 high altitude area navigation (RNAV) routes in the South Central United States in support of the High Altitude Redesign (HAR) program. The FAA is taking this action to enhance safety and to facilitate the more flexible and efficient use of the navigable airspace.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulations on Benefits Payable in Terminated Single-Employer Plans and Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans prescribe interest assumptions for valuing and paying benefits under terminating single-employer plans. This final rule amends the regulations to adopt interest assumptions for plans with valuation dates in March 2006. Interest assumptions are also published on the PBGC's Web site (https://www.pbgc.gov).

The Coast Guard proposes to amend its regulations for documenting lease-financed vessels that have a ``coastwise endorsement'' (i.e., vessels used in trade and passenger service within the U.S. or between U.S. ports and those used in dredging and towing in U.S. waters). The vessels affected by this proposal are owned by foreign-owned or controlled U.S. companies, where there is a ``demise charter'' to a U.S. citizen (i.e., an agreement for the charterer to assume responsibility for operating, crewing, and maintaining the vessel as if the charterer owned it).

This rule finalizes the proposed rule published on September 15, 2003 to implement the records preservation requirements of the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (the Convention) and the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (the IAA). The IAA requires that the Department of State (the Department) issue rules to govern the preservation of Convention records held by the Department and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This final rule is the same as the proposed rule, except for non-substantive technical corrections. It requires the Department and DHS to maintain Convention records for 75 years and defines the term Convention record.