October 11, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) considers petitions for reconsideration and/or clarification (Petitions) of the Order that adopted the Commission's rule, which required that certain local exchange carriers (LECs) and commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) providers have an emergency backup power source for all assets that are normally powered from local AC commercial power. The Commission modifies its rules to address several meritorious issues raised in the petitions. These modifications will facilitate carrier compliance and reduce the burden on LECs and CMRS providers, while continuing to further important homeland security and public safety goals.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200 airplanes. This proposed AD would require modification of the conduit for the forward boost pump of the center fuel tank. This proposed AD results from the finding that a potential chafing condition exists in the volute assembly of the forward boost pump for the center fuel tank. We are proposing this AD to prevent chafing of the forward boost pump wiring that could lead to arcing to the inside of the 45-degree angle fitting, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This proposed 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:

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for GE CF6-80C2A5F turbofan engines installed on, but not limited to, Airbus A300F4-605R airplanes. This AD requires removing previous software versions from the engine electronic control unit (ECU). Engines with new version software will have increased margin to flameout. This AD results from reports of engine flameout events during flight, including reports of events where all engines simultaneously experienced a flameout or other adverse operation. Although the root cause investigation is not yet complete, we believe that exposure to ice crystals during flight is associated with these flameout events. We are issuing this AD to minimize the potential of an all-engine flameout event caused by ice accretion and shedding during flight.

These special conditions are issued for the Boeing Model 787-8 airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. These novel or unusual design features are associated with composite materials chosen for the construction of the fuel tank skin and structure. For these design features, the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for wing and fuel tank structure with respect to postcrash fire safety. 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 standards. We will issue additional special conditions for other novel or unusual design features of the Boeing Model 787-8 airplanes.

The Coast Guard published a final rule in the Federal Register on August 9, 2007, that revised security regulations in Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai, HI (72 FR 44775). While the notice of proposed rulemaking preceding that final rule stated that the Kahe Point, Oahu security zone would be enforced only upon the occurrence of certain events, we did not reflect that provision in the regulatory text. This document corrects that error.

These special conditions are issued for the Boeing Model 787-8 airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. The Boeing Model 787-8 airplanes will use high capacity lithium ion battery technology in on- board systems. For these design features, the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards. 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 standards. Additional special conditions will be issued for other novel or unusual design features of the Boeing Model 787-8 airplanes.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (Office) published a final rule in the Federal Register of September 10, 2007, revising the rules of practice in title 37 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to conform them to certain amendments made to the Regulations under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) that took effect on April 1, 2007. This document corrects errors in that final rule.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the Calumet Sag Channel and Little Calumet River, Blue Island, IL. This zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the Calumet Sag Channel during the Blue Island Regatta November 3 and November 4, 2007. This temporary safety zone will establish restrictions upon, and control the movement of, vessels in a specified area immediately prior to, during, and immediately after the regatta.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for International Aero Engines (IAE) V2500 series turbofan engines. This AD requires repetitive monitoring of N2 vibration on all IAE V2500 series engines to identify engines that might have a cracked high pressure turbine (HPT) stage 2 air seal. This AD results from a report that HPT stage 2 air seals have developed cracks. We are issuing this AD to prevent uncontained failure of the HPT stage 2 air seal.

EPA is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of South Dakota on August 8, 2006. The August 8, 2006 submittal revises the Administrative Rules of South Dakota, Air Pollution Control Program, by modifying the chapters pertaining to definitions, ambient air quality, air quality episodes, operating permits for minor sources, performance testing, control of visible emissions, and continuous emission monitoring systems. The intended effect of this action is to make these revisions federally enforceable. We are also announcing that on July 19, 2007, we updated the delegation of authority for the implementation and enforcement of the New Source Performance Standards to the State of South Dakota. These actions are being taken under sections 110 and 111 of the Clean Air Act. In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the State's SIP revision as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial SIP revision and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the preamble to the direct final rule. If EPA receives no adverse comments, EPA will not take further action on this proposed rule. If EPA receives adverse comments, EPA will withdraw the direct final rule and it will not take effect. EPA will address all public comments in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so at this time. Please note that if EPA receives adverse comment on an amendment, paragraph, or section of this rule and if that provision may be severed from the remainder of the rule, EPA may adopt as final those provisions of the rule that are not the subject of an adverse comment.

The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) announces that a certain rule adopted in its Public Safety 700 MHz Band proceeding (WT Docket No. 02-08; FCC 02-152) in 2002, to the extent it contained an information collection requirement that required approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) was approved, and became effective January 31, 2006, following approval by OMB.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for groundfish by vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), except for directed fishing for pollock by vessels using pelagic trawl gear in those portions of the GOA open to directed fishing for pollock. This closure also does not apply to fishing by vessels participating in the cooperative fishery in the Rockfish Pilot Program for the Central GOA. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2007 Pacific halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) limit specified for trawl gear in the GOA.