May 19, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Farm Credit Administration (FCA, Agency, us, or we) is considering amending our regulations governing the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac or the Corporation) non-program investments and liquidity requirements. The objective of these regulations is to ensure that Farmer Mac holds an appropriate level of high-quality, liquid investments to maintain a sufficient liquidity reserve, invest surplus funds, and manage interest rate risk.

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: Several low pressure turbine (LPT) shafts have been found with cracks originating from the rear cooling air holes. The cracks were found at normal component overhaul, by the standard Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI) technique defined in the associated engine manual. The cracks have been found to initiate from corrosion pits. Propagation of a crack from the rear cooling air holes may result in shaft failure and subsequently in an uncontained Low Pressure Turbine failure. For the reasons stated above, this AD requires the inspection of the affected engines' LPT shafts and replacement of the shaft, as necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect cracks, initiated by corrosion pits, originating from the rear cooling air holes, which could result in shaft failure and subsequently in an uncontained failure of the LPT and damage to the airplane.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is amending the Federal poultry products inspection regulations to correct an inadvertent error in the required shackle width for Bar-type cut turkey operations that use J-type cut maximum line speeds.

DoD is issuing an interim rule to implement section 8116 of the DoD Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2010. Section 8116 restricts the use of mandatory arbitration agreements when using funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this DoD Appropriations Act to award contracts that exceed $1 million. It allows the Secretary of Defense to waive applicability to a particular contractor or subcontractor, if determined necessary to avoid harm to national security.

These special conditions are issued for the Dassault Aviation Falcon Model 2000EX airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature(s) associated with the autobraking system for use during landing. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. 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.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Model 737-100 and -200 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for cracking and damaged fasteners of certain fuselage frames and stub beams, and corrective actions if necessary. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD would also require repetitive inspections for cracking of the inboard chord fastener hole of the frame at body station 639, stringer S-16, and corrective actions if necessary. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD would also require an inspection to determine the edge margin of the lower chord. For airplanes with a certain short edge margin, this proposed AD requires repetitive inspections for cracking, and corrective actions if necessary; replacing the lower chord terminates the repetitive inspections. This proposed AD requires an eventual preventive modification. For certain airplanes, doing the modification or a repair would terminate the repetitive inspections for the repaired or modified frame only. For airplanes on which the modification or repair is done at certain body stations, this proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for cracking of certain frame webs and inner and outer chords, and corrective actions if necessary. For certain other airplanes, this proposed AD requires a modification which includes reinforcing the body frame inner chords, replacing the stub beam upper chords and attach angles, and reinforcing the stub beam web. This proposed AD results from reports of fatigue cracks at certain frame sections, in addition to stub beam cracking, caused by high flight cycle stresses from both pressurization and maneuver load. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of certain fuselage frames and stub beams, and possible severed frames, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the frames. This reduced structural integrity can increase loading in the fuselage skin, which will accelerate skin crack growth and result in rapid decompression of the fuselage.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This proposed 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: Three events have been reported where insulation material was found to be fouling pulleys in the aileron interconnect circuit in the cabin roof area. Interference between the cable and the insulation bag causes the material to be drawn into the gap between the pulley and the pulley guard. This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to restricted aileron movement and consequently, reduced control of the aeroplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Model 747-400 and 747-400D series airplanes. This proposed AD would require installing aluminum gutter reinforcing brackets to the forward and aft drip shield gutters of the main equipment center (MEC); and adding a reinforcing fiberglass overcoat to the top surface of the MEC drip shield, including an inspection for cracking and holes in the MEC drip shield, and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD also provides for an option to install an MEC drip shield drain system, which, if accomplished, would extend the compliance time for adding the reinforcing fiberglass overcoat to the top surface of the MEC drip shield. This proposed AD results from a report indicating that an operator experienced a multi-power system loss in-flight of 1, 2, and 3 alternating current (AC) electrical power systems located in the MEC. We are proposing this AD to prevent water penetration into the MEC, which could result in the loss of flight critical systems.

EPA is proposing to revoke certain tolerances for the fungicides dicloran and thiophanate-methyl; the herbicides EPTC, hexazinone, picloram, and propazine; the defoliant and herbicide cacodylic acid; the plant growth regulator and herbicide diquat, the insecticides disulfoton, malathion, methamidophos, methomyl, phosmet, piperonyl butoxide, pyrethrins, and thiodicarb; the fumigant antimicrobial and insecticide methyl bromide, the nematicides/ insecticides ethoprop and fenamiphos, the insecticide synergist N-octyl bicycloheptene dicarboximide, and the tolerance exemptions for the insecticide/miticide pyrethrum and insecticide synergist N-octyl bicycloheptene dicarboximide. In addition, EPA is proposing to remove certain expired tolerances for disulfoton, fenamiphos, and thiophanate- methyl. Also, EPA is proposing to modify certain tolerances for the fungicide thiophanate-methyl, herbicides dicamba, EPTC, hexazinone and picloram, and insecticide synergist N-octyl bicycloheptene dicarboximide. In addition, EPA is proposing to establish new tolerances for the fungicide thiophanate-methyl and the herbicides EPTC, hexazinone, and picloram. Also, EPA is proposing to reinstate specific tolerances for methamidophos residues as a result of the application of the insecticide acephate. The regulatory actions proposed in this document are in follow-up to the Agency's reregistration program under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), and tolerance reassessment program under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), section 408(q).

This document contains final regulations relating to qualified nonpersonal use vehicles as defined in section 274(i). Qualified nonpersonal use vehicles are excepted from the substantiation requirements of section 274(d)(4) that apply to listed property as defined in section 280F(d)(4). These final regulations add clearly marked public safety officer vehicles as a new type of qualified nonpersonal use vehicle. These final regulations affect employers that provide their employees with qualified nonpersonal use vehicles and the employees who use such vehicles.

The Rural Housing Service proposes two changes to its Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program (SFHGLP) regulation. This action is taken to achieve savings for the taxpayer, simplify regulations, and promote efficiency in managing the SFHGLP. The proposed changes are in accordance with the recommendations of the Inspector General in its Audit (Number 04601-0017-CH) of April 2009.