January 9, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action modifies the Atlanta, GA, Class B airspace area to ensure the containment of large turbine-powered aircraft operating to and from the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). The FAA is taking this action to enhance safety and reduce the potential for midair collision in the Atlanta, GA, terminal area.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish special local regulations on the Indian River located northeast of Ernest F. Lyons Bridge and south of Joes Cove, in Stuart, Florida during the Stuart Sailfish Regatta, a series of high-speed boat races. The Stuart Sailfish Regatta will take place from Friday, April 19, 2013 through Sunday, April 21, 2013. Approximately 150 high-speed power boats will be participating in the event. It is anticipated that at least 100 spectator vessels will be present during the race. These special local regulations are necessary for the safety of race participants, participant vessels, spectators and the general public during the event. The special local regulations establish the following three areas: a race area, where all persons and vessels, except those persons and vessels participating in the high-speed boat races, are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within; a buffer zone around the race area, where all persons and vessels, except those persons and vessels enforcing the buffer zone, or authorized participants or vessels transiting to the race area, are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within; and a spectator area.

In this document, the Commission extends the deadline for filing reply comments on the Commission's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in this proceeding, which was published in the Federal Register on October 9, 2012 (77 FR 61351). The extension will facilitate the development of a full record given the importance of the issues in this proceeding.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone encompassing certain waters of the Potomac River and Anacostia River. This action is necessary to safeguard persons and property, and prevent terrorist acts or incidents. This rule prohibits vessels and people from entering the security zone and requires vessels and persons in the security zone to depart the security zone, unless specifically exempt under the provisions in this rule or granted specific permission from the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Baltimore.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain International Aero Engines AG (IAE), V2525-D5 and V2528-D5 turbofan engines, with a certain number (No.) 4 bearing internal scavenge tube and a certain No. 4 bearing external scavenge tube installed. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of an engine under-cowl fire and commanded in-flight shutdown. This proposed AD would require replacement of certain part number (P/N) No. 4 bearing internal scavenge tubes, and alignment checks of certain P/N No. 4 bearing external scavenge tubes. We are proposing this AD to prevent engine fire and damage to the airplane.

We are amending the golden nematode regulations by removing areas in Livingston and Steuben Counties in New York from the list of generally infested areas. Surveys and other data have shown that certain areas in these two counties are free of golden nematode, and we have determined that regulation of these areas is no longer necessary. As a result of this action, areas in Livingston and Steuben Counties in New York that have been listed as generally infested will be removed from the list of areas regulated for golden nematode. This action is necessary to relieve restrictions on certain areas that are no longer necessary.

This proposed rule would increase the assessment rate established for the Texas Valley Citrus Committee (Committee) for the 2012-13 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.14 to $0.16 per 7/10- bushel carton or equivalent of oranges and grapefruit handled. The Committee locally administers the marketing order which regulates the handling of oranges and grapefruit grown in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas (order). Assessments upon orange and grapefruit handlers are used by the Committee to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the program. The fiscal period begins August 1 and ends July 31. The assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

The Copyright Office is amending its regulations to clarify its practices for providing refunds of cable royalties under the provisions of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010 (``STELA''). A cable operator must pay royalties to and file Statements of Account with the Office every six months in order to use the statutory license that allows for the retransmission of over-the-air broadcast signals under 17 U.S.C. 111. STELA allows a cable operator to calculate its royalty obligation for the carriage of distant signals on a community-by-community basis for accounting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2010, instead of calculating its royalty obligation based on the system as a whole. STELA also states that a cable operator shall not be subject to an infringement action if it used the subscriber group methodology to calculate its royalty obligation in a Statement filed prior to the effective date of STELA. Although a cable operator cannot be held liable for using the subscriber group methodology, the regulation clarifies that a cable operator's obligation to pay for the carriage of distant signals prior to the effective date of STELA was determined on a system-wide basis. Therefore, refunds for an overpayment of royalty fees on a Statement filed prior to the effective date of STELA will be made only when a cable operator has satisfied its outstanding royalty obligations (if any), including the obligation to pay for the carriage of each distant signal on a system-wide basis.

The Federal Communications Commission proposes to amend its rules by requiring all wireless carriers and providers of ``interconnected'' text messaging applications to support the ability of consumers to send text messages to 911 in all areas throughout the nation where 911 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) are also prepared to receive the texts. In addition, to inform consumers and prevent confusion, the Commission proposes to require all wireless carriers and interconnected text messaging providers to send automated ``bounce back'' error messages to consumers attempting to text 911 when the service is not available.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. This emergency AD was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of these airplanes. This AD requires revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) to advise the flight crew of emergency procedures for addressing Angle of Attack (AoA) sensor blockage. This AD also provides for optional terminating action for the AFM revision, which involves replacing AoA sensor conic plates with AoA sensor flat plates. This AD was prompted by a report that an airplane equipped with AoA sensors installed with conic plates recently experienced blockage of all sensors during climb, leading to autopilot disconnection and activation of the alpha protection (Alpha Prot) when Mach number was increased. We are issuing this AD to prevent reduced control of the airplane.

On December 21, 2012, NOAA published a notice of intent in the Federal Register to revise the boundaries of Cordell Bank and Gulf of the Farallones national marine sanctuaries. This document makes a correction to the dates of the scoping meetings. The end of the scoping period remains March 1, 2013.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for all Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH models TAE 125-01, TAE 125-02- 99, and TAE 125-02-114 reciprocating engines. That AD currently requires installation of full-authority digital electronic control (FADEC) software version 2.91. This new AD requires removing all software mapping versions prior to 292, 301, or 302, applicable to the TAE engine model. This AD was prompted by reports of possible power loss on airplanes equipped with TAE 125 engines. We are issuing this AD to prevent engine power loss or in-flight shutdown, resulting in reduced control of or damage to the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Honeywell International Inc. air data pressure transducers as installed on various aircraft. This AD requires various tests or checks of equipment having certain air data pressure transducers, and removal of equipment if necessary. As an option to the tests or checks, this AD allows removal of affected equipment having certain air data pressure transducers. This AD was prompted by a report of a pressure measurement error in the pressure transducer used in various air data systems, which translates into air data parameter errors. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct inaccuracies of the pressure sensors, which could result in altitude, computed airspeed, true airspeed, and Mach computation errors. These errors could reduce the ability of the flightcrew to maintain the safe flight of the aircraft and could result in consequent loss of control of the aircraft.

This final rule sets a new regulatory framework for FTA's evaluation and rating of major transit capital investments seeking funding under the discretionary ``New Starts'' and ``Small Starts'' programs. This final rule is being published concurrently with a Notice of Availability of revised proposed policy guidance that provides additional detail on the new measures and proposed methods for calculating the project justification and local financial commitment criteria specified in statute and this final rule. FTA seeks public comment on the revised proposed policy guidance referenced in the Notice of Availability published today. Because of the recent enactment of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), subsequent interim guidance and rulemaking will be forthcoming to address provisions not covered in this final rule.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Burkhart GROB Luft- und Raumfahrt GmbH Models GROB G 109 and GROB G 109B sailplanes. This 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 corrosion and/or cracking of the elevator control rod that could lead to failure of the elevator control rod with consequent loss of control. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are amending the regulations to establish minimum national official identification and documentation requirements for the traceability of livestock moving interstate. Under this rulemaking, unless specifically exempted, livestock belonging to species covered by the regulations that are moved interstate must be officially identified and accompanied by an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection or other documentation. These regulations specify approved forms of official identification for each species but allow the livestock covered under this rulemaking to be moved interstate with another form of identification, as agreed upon by animal health officials in the shipping and receiving States or Tribes. The purpose of this rulemaking is to improve our ability to trace livestock in the event that disease is found.

The Coast Guard is proposing to revise several vessel inspection and certification regulations to align them with a statutory definition of ``seagoing barge'' and with an exemption from inspection and certification requirements for certain seagoing barges. The proposed revisions are intended to eliminate ambiguity in existing regulations, to reduce the potential for confusion among the regulated public, and to help the Coast Guard perform its maritime safety and stewardship missions.