August 6, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are superseding airworthiness directive (AD) 2010-11-02 for all Gulfstream Aerospace LP (Type Certificate Previously Held by Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd.) Model Gulfstream 100 airplanes, and Model Astra SPX and 1125 Westwind Astra airplanes. AD 2010-11-02 required amending the airplane flight manuals (AFMs) to include additional procedures for verifying complete closure and locking of the main entry door (MED). AD 2010-11-02 also required modifying the warning and caution lights panel (WACLP), changing the WACLP and MED wiring, changing the wiring harness connecting the MED to the WACLP, and revising the log of modification of the AFM if necessary. This new AD revises the compliance time and removes an airplane from the applicability. This AD was prompted by a report of a MED opening in flight on an unmodified airplane. We are issuing this AD to prevent incomplete closure of the MED, which may result in the door opening in flight and possible separation of the door, causing damage to the airplane structure and left engine by flying debris and objects.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing a revised regulatory guide (RG), revision 2 of RG 1.168, ``Verification, Validation, Reviews, and Audits for Digital Computer Software Used in Safety Systems of Nuclear Power Plants.'' This guide endorses, with clarifications and exceptions, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Standard 1012-2004, ``IEEE Standard for Software Verification and Validation,'' and IEEE Std. 1028-2008, ``IEEE Standard for Software Reviews and Audits.'' These two IEEE standards describe methods acceptable to the NRC staff for demonstrating compliance with the NRC's regulations for design verification and control of software used in the safety systems of a nuclear power plant.

The Secretary announces priorities, requirements, definitions, and selection criteria under the Race to the TopDistrict program. The Secretary may use one or more of these priorities, requirements, definitions, and selection criteria for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2013 and later years. The Race to the TopDistrict program builds on the experience of States and districts in implementing reforms in the four core educational assurance areas through Race to the Top and other key programs and supports applicants that demonstrate how they can personalize education for all students in their schools. The U.S. Department of Education (Department) conducted one competition under the Race to the TopDistrict program in FY 2012, and we are maintaining the overall purpose and structure of the FY 2012 Race to the TopDistrict competition. These priorities, requirements, definitions, and selection criteria are almost identical to the ones we used in the FY 2012 competition.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X airplanes. This AD requires incorporation of a new procedure into the airplane flight manual (AFM). This AD was prompted by a report of a runway excursion caused by failure of the nose landing gear position feed-back assembly. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct an incorrect angle signal causing an un-commanded nose wheel deflection, which could result in reduced controllability of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Arrow Falcon Exporters, Inc. (previously Utah State University); Firefly Aviation Helicopter Services (previously Erickson Air-Crane Co.); California Department of Forestry; Garlick Helicopters, Inc.; Global Helicopter Technology, Inc.; Hagglund Helicopters, LLC (previously Western International Aviation, Inc.); International Helicopters, Inc.; Precision Helicopters, LLC; Robinson Air Crane, Inc.; San Joaquin Helicopters (previously Hawkins and Powers Aviation, Inc.); S.M.&T. Aircraft (previously US Helicopters, Inc., UNC Helicopter, Inc., Southern Aero Corporation, and Wilco Aviation); Smith Helicopters; Southern Helicopter, Inc.; Southwest Florida Aviation International, Inc. (previously Jamie R. Hill and Southwest Florida Aviation); Tamarack Helicopters, Inc. (previously Ranger Helicopter Services, Inc.); US Helicopter, Inc. (previously UNC Helicopter, Inc.); West Coast Fabrication; and Williams Helicopter Corporation (previously Scott Paper Co.) Model HH-1K, TH-1F, TH-1L, UH-1A, UH-1B, UH-1E, UH-1F, UH-1H, UH-1L, and UH-1P Helicopters; and Southwest Florida Aviation Model UH- 1B (SW204 and SW204HP) and UH-1H (SW205) Helicopters. This AD requires creating a component history card or equivalent record for each main rotor grip (grip); determining and recording the total hours time-in- service (TIS) for each grip; visually inspecting the upper and lower tangs of the grip for a crack; inspecting the grip buffer pads for delamination and if delamination is present, inspecting the grip surface for corrosion or other damage; inspecting the grip for a crack using ultrasonic (UT) and fluorescent penetrant inspection methods; and establishing a retirement life for certain grips. This AD was prompted by three in-flight failures of grips installed on Bell Helicopter Textron (Bell) Model 212 helicopters, which resulted from cracks originating in the lower main rotor blade bolt lug. The actions are intended to prevent failure of the grip, separation of a main rotor blade, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, propose to designate critical habitat for Graham's beardtongue (Penstemon grahamii) and White River beardtongue (Penstemon scariosus var. albifluvis) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We are proposing approximately 27,502 hectares (67,959 acres) for designation as critical habitat for Graham's beardtongue in Duchesne and Uintah Counties in Utah and Rio Blanco County in Colorado. We are proposing approximately 6,036 hectares (14,914 acres) for designation as critical habitat for White River beardtongue in Duchesne and Uintah Counties in Utah and Rio Blanco County in Colorado. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it will extend the Act's protections to these species' critical habitats.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to designate critical habitat for the sharpnose shiner (Notropis oxyrhynchus) and smalleye shiner (N. buccula) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 1,002 river kilometers (623 river miles) of river segments occupied by the species in Baylor, Crosby, Fisher, Garza, Haskell, Kent, King, Knox, Stonewall, Throckmorton, and Young Counties in the upper Brazos River basin of Texas fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would extend the Act's protections to these species' critical habitat.