2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Postal Service gives notice of filing a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to add a domestic shipping services contract to the list of Negotiated Service Agreements in the Mail Classification Schedule's Competitive Products List.

On April 9, 2013, the Department of Commerce (the Department) published the preliminary results of the administrative review of the antidumping duty order on circular welded carbon steel pipes and tubes from Thailand. This review covers two producers and/or exporters of the subject merchandise, Saha Thai Steel Pipe (Public) Company, Ltd. (Saha Thai), and Pacific Pipe Company Limited (Pacific Pipe). The period of review (POR) is March 1, 2011, through February 29, 2012. The Department received comments from interested parties. For the final results we continue to find that Saha Thai has not sold subject merchandise at less than normal value (NV), and that Pacific Pipe had no shipments of subject merchandise during the POR.

On October 31, 2013, the Department of Labor (DOL) will submit the Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) sponsored information collection request (ICR) revision titled, ``Eligibility Data Form: Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act and Veterans' Preference,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species, marine mammals, or both. With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) prohibits activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is acquired that allows such activities.

In 2005, the Governments of the United States and India established the U.S.-India CEO Forum. On February 10, 2012, we published in the Federal Register a ``Request for Applicants for the Appointment to the United States-India CEO Forum'' (FR Doc. 2012-3158), announcing membership opportunities for appointment as representatives to the U.S. Section of the Forum, and we appointed ten members to the U.S. Section of the Forum for a two-year term beginning on September 1, 2012. We are now soliciting additional applications for up to two openings from members of the private sector representing either the U.S. health care sector or the U.S. insurance industry sector. This notice supplements the notice of February 10, 2012, and announces membership opportunities for appointment as representatives to the U.S. Section of the Forum's private sector Committee to serve for the remainder of the current term which ends on August 31, 2014.

DoD is issuing a final rule to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to add Croatia as a new designated country under the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement (WTO GPA). Croatia joined the European Union, which is a party to the WTO GPA, on July 1, 2013.

DoD is issuing a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to further implement DoD policy relating to competitive acquisitions in which only one offer is received, providing additional exceptions, and further addressing requests for data other than certified cost or pricing data from the Canadian Commercial Corporation.

DoD has adopted as final, with changes, an interim rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement the United StatesPanama Trade Promotion Agreement. This Trade Promotion Agreement is a free trade agreement that provides for mutually non-discriminatory treatment of eligible products and services from Panama.

The Secretary of the Treasury is responsible for computing and publishing the percentage rate that is to be used in assessing interest charges for outstanding debts owed to the Government (The Debt Collection Act of 1982, as amended (codified at 31 U.S.C. 3717)). This rate is also to be used by agencies as a comparison point in evaluating the cost-effectiveness of a cash discount. In addition, this rate is to be used in determining when agencies should pay purchase card invoices when the card issuer offers a rebate (5 CFR 1315.8). Notice is hereby given that the applicable rate is for calendar year 2014 is 1.00 percent.

This action proposes special conditions for the Bombardier Inc. Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 series airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with the materials used to fabricate the fuselage, which may affect fire propagation during an in-flight fire. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed 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 are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of a cracked pick-up bracket of the forward outboard pylon of the number 1 engine due to stress corrosion. This AD requires repetitive inspections and, depending on findings, repair of the pylon pick-up brackets. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the pick-up bracket, which could result in the engine pylon separating from the wing, with consequent damage to the airplane and reduced controllability.

The Rail Vehicles Access Advisory Committee (Committee) will hold its first meeting. We, the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board), established the Committee to advise us on revising and updating our accessibility guidelines issued pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act for transportation vehicles that operate on fixed guideway systems (e.g., rapid rail, light rail, commuter rail, intercity rail, and high speed rail). The original first meeting, previously scheduled for October 15 and 16, 2013, did not occur due to the federal government shutdown.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (Eurocopter) Model EC135 P1, P2, P2+, T1, T2, and T2+ helicopters. This AD requires inspecting each linear transducer bearing (bearing) for freedom of movement and replacing the bearing if there is binding or rough turning or if there is chafing or damage on the lower side of the floor. Also, this AD requires modifying and re-identifying a certain rod. This AD was prompted by an incident involving limited control of a tail rotor because of the binding of a bearing. The actions of this AD are intended to detect and replace each bearing subject to binding, which could lead to subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 747-400 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of fasteners missing on an airplane undergoing a passenger- to-freighter conversion. This AD requires doing a general visual inspection of the station 1920 splice clip for correct fastener installation, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct missing or incorrect fasteners, which can lead to cracking and loss of load carrying capacity, resulting in a possible decompression event.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, and CL-604 Variants) airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of airspeed mismatch between the pilot and co-pilot's airspeed indicators, which occurred during or after heavy rain. This AD requires, for certain airplanes, inspecting for drain bottles having certain part numbers, and replacing affected drain bottles. This AD requires, for certain other airplanes, replacing drain bottles. We are issuing this AD to prevent pitot static tubing from becoming blocked by water, which if not corrected, could lead to erroneous airspeed and altitude indications, and consequent loss of control of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 727 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports indicating that a standard fuel tank access door was located where an impact-resistant access door was required, and stencils were missing from some impact-resistant access doors. This AD requires an inspection of the left- and right-hand wing fuel tank access doors to determine that impact-resistant access doors are installed in the correct locations, and to replace any door with an impact-resistant access door if necessary. This AD also requires an inspection for stencils and index markers on impact-resistant access doors, and application of new stencils or index markers if necessary. This AD also requires revising the maintenance program to incorporate changes to the airworthiness limitations section. We are issuing this AD to prevent foreign object penetration of the fuel tank, which could cause a fuel leak near an ignition source (e.g., hot brakes), consequently leading to a fuel-fed fire.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 97-19-10 for Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation-manufactured Model S-64E helicopters (type certificate currently held by Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated (Erickson)). AD 97-19-10 required inspecting and reworking the main gearbox (MGB) assembly second stage lower planetary plate (plate). This action establishes or reduces the life limits for certain flight- critical components, removes from service various parts, requires repetitive inspections and other corrective actions, and requires replacing any cracked part discovered during an inspection. This AD is prompted by further analysis performed by the current type certificate holder and the service history of certain parts. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent a crack in a flight critical component, failure of a critical part, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 727 airplanes. This AD was prompted by certain mandated programs intended to support the airplane reaching its limit of validity (LOV) of the engineering data that support the established structural maintenance program. This AD requires, for certain airplanes, a modification of the web of the horizontal stabilizer center section rear spar. For the other airplanes, this AD requires an inspection for cracks in the web, and repair or modification as applicable. We are issuing this AD to prevent cracking at the upper fastener holes in the riveted web in the horizontal stabilizer center section rear spar, which could result in failure of the spar forging and lead to horizontal stabilizer separation and loss of control of the airplane.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2003-08-51 for MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI), Model 369A, 369D, 369E, 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, 369F and 369FF helicopters with certain MDHI or Helicopter Technology Company (HTC) tail rotor blades installed. AD 2003-08-51 required reducing the retirement life of each tail rotor blade (blade), performing a one-time visual inspection of each blade's pitch horn (pitch horn) for a crack or corrosion, and replacing any cracked blade or any blade that has exceeded its retirement life with an airworthy blade. AD 2003-08-51 also required reporting information to the FAA within 24 hours following the one-time inspection. Since we issued AD 2003-08-51, an accident in England prompted an investigation that showed corrosion on the blade's pitch horn that had not been detected under the paint. This new AD retains some of the requirements of AD 2003-08-51 and also requires paint removal for all pitch horn inspections, inspecting for pitting and the shot peen surface's condition in addition to cracks and corrosion, and adds certain part- numbered blades to the applicability. These actions are intended to prevent a pitch horn from cracking, leading to vibration, loss of tail rotor pitch control, and subsequent loss of tail rotor and helicopter control.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bell Model 430 helicopters. This AD requires installing a placard on the instrument panel and revising the limitations section of the rotorcraft flight manual (RFM). This AD was prompted by several incidents of third stage engine turbine wheel failures, which were caused by excessive vibrations at certain engine speeds during steady- state operations. These actions are intended to alert pilots to avoid certain engine speeds during steady-state operations, prevent failure of the third stage engine turbine, engine power loss, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bell Model 407 helicopters. This AD requires installing a placard beneath the NR/NP dual tachometer and revising the limitations section of the rotorcraft flight manual (RFM). This AD was prompted by several incidents of third stage engine turbine wheel failures, which were caused by excessive vibrations at certain engine speeds during steady- state operations. These actions are intended to alert pilots to avoid certain engine speeds during steady-state operations, prevent failure of the third stage engine turbine, engine power loss, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.