April 12, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This rulemaking relieves burdens on pilots seeking to obtain aeronautical experience, training, and certification by increasing the allowed use of aviation training devices. These actions are necessary to bring the regulations in line with the current capabilities of aviation training devices and the needs and activities of the general aviation training community and pilots.

The Department of Veterans Affairs adopts as final, without change, the final rule seeking comments published on October 3, 2012, amending its regulations governing Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI). Specifically, this rule prohibits paying insurance proceeds because of the death of a person (decedent) whose life was insured under SGLI or VGLI, or paying a SGLI Traumatic Injury Protection (TSGLI) benefit to a person (slayer) convicted of intentionally and wrongfully killing the decedent or determined in a civil proceeding to intentionally and wrongfully killing the decedent. This prohibition of payment also applies to any family member of the slayer who is not related to the decedent and to any person who assisted the slayer in causing the death of the decedent. Additionally, the term ``domestic partner'' is removed from the definition of ``member of the family''.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) proposes targeted rule changes to our existing accounting and affiliate transaction rules to eliminate inefficiencies and provide guidance to rate-of-return carriers regarding our expectations for appropriate expenditures.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of paint deterioration on the surface of the main landing gear (MLG) and the early onset of corrosion in the trunnion bore of the MLG outer cylinder. This proposed AD would require identifying affected parts, repetitive external surface detailed inspection for damage of affected parts, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. For certain airplanes, this AD also would require a detailed inspection and bushing replacement of the trunnion bore, and related investigative and corrective action if necessary. We are proposing this AD to prevent stress corrosion cracking of the external surfaces of the MLG, which could result in a fracture of the MLG and consequent MLG collapse.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is making available a final regulatory basis document to support a rulemaking that would amend its regulations by adopting new cyber security requirements for certain nuclear fuel cycle facility (FCF) licensees in order to address safety, security, and safeguards consequences of concern. The NRC is not seeking public comments on this document. There will be an opportunity for formal public comment on the proposed rule when it is published in the Federal Register.

This document confirms that on April 4, 2016, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana entered a consent decree (Consent Decree) among the United States; the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas; and BP Exploration and Production Inc. with respect to the civil penalty and natural resource damages in case number MDL No. 2179. The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (Council) regulation (Spill Impact Regulation) that implements the Spill Impact Component Allocation of the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act) is effective as of the date of publication of this document.

This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of 1,2-propanediol, 3-[3-[1, 3, 3, 3- tetramethyl-1-[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]-1-disiloxyanyl] propoxy]- (CAS Reg. No. 70280-68-1) when used as an inert ingredient (antifoaming agent) in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops at a maximum concentration not to exceed 5% by weight. Exponent, on behalf of ISK Biosciences submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting establishment of an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of 1,2-propanediol, 3-[3-[1, 3, 3, 3-tetramethyl-1-[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]-1-disiloxyanyl] propoxy]-.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving the limited maintenance plan submitted on January 4, 2016, by the State of Washington for the Spokane area, which includes the cities of Spokane, Spokane Valley, Millwood and surrounding unincorporated areas in Spokane County, Washington. This plan addresses the second 10-year maintenance period for particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 10 micrometers (PM10). A limited maintenance plan is used to meet Clean Air Act requirements for formerly designated nonattainment areas that meet certain qualification criteria. The EPA determined that Washington's submittal meets the limited maintenance plan criteria. The Spokane area currently has monitored PM10 levels well below the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and levels have not increased since the area was redesignated to attainment in 2005. The EPA is also approving minor updates to the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency (SRCAA) regulations controlling PM10 related to the maintenance plan.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-102, -103, and -106 airplanes, and Model DHC-8-200 and -300 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of heat damage found on a nacelle firewall after an unsuccessful engine ground start and several events of heat damage found on direct current starter/generator terminal block assemblies. This proposed AD would require an inspection for damage on the nacelle firewalls and the terminal block assemblies and to make sure the insulating sleeves are installed and have no damage, and corrective action if necessary. We are proposing this AD to prevent arcing between the firewall and terminal blocks that are missing insulating sleeves on the conductive bushings, which could, in combination with a fuel or hydraulic fluid leak, be an ignition source for a fire.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-15- 06, which applies to certain Textron Aviation Inc. Models 175 and 175A airplanes (type certificate previously held by Cessna Aircraft Company). AD 2008-15-06 currently requires checking the airplane logbook to determine if the original engine mounting brackets have been replaced. If the original engine mounting brackets are still installed, the AD requires repetitively inspecting those brackets for cracks and replacing any cracked engine mounting bracket until all four original engine mounting brackets are replaced. Replacing all four original engine mounting brackets terminates the actions required in AD 2008-15- 06. Since we issued AD 2008-15-06, we have determined that the applicability needs to be changed to add a serial number and take one out. This proposed AD would retain the actions required in AD 2008-15- 06 and would change the Applicability section. We are proposing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A330-200 Freighter, -200, and -300 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a manufacturing defect that affects the durability of affected parts in the cargo and cabin compartment. This proposed AD would require an inspection of affected structural parts in the cargo and cabin compartments to determine if proper heat-treatment has been done, and replacement if necessary. We are proposing this AD to prevent crack initiation and propagation, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the fuselage.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model AS355NP helicopters with certain fire extinguishing systems. This proposed AD would require removing and installing the fire extinguishing system so that each squib on the engine compartment fire extinguisher is controlled by a matching control button. This proposed AD is prompted by the discovery that the left-hand discharge system of the fire extinguishing system was incorrectly connected to the right-hand engine compartment and the right-hand discharge system was incorrectly connected to the left-hand engine compartment. The proposed actions would correct the connections and would prevent the fire extinguishing system discharging to the wrong engine compartment, failure of the fire extinguishing system to control a fire, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.