2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-12-04, which applied to certain The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series airplanes. AD 2008-12-04 required various repetitive inspections to detect cracks along the chem-milled steps of the fuselage skin, and to detect missing or loose fasteners in the area of a certain preventive modification or repairs; replacement of the time-limited repair with a permanent repair, if applicable; and applicable corrective actions which would end certain repetitive inspections. This AD reduces the post-modification inspection compliance times, limits installation of the preventive modification to airplanes with fewer than 30,000 total flight cycles, and adds repetitive inspections for modified airplanes. This AD was prompted by an evaluation by the design approval holder (DAH) that indicated that the upper skin panel at the chem-milled step above the lap joint is subject to widespread fatigue damage (WFD) if the modification was installed after 30,000 total flight cycles. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model EC225LP helicopters. This AD requires modifying the emergency lubrication system (EMLUB). This AD was prompted by two incidents of emergency ditching after there was a warning of a loss of oil pressure and a false EMLUB failure. The actions of this AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a temporary modification of the currently-designated Massachusetts Bay Dredged Material Disposal Site (MBDS) pursuant to the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, as amended (MPRSA). The purpose of this temporary site modification is to allow for the environmental restoration of a particular area adjacent to the currently-designated MBDS (Potential Restoration Area) by temporarily expanding the boundaries of the existing MBDS. The temporary expansion is a circular area that contains the Potential Restoration Area, which includes most of the historic Industrial Waste Site (IWS). Decades ago, the IWS was used for the disposal of barrels containing industrial, chemical and radioactive waste, as well as for the disposal of munitions, ordnance, construction equipment, and contaminated dredged material. The proposed modification of the disposal site boundary will enable the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to place suitable dredged material from Boston Harbor generated during the Deep Draft Navigation Project at the Potential Restoration Area in order to cover the barrels and other wastes disposed there in the past. The Deep Draft Navigation Project includes maintenance dredging in the inner harbor, which includes the expansion of a confined aquatic disposal (CAD) cell and will generate approximately 1 million cubic yards (cy) of dredged material, as well as improvement dredging of the main ship channel, which will generate approximately 11 million cy of dredged material. The existing MBDS will continue to be used for disposal of other dredging projects as usual. The expansion area would be permanently closed upon completion of the Boston Harbor maintenance and improvement projects, while the existing MBDS will remain open for the disposal of suitable dredged material. Like the MBDS, however, the expansion would be subject to ongoing monitoring and management to ensure continued protection of the marine environment.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are approving an amendment to the Indiana Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation (AML) Plan (Indiana Plan) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Updates to the Indiana Plan were proposed to be consistent with changes required by the 2006 amendment to SMCRA.

The U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') is initiating a data collection process through this RFI to consider whether to amend DOE's test procedure for distribution transformers. To inform interested parties and to facilitate this process, DOE has gathered data, identifying several issues associated with the currently applicable test procedure on which DOE is interested in receiving comment. The issues outlined in this document mainly concern the degree to which the per-unit load (``PUL'') testing measurement accurately represents in- service distribution transformer performance, and provides test results that reflect energy efficiency, energy use, and estimated operating costs during a representative average use cycle of an in-service transformer; sampling; representations; alternative energy determination methods (``AEDMs''); and any additional topics that may inform DOE's decisions in a future test procedure rulemaking, including methods to reduce regulatory burden while ensuring the procedure's accuracy. DOE welcomes written comments from the public on any subject within the scope of this document (including topics not raised in this RFI).

The Copyright Royalty Judges solicit reply comments on the legal issue of the purported reach of the proposed rules relating to a cable system license royalty surcharge for retransmission of broadcasts of certain professional sports events.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is conditionally approving revisions to the Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP) addressing Oxides of Nitrogen (NOX) Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) for the Martin Marietta (formerly, Texas Industries, Inc., or TXI) cement manufacturing plant in Ellis County. We are fully approving revisions to the Texas SIP addressing NOX RACT for all other affected sources in the ten county Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) 2008 8-Hour ozone nonattainment area. We are also approving NOX RACT negative declarations (a finding that there are no major sources of NOX emissions in certain categories) for the DFW 2008 8-Hour ozone nonattainment area. The DFW 2008 8-Hour ozone nonattainment area consists of Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, and Wise counties. The RACT requirements apply to major sources of NOX in these ten counties.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Models GIII (G-1159A), G-IV, and GIV-X airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that certain flap tracks were manufactured with the upper flange thickness less than design minimum. This proposed AD would require replacing any defective flap track. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. M601D-11, M601E-11, M601E-11A, M601E- 11AS, M601E-11S, and M601F turboprop engines. This proposed AD was prompted by a review that determined that certain power turbine (PT) rotors have less overspeed margin than originally declared during product certification. This proposed AD would require removal of the affected PT disks. We are proposing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain General Electric Company (GE) CT7-8A and CT7-9B model turboshaft engines. This AD was prompted by reports from the manufacturer that the high-pressure compressor (HPC) impeller installed on these engines may have suffered from material degradation during the manufacturing process. This AD requires removal of the affected HPC impellers. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to supersede airworthiness directive (AD) 2017-07- 02 for Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model 269D and Model 269D Configuration A helicopters. AD 2017-07-02 currently requires reducing the life limit of and inspecting certain drive shafts. This proposed AD would retain the requirements of AD 2017-07-02 and propose repeating the inspections. The actions of this proposed AD are intended to detect and prevent an unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 757-200, -200PF, and -200CB series airplanes. This AD was prompted by an analysis of the cam support assemblies of the main cargo door (MCD) that indicated that the existing maintenance program for the cam support assemblies is not adequate to reliably detect cracks before two adjacent cam support assemblies could fail. This AD requires an inspection to determine part numbers, repetitive inspections to detect cracking of affected cam support assemblies of the MCD, and replacement if necessary. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-1A11 (CL-600), CL-600-2A12 (CL-601 Variant), and CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, and CL-604 Variants) airplanes. This AD was prompted by a new life limitation that has been introduced for the side brace fitting shaft and side brace-to-airplane fitting pin of the main landing gear (MLG). This AD requires revising the maintenance or inspection program. This AD also requires an inspection to identify the serial number, to serialize, and to record the accumulated life of the side brace fitting shaft of the MLG. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-13-12, which applied to all Airbus Model A318 and A319 series airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Model A321- 111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, and -232 airplanes. AD 2017- 13-12 required modification or replacement of certain side stay assemblies of the main landing gear (MLG). This new AD clarifies the formatting of a figure in the published version of AD 2017-13-12. This new AD was prompted by reports indicating that affected parties misinterpreted the applicability of the affected part numbers due to the formatting of a figure in the published version of AD 2017-13-12, which could result in a negative effect on compliance. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the SR 401 Drawbridge, mile 5.5 at Port Canaveral, Florida. The deviation is necessary to allow fuel trucks a less restrictive access to and from Port Canaveral to pick up and deliver fuel due to the critical fuel supply in the region. With the passage of Hurricane Irma, delivery of fuel from the port is critical to the local community and beyond. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed to navigation the majority of the day to facilitate the safe passage of vehicles picking up and delivering fuel.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Rhode Island. The revision consists of a reasonably available control technology (RACT) approval for a volatile organic compound (VOC) emission source in Rhode Island, specifically, US Watercraft, LLC. This action is being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act (CAA).

This final rule adds the Polar Ship Certificate to a list of certificates that certain U.S. and foreign-flag ships will need to carry on board if they engage in international voyages in polar waters. This rule also enables the Coast Guard to authorize recognized classification societies to issue the Polar Ship Certificate on the Coast Guard's behalf. We are taking this action because the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) has been amended to require certain ships operating in Arctic or Antarctic waters to have a Polar Ship Certificate. This rule will help ensure that U.S.-flagged ships that need this certificatecommercial cargo ships greater than 500 gross tonnage and passenger ships carrying more than 12 passengers, that operate in polar waters as defined by SOLAS chapter XIV while engaged in international voyageswill be able to obtain it in a timely manner.

The Coast Guard is updating the special local regulations and permanent safety zones in Coast Guard Sector Northern New England Captain of the Port Zone for annual recurring marine events. When enforced, these special local regulations and safety zones will restrict vessels from portions of water areas during certain annually recurring events. The special local regulations and safety zones are intended to expedite public notification and ensure the protection of the maritime public and event participants from the hazards associated with certain maritime events.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Tower Drawbridge across the Sacramento River, mile 59.0, at Sacramento, CA. The deviation is necessary to allow the community to participate in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation One Walk event. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position during the deviation period.

FMCSA proposes to establish reductions in the annual registration fees collected from motor carriers, motor private carriers of property, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies for the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Plan and Agreement for the registration years 2018, 2019 and subsequent years. For the 2018 registration year, the fees would be reduced below the current level by approximately 9.10% to ensure that fee revenues do not exceed the statutory maximum, and to account for the excess funds held in the depository. For the 2019 registration year, the fees would be reduced below the current level by approximately 4.55% to ensure the fee revenues in that and future years do not exceed the statutory maximum.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the Kansas State Implementation Plan (SIP) and the 112(l) program. The submission revises Kansas' construction permit rules. Specifically, these revisions implement the revised National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter; clarify and refine applicable criteria for sources subject to the construction permitting program; update the construction permitting program fee structure and schedule; and make minor revisions and corrections. Approval of these revisions will not impact air quality, ensures consistency between the State and Federally-approved rules, and ensures Federal enforceability of the State's rules.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The SIP revision consists of the following: 2011 calendar year ozone precursor emission inventories for volatile organic compounds (VOC), oxides of nitrogen (NOX) and carbon monoxide (CO) for the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island area classified as Moderate ozone nonattainment for the 2008 8-hour ozone standard, and the Philadelphia- Wilmington-Atlantic City ozone nonattainment area classified as Marginal ozone nonattainment for the 2008 8-hour ozone standard. In addition, the SIP revision also consists of the 2011 calendar year statewide periodic emissions inventory for particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 2.5 microns (PM2.5) and the associated PM2.5 and/or Regional Haze precursors. The pollutants included in this inventory include VOC, NOX, PM2.5, particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 10 microns (PM10), ammonia (NH3) and sulfur dioxide (SO2). Emission inventories are needed to develop and assess new control strategies that the states may use in attainment demonstration SIPs for the new National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone and PM2.5. The inventory may also serve as part of statewide inventories for purposes of regional modeling in ozone and Regional Haze transport areas. The inventory plays an important role in modeling demonstrations for areas classified as nonattainment for ozone, CO and PM2.5.

This action modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Iowa County Airport, Mineral Point, WI. This action is necessary due to the decommissioning of the Mineral Point non-directional radio beacon (NDB), and cancellation of the NDB approach. This action enhances the safety and management of standard instrument approach procedures for instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action amends the legal description of the Class E airspace designated as an extension, at Lemoore NAS (Reeves Field), Lemoore, CA, eliminating the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) part-time status. This action does not affect the charted boundaries or operating requirements of the airspace.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is confirming the effective date of September 20, 2017, for the direct final rule that was published in the Federal Register on July 7, 2017. This direct final rule amended the NRC's spent fuel storage regulations by revising the EnergySolutions\TM\ Corporation's VSC-24 Ventilated Storage Cask System listing within the ``List of Approved Spent Fuel Storage Casks'' to renew, for an additional 40 years, the initial certificate and Amendment Nos. 1-6 of Certificate of Compliance (CoC) No. 1007.