March 30, 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
Results 1 - 22 of 22
Texas Central Railroad High-Speed Rail Safety Standards
FRA is postponing three public hearings, originally announced on March 12, 2020, for the purpose of receiving oral comment on the Texas Central Railroad High-Speed Rail Safety Standards notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). The hearings were scheduled between March 31, 2020 and April 2, 2020 in Dallas, Navasota, and Houston, Texas.
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 757-200, -200PF, -200CB, and -300 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that during a maintenance check an operator discovered cracking of the aft cargo compartment frames in the station 1460 frame web and inner chord between certain stringers. This AD requires an inspection of the fuselage frames for any existing repair, repetitive surface high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspections of the fuselage frames with a cargo liner support channel for any cracking, and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Airworthiness Directives; De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited (Type Certificate Previously Held by Bombardier, Inc.) Airplanes
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of wear on fuel couplings, bonding springs, and sleeves as well as fuel tube end ferrules and fuel component end ferrules. This AD requires repetitive inspections of certain parts for discrepancies that meet specified criteria, and replacement as necessary; repetitive inspections of certain parts for damage and wear, and rework of parts; and electrical bonding checks of certain couplings. This AD also requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. For certain airplanes, this AD allows a modification that would terminate the repetitive inspections. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A318 series airplanes; Model A319-111, -112, - 113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133 airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, - 131, -211, -212, -213, -231, and -232 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of cracking found on the frame of the right-hand side sliding window in the flight deck. This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracking of the vertical stiffeners of the left- and right-hand sides of the window frames and corrective actions if necessary, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
The FAA is withdrawing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that proposed to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) that would have applied to certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8 and 787-9 airplanes. The NPRM was prompted by a report that a passenger entry door assist handle became detached during use. The NPRM would have required a detailed inspection of all passenger and service entry door assist handles for correct installation and applicable on-condition actions. Since issuance of the NPRM, we determined that the service information is ineffective in addressing the unsafe condition and must be revised. Accordingly, the NPRM is withdrawn.
Airworthiness Directives; Kidde Aerospace & Defense
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Kidde Aerospace & Defense cargo fire extinguisher halon bottles installed on various transport category airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report indicating that certain cargo fire extinguisher halon bottles installed in the cargo compartment had low charge pressure. This proposed AD would require an inspection to determine the part number and serial number of the cargo fire extinguisher halon bottles and replacement of affected parts with serviceable parts. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2015-13-06, which applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 747-400 and 747-400F series airplanes. AD 2015-13-06 requires repetitive inspections of the longeron extension fittings for cracking, repetitive high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspections of any modified, repaired, or replaced longeron extension fitting for cracking, and applicable on-condition actions. Since the FAA issued AD 2015-13-06, the FAA has determined that additional airplanes are affected by the identified unsafe condition. This proposed AD would retain the requirements of AD 2015-13-06 and include additional airplanes in the applicability. For those additional airplanes, this proposed AD would require only repetitive inspections of the longeron extension fittings for cracking and repair if necessary. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of passenger door girt bar fitting assembly safety hooks being stuck in the upward position. This AD requires repetitive detailed inspections of girt bar fitting assemblies, repetitive greasing of girt bar fitting assembly bushes, and, depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective actions, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Aviation Airplanes
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-19-27 and AD 2014-16-12, which applied to certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 2000EX airplanes. AD 2018-19-27 and AD 2014-16-12 required revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations. This AD retains those actions and requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate additional new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. This AD was prompted by the FAA's determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of failure of a wing strut leak test due to a missing bolt on the firewall. This AD requires a one-time leak test of the strut upper spar areas for the left and right wing struts, and corrective action if necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (Type Certificate Previously Held by Rolls-Royce plc) Turbofan Engines.
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co KG Trent XWB-75, Trent XWB- 79, Trent XWB-79B, and Trent XWB-84 model turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of a lack of weld fusion on the resistance welding during manufacturing, which could result in air leakage through the low-pressure turbine (LPT) rear support seal panel assembly (``LPT seal panel''). This proposed AD would require replacement of the LPT seal panel. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Representation Case Procedures
On December 18, 2019, the National Labor Relations Board (Board) published a final rule amending its representation case procedures. The Board hereby amends that rule to change the effective date from April 16, 2020, to May 31, 2020. The purpose of this amendment is to facilitate the resolution of the legal challenges with respect to the rule.
Modification of Regulations Regarding the Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis System
On May 17, 2019, the United States announced joint understandings with Canada and Mexico, respectively, to eliminate tariffs imposed under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, on imports of steel and aluminum products from Canada and Mexico and to establish a process for monitoring such imports. Consistent with the joint understandings, and to enhance U.S. Government monitoring and analysis of steel imports more generally, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) publishes this proposed rule to enhance its existing Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) system to allow for the effective and timely monitoring of import surges of specific steel products which will aid in the prevention of transshipment of steel products. Specifically, Commerce proposes to modify its regulations to require import license applicants to identify the country where the steel used in the manufacture of the imported steel product was melted and poured, and to release this data on an aggregate basis, as appropriate; to harmonize the scope of SIMA's licensing requirement with the scope of steel products subject to Section 232 tariffs; to extend the SIMA system indefinitely by eliminating the regulatory provision concerning the duration of the SIMA system; and to expand eligibility for use of the low-value license for certain steel entries. Commerce will address the monitoring of aluminum imports in a separate rulemaking.
Waiver of Original Handwritten Signature Requirement Due to the COVID-19 Outbreak
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) considers the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak to be an extraordinary situation. Therefore, pursuant to the Office's authority, the USPTO is waiving its only regulatory requirements for an original handwritten signature personally signed in permanent dark ink or its equivalent for certain correspondence with the Office of Enrollment and Discipline and certain payments by credit card. In both instances, the Office will accept copies of handwritten signatures. The USPTO has no other requirements for original handwritten, ink signatures.
Schedules of Controlled Substances: Placement of FUB-AMB in Schedule I
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) places methyl 2-(1- (4-fluorobenzyl)-1H-indazole-3-carboxamido)-3-methylbutanoate (other names: FUB-AMB, MMB-FUBINACA, AMB-FUBINACA), including its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers whenever the existence of such salts, isomers, and salts of isomers is possible, in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. This action continues the imposition of the regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to schedule I controlled substances on persons who handle (manufacture, distribute, import, export, engage in research, conduct instructional activities or chemical analysis, or possess), or propose to handle FUB-AMB.
Air Plan Approval; Oklahoma; Infrastructure for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards
Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving elements of a State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission from the State of Oklahoma for the 2015 Ozone (O3) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). Oklahoma's October 25, 2018, submittal addressed how the existing SIP provides for implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of the 2015 O3 NAAQS (infrastructure SIP or i-SIP). The i- SIP ensures that the Oklahoma SIP is adequate to meet the state's responsibilities under the CAA for this NAAQS.
Labor Organization Annual Financial Reports for Trusts in Which a Labor Organization Is Interested, Form T-1; Correction
The Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register of March 6, 2020. That document revised the forms required by labor organizations under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (``LMRDA'' or ``Act''). Under the rule, specified labor organizations file annual reports (Form T-1 Trust Annual Report) concerning trusts in which they are interested. The Form T-1 Instructions published with the final rule, however, provided inaccurate examples concerning the applicability dates of the final rule. This document corrects those omissions.
Tribal Transportation Program; Inventory of Proposed Roads
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is finalizing a change to a provision in the Tribal Transportation Program regulations affecting proposed roads that are currently in the National Tribal Transportation Facility Inventory (NTTFI). Specifically, this final rule deletes the requirement for Tribes to collect and submit certain data in order to keep those proposed roads in the NTTFI. The requirement to collect and submit data to add new proposed roads to the NTTFI remains in place.
Environmental Protection Agency Acquisition Regulation (EPAAR); Award Term Incentive
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a final rule to amend EPA Acquisition Regulation (EPAAR) award term incentive policy, procedures, and clauses to remove ambiguity and provide clarity with respect to what is required for a contractor to successfully earn award terms.
Occupant Protection for Automated Driving Systems
This proposal is one of a series of regulatory actions that NHTSA is considering to address the near- and long-term challenges of testing and verifying compliance with the Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) for vehicles equipped with Automated Driving Systems (ADS) that lack the traditional manual controls necessary for human drivers, but that are otherwise traditional vehicles with typical seating configurations. This document seeks to clarify the ambiguities in applying current crashworthiness standards to ADS-equipped vehicles without traditional manual controls, while maintaining the regulatory text's application to more traditional vehicles and vehicles equipped with ADS that may have alternate modes. This proposal is limited to the crashworthiness standards and provides a unified set of proposed regulatory text applicable to vehicles with and without ADS functionality. This NPRM builds on NHTSA's efforts to identify and address regulatory barriers to vehicles with unique designs that are equipped with ADS technologies, including the advance notice of proposed rulemaking on removing barriers in the crash avoidance (100 Series) FMVSS in May 2019, the request for comments on this topic in January 2018, and the research that NHTSA is currently conducting. NHTSA also intends to issue a separate notice regarding removal of barriers in the FMVSS that pertain to telltales, indicators, alerts, and warnings in ADS-equipped vehicles.
Protection of the Stratospheric Ozone: Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning System Servicing
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to adopt three technical standards developed by SAE International (SAE) for equipment that recovers, recycles, and/or recharges the refrigerant 2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoroprop-1-ene (HFO-1234yf or R-1234yf) in motor vehicle air conditioners (MVACs). The three standards are SAE J2843, SAE J2851, and SAE J3030. This proposed rulemaking would adopt the most current versions of these standards by incorporating them by reference into the regulations related to the protection of stratospheric ozone. This will provide additional flexibility for industry stakeholders that wish to select recovery and recycling equipment certified to these standards.
Pilot Records Database
The FAA is proposing to require the use of an electronic Pilot Records Database (PRD) and implement statutory requirements. The PRD would be used to facilitate the sharing of pilot records among air carriers and other operators in an electronic data system managed by the FAA. Air carriers, specific operators holding out to the public, entities conducting public aircraft operations, air tour operators, fractional ownerships, and corporate flight departments would be required to enter relevant data on individuals employed as pilots into the PRD, and this would be available electronically to those entities. In addition, this proposal identifies all air carriers, fractional ownerships, and some other operators or entities that would be required to access the PRD and evaluate the available data for each pilot candidate prior to making a hiring decision.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
