Department of Transportation March 15, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action proposes to establish eight area navigation (RNAV) routes in Alaska to support the Alaskan Region's Capstone Program. The Capstone Program is a Safety Program which seeks near term safety and efficiency gains by accelerating the implementation and use of modern technology. The FAA is proposing this action to enhance safety and to improve the efficient use of the navigable airspace in Alaska.

This document proposes to amend regulations on insurer reporting requirements. The appendices list those passenger motor vehicle insurers that are required to file reports on their motor vehicle theft loss experiences. An insurer included in any of these appendices would be required to file three copies of its report for the 2002 calendar year before October 25, 2005. If the passenger motor vehicle insurers remain listed, they must submit reports by each subsequent October 25. We are proposing to add adn remove several insurers from relevant appendices.

On March 26, 1992, this agency granted in part the General Motors Corporation's (GM) petition for exemption from the parts marking requirements of the vehicle theft prevention standard for the Buick LeSabre vehicle line. On June 2, 1999, this agency granted in full GM's petition for modification of the previously approved antitheft device for the Buick LeSabre vehicle line. This notice grants in full GM's second petition to modify the exemption of the previously approved antitheft device for the Buick LeSabre vehicle line beginning with model year (MY) 2006. This notice also acknowledges GM's notification that the nameplate for the Buick LeSabre vehicle line will be changed to Buick Lucerne beginning with the 2006 model year. NHTSA is granting GM's petition to modify the exemption because it has determined, based on substantial evidence, that the modified antitheft device described in GM's petition to be placed on the vehicle line as standard equipment, is likely to be as effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as compliance with the parts-marking requirements.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, exemptions from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR part 107, subpart B), notice is hereby given that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the application described herein. This notice is abbreviated to expedite docketing and public notice. Because the sections affected, modes of transportation, and the nature of application have been shown in earlier Federal Register publications, they are not repeated here. Request of modifications of exemptions (e.g., to provide for additional hazardous materials, packaging design changes, additional mode of transportation, etc.) are described in footnotes to the application number. Application numbers with the suffix ``M'' denote a modification request. There applications have been separated from the new application for exemption to facilitate processing.

The FAA withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that proposed a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model Galaxy and Gulfstream 200 airplanes. The proposed AD would have required repetitive inspections for damage of the flexible supply lines of the pilot and copilot oxygen mask boxes, and eventual replacement of the lines with new rigid tubes. Since the proposed AD was issued, we have received new data that 100% of the affected worldwide fleet has accomplished the hardware replacement in accordance with the service bulletin specified in the proposed AD. Accordingly, the proposed AD is withdrawn.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier Model DHC-7 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require revising the Airworthiness Limitations section of the Instructions of Continued Airworthiness to include a new lower life limit for lower wing skins. This proposed AD is prompted by the discovery that during the manufacture of the lower wing skins, score marks may have been accidentally inscribed around the edge of the lower wing skin doublers. We are proposing this AD to prevent fatigue cracks from developing at the score marks in the lower wing skins, which could result in the structural failure of the wing.