Department of Transportation March 16, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice seeks comments from the public regarding the need for PHMSA to collect paperwork information from liquefied natural gas operators to ensure that these operators are properly operating and maintaining their facilities. This notice is published (pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995) to measure the need for the proposed paperwork collection, to find ways to minimize the burden on operators, to find ways to enhance the quality of information collected, and to verify the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden (measured in work hours) on pipeline operators. This is a request to continue collection of information already approved under OMB 2137- 0048, which is scheduled to expire on April 30, 2005, and to renew that approval.

This notice seeks public comment on the need for PHMSA to collect paperwork information on pipeline integrity management in high consequence areas from hazardous liquid pipeline operators with less than 500 miles of pipelines. This information collection requires operators to provide direct integrity testing and evaluation of pipelines in high consequence areas. This notice is published (pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995) to measure the need for the paperwork collection, to find ways to minimize the burden on these operators that must respond, to find ways to enhance the quality of information collected, and to verify the accuracy of the PHMSA's estimate of the burden (measured in work hours) on private entities. This notice also seeks approval from OMB to renew the existing approval of this paperwork collection.

A person owning or operating a pipeline facility is required to maintain records, make reports, and provide information to the Secretary of Transportation at the Secretary's request. The Secretary, through PHMSA, uses this information to decide whether the owner or operator is complying with the Pipeline Safety Law (49 U.S.C.). This notice is published (pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995) to measure the need for paperwork collection from gas pipeline operators, to find ways to minimize the burden on these operators, to find ways to enhance the quality of information collected, and to verify the accuracy of PHMSA's estimate of the burden (measured in work hours) on private entities. This notice also seeks approval from OMB to renew the existing approval of this paperwork collection.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2003-14-20, which applies to all AeroSpace Technologies of Australia Pty Ltd. (ASTA) Models N22B and N24A airplanes. AD 2003-14-20 requires you to repetitively inspect, using either dye penetrant or magnetic particle methods, the rudder control lever shafts for cracks; inspect (one-time) all lever shaft side plates by measuring the thickness; and if cracks or discrepancies in thickness are found, replace unserviceable parts with new or serviceable parts. Since AD 2003-14-20 was issued, we determined that the AD should also affect Model N22S airplanes. The manufacturer has also revised the service information to include a rudder control lever shaft part number (P/N) that was not part of AD 2003-14-20. Consequently, this proposed AD would require the actions of AD 2003-14-20, add Model N22S airplanes to the applicability, and add rudder control lever shaft P/N 1/N-45-1102 to the inspection requirements. We are issuing this proposed AD to detect and correct cracks in the rudder control lever torque shafts and discrepancies in the thickness of the lever shaft side plates, which could result in failure of the rudder control lever torque shaft. Such failure could lead to reduced controllability of the airplane.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require replacing the fuel shutoff valve wires and conduit assemblies in the left and right engine strut aft fairing areas. This proposed AD is prompted by a report that an operator discovered many small chafe marks and exposed shield braid on fuel shutoff wires routed through a conduit in the wing. We are proposing this AD to prevent exposed wires that could provide an ignition source in a flammable leakage zone and possibly lead to an uncontrolled fire or explosion.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 757-200 series airplanes. This AD requires modifying the wiring of the test ground signal for the master dim and test system circuit in the flight compartment. This AD is prompted by a report that the master dim and test system circuit does not have wiring separation of the test ground signal for redundant equipment in the flight compartment. We are issuing this AD to prevent a single fault failure during flight, which could result in test patterns instead of the selected radio frequencies showing on the communications panel. These conditions could adversely affect voice and transponder communication capability between the flightcrew and air traffic control, which could result in increased pilot workload.