Department of Transportation March 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.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 205, Software Considerations.

This document grants in full the petition of Ford Motor Company (Ford) for an exemption of a high-theft line, the Ford Thunderbird, from the parts-marking requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard. This petition is granted because the agency has determined that the antitheft device to be placed on the line as standard equipment is likely to be as effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as compliance with the parts-marking requirements of the Theft Prevention Standard.

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. Each mode of transportation for which a particular exemption is requested is indicated by a number in the ``Nature of Application'' portion of the table below as follows: 1Motor vehicle, 2Rail freight, 3Cargo vessel, 4Cargo aircraft only, 5Passenger-carrying aircraft.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Saab Model SAAB SF340A and SAAB 340B series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires repetitive detailed inspections of the windshield wiper assembly for discrepant conditions, and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD also would require a detailed inspection of the left and right wiper arm assemblies for damage, and corrective/related investigative actions if necessary. This proposed AD is prompted by an additional incident of a windshield wiper blade separating from the wiper arm. We are proposing this AD to prevent separation of a wiper arm from the airplane, which could result in damage to the fuselage skin and propeller.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Fokker Model F.28 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require a one-time inspection of the area underneath the auxiliary power unit (APU) enclosure to determine if drain tubes in the area are correctly installed and to detect damaged wiring, and corrective action if necessary. This proposed AD is prompted by a report of a fire under the APU enclosure. We are proposing this AD to prevent fuel from accumulating under the APU enclosure, which, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Mifflintown, PA. Controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) is needed to contain aircraft operating into Mifflintown Airport, Mifflintown, PA, under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR).

This document confirms the effective date of the direct final rule which revises Class E airspace at Rolla/Vichy, MO.

This document confirms the effective date of the direct final rule which revises Class E airspace at Coffeyville, KS.

This action proposes to revise VOR Federal Airway 363 (V-363) between the Mission Bay, CA, Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range/ Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) and the Pomona, CA, VORTAC. Specifically, the FAA is proposing this realignment to provide a southwestern route structure to circumnavigate the Camp Pendleton, CA, range complex.

This document announces decisions by NHTSA that certain motor vehicles not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards are eligible for importation into the United States because they are substantially similar to vehicles originally manufactured for importation into and/or sale in the United States and certified by their manufacturers as complying with the safety standards, and they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A300 B4-622R and A300 F4-622R airplanes. This AD requires doing a one-time inspection to determine if lower guide fittings for the forward doors are installed in the correct positions, and corrective action if necessary. This AD is prompted by reports that lower guide fittings for the forward doors were found installed in the wrong positions at frames 14 and 16A. We are issuing this AD to prevent difficulty opening the forward doors, which could impede an emergency evacuation and result in injury to passengers or crewmembers.

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model EC 155B and EC 155B1 helicopters that requires inspecting the chamfer of the stop on the cabin sliding doors (doors) and installing an airworthy stop if the chamfer exceeds a certain length; and prior to each flight, visually checking the door to determine if it is correctly locked in the open position before flying with the doors open, and checking the locking indicator light and the position of the door handles before flying with the doors closed. This amendment also requires revising the Limitations Section of the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) to prohibit the opening or closing of a cabin sliding door at airspeeds of 40 or greater knots indicated airspeed (KIAS). This amendment is prompted by a report of a door separating from a helicopter during flight. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent separation of a door during flight and damage to the helicopter, resulting in a forced landing or loss of control of the helicopter.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Dornier Model 328-300 series airplanes. This AD requires performing repetitive inspections for discrepancies of the heat pack rotor assembly and rotor drive clips of the brake unit of the main landing gear (MLG), and replacing the assembly if any discrepancy is found. This AD is prompted by reports of cracking and breakage of the heat pack rotor assemblies. We are issuing this AD to find and fix discrepancies of the heat pack rotor assembly of the brake unit of the MLG and consequent loss of braking capability, which could result in the airplane overrunning the runway during take-off or landing.

This notice publishes the FMCSA decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 30 individuals. The FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from vision standards if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The agency has concluded that granting these exemptions will provide a level of safety that will be equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

The FAA is correcting a typographical error in an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that was published in the Federal Register on February 11, 2005 (70 FR 7174). The error resulted in an incorrect AD number. This AD applies to certain Boeing Model 767 series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive detailed and eddy current inspections of the aft pressure bulkhead for damage and cracking, and repair if necessary. This AD also requires one-time detailed and high frequency eddy current inspections of any ``oil-can'' located on the aft pressure bulkhead, and related corrective actions if necessary.