Department of Transportation May 19, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Surface Transportation Board (Board), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. (PRA), gives notice that the Board proposes to request approval of the seven existing information collections described below. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control numbers were obtained in the past, but have expired, for six of the seven information collections that are the subject of this notice. For the most part, the collections listed below continue current Board reporting requirements without revision. As described below, a minor revision has been made to Collection No. 1, Class I Railroad Annual Report. Comments are requested regarding any of the collections of information described below concerning (1) whether the particular collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Board, including whether the collection has practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the Board's burden estimates; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology, when appropriate. Submitted comments will be summarized and included in the Board's request for OMB approval.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) Models 525, 525A, and 525B airplanes. This proposed AD would require you to install identification sleeves on the wiring for both engine fire extinguisher bottles. This proposed AD results from reports of incorrectly connecting the wires to the engine fire extinguisher bottles. We are issuing this proposed AD to prevent incorrect installation of the wires to the engine fire extinguisher bottles, which could result in failure of the engine fire extinguisher bottles to discharge when activated. This failure could lead to the inability to control an engine fire.

The FAA proposes to revise Airworthiness Directive (AD) 95-19- 15, which applies to all Tiger Aircraft LLC (Type Certificate A16EH formerly held by American General Aircraft Corporation and Grumman American Aviation Corporation) Models AA-5, AA-5A, AA-5B, and AG-5B airplanes. AD 95-19-15 currently requires you to inspect the wing attach shoulder bolts for fretting, scoring, wear, or enlarged or elongated mounting holes (known as damage from hereon); replace any damaged parts; repair any damaged areas; inspect the wing spar at the center spar clearance gap for excessive clearance; and shim the spar if excessive clearance is found. Since we issued AD 95-19-15, FAA has received and evaluated new service information that limits the serial numbers for the Model AG-5B airplanes of AD 95-19-15. Consequently, this proposed AD retains all the actions of AD 95-19-15 and includes the serial numbers for the Model AG-5B airplanes in the applicability section. We are issuing this proposed AD to prevent wing attach shoulder bolt failure, which, if not detected and corrected, could lead to structural damage of the wing/fuselage to the point of failure.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain Boeing Model 747 airplanes. That AD currently requires inspections to detect cracks in the front spar pressure bulkhead chord, and repair if necessary. This new AD requires repetitive high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspections of the body station (BS) 1000 bulkhead chord for cracks, repetitive detailed inspections of the bathtub fittings, if installed, for cracks, and corrective action if necessary. Initiation of the new inspections ends the inspections of the existing AD. This AD also revises the applicability of the existing AD to include additional airplanes. This AD is prompted by reports of cracks in the BS 1000 bulkhead chord. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracks in the BS 1000 bulkhead chord, which, if not repaired before they reach critical length, could result in the failure of the adjacent structure and skin and lead to in-flight depressurization of the airplane.

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Boeing Model 777-200 and -300 series airplanes, that requires modification of the bolt holes of the lower side of the body splice t-chord common to the paddle fittings of the lower wing panel. The modification includes performing a high frequency eddy current inspection of the fastener holes for cracks, repairing the hole if necessary, and replacing the fasteners with new inconel bolts. This action is necessary to prevent fatigue cracks in the lower t-chord at the bolt holes common to the paddle fittings that could result in fractures of one or more of the t-chord segments, which could lead to detachment of the lower wing panel and consequent loss of the wing. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 777-200 series airplanes. This AD requires replacing the pressure switches on the override/jettison fuel pumps with new pressure switches, and replacing the ship side electrical connectors for the pressure switches on override/jettison fuel pumps with new connectors. This AD is prompted by reports that the ``FUEL LOW CENTER'' message does not activate when the fuel level in the center tank is low. We are issuing this AD to prevent the fuel pumps in the center fuel tank from running dry and becoming a potential ignition source, which could result in a fuel tank explosion.

On September 24, 2004, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published a final rule, with request for comments, to amend the regulations implementing airport noise compatibility planning. The amendment included revisions stemming from changes to the authorizing legislation that had not been incorporated into the implementing regulations. In addition, the final rule contained several minor, technical changes. This action is a summary and disposition of the comments received in response to that final rule.

This final rule responds to petitions for reconsideration of the agency's newly expanded parts marking requirements. The Anti Car Theft Act of 1992 required NHTSA to conduct a rulemaking to extend the parts marking requirements to below median theft rate passenger cars and multipurpose passenger vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 6,000 pounds or less, unless the Attorney General found that such a requirement would not substantially inhibit chop shop operations and motor vehicle thefts. The Attorney General did not make such a finding. Accordingly, in a final rule published in April 2004, NHTSA extended parts marking requirements to these vehicles. This document responds to petitions for reconsideration of the April 2004 final rule. Specifically, we are amending our procedures in order to begin processing parts marking exemption petitions prior to the effective date, and we are phasing-in the new requirements over a two-year period.

FMCSA proposes a revised registration system. The Unified Registration System would apply to every motor carrier, freight forwarder and broker required to register with DOT under 49 CFR 390.19 or 49 U.S.C. 13901, except Mexico-domiciled motor carriers registering to operate between Mexico and points in the United States beyond border commercial zones along the U.S.-Mexico international border. The entities covered by this system would be required to register with FMCSA and periodically update registration information provided on a newly proposed registration form. This proposal applies to entities that are already subject to FMCSA Commercial Regulations, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs), or the Hazardous Material Regulations (HMRs). This action is being taken in response to section 103 of the ICC Termination Act of 1995 (ICCTA), which, among other things, requires the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) to propose regulations to replace four current identification and registration systems with a single, on-line, Federal system. The purpose of this proposal is to consolidate and simplify current Federal registration processes and to increase public accessibility to data about interstate motor carriers, property brokers, and freight forwarders. FMCSA proposes to charge registration fees that will enable FMCSA to recoup costs associated with processing registration applications and administrative filings and maintaining this system.