Department of Transportation November 4, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice solicits proposals for consideration for the Cooperative Procurement Pilot Program (CPPP). Section 166 of the Transportation, Treasury, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004 directs the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to establish a pilot program to determine the benefits of encouraging cooperative procurement of major capital equipment. As specified in the Appropriations Act, three pilot projects were selected in November 2004. Section 167 of the Transportation Treasury, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2005 directs the FTA to continue the CPPP and to expand the program to five pilot projects. Under the CPPP, competitively selected grantees, consortiums of grantees, or members of the private sector acting as agents of grantees will develop cooperative specifications and conduct joint procurements. For this program, Congress has raised the Federal share to be provided from 80 percent to 90 percent.

This final rule will amend 49 CFR Part 601 to reflect modifications in the organization and distribution of functions within the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and to document its rulemaking procedures. This rule has not been amended since 1999, and recently there has been a restructuring of offices and duties within FTA. Additionally, many of FTA's regional offices have physically moved to different locations; thus, this rule revises the addresses and phone numbers of the regional offices. Further, the outdated internal delegations of authority have been removed, the means by which the public can access FTA information has been updated, and FTA's rulemaking procedures are provided.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Turbomeca Arriel 1B, 1D and 1D1 turboshaft engines. This proposed AD would require inspecting the 2nd stage nozzle guide vanes (NGV2) for wall thickness. This proposed AD results from one instance of a fractured 2nd stage turbine blade followed by an uncommanded engine shutdown. We are proposing this AD to detect and prevent perforation of the NGV2 that could cause fracture of a turbine blade that could result in an uncommanded engine in-flight shutdown.

This notice announces the availability of and requests comments on a proposed advisory circular (AC) that provides methods acceptable to the Administrator related to the proposed certification requirements for performance and handling characteristics of transport category airplanes affected by flight in the icing conditions defined in appendix C of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 25. This notice is necessary to give all interested persons an opportunity to present their views on the proposed AC.