Department of Transportation December 8, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard and the Maritime Administration (MARAD) announce the cancellation of all actions related to the processing of a license application for the proposed Pearl Crossing LNG Terminal LLC deepwater port. The action announced here includes cancellation of all activities related to the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that was announced on Monday, August 16, 2004, in Federal Register Volume 69 Number 157 (Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement). The action is taken in response to the applicant's decision to withdraw the application.

This document announces a decision by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that certain 1999 Ferrari 456GT and GTA passenger cars that were not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) are eligible for importation into the United States because they are substantially similar to vehicles originally manufactured for importation into and sale in the United States and that were certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety standards (the U.S. certified version of the 1999 Ferrari 456GT and GTA passenger cars), and they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146 airplanes and Model Avro 146-RJ airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive replacement of the elevator servo tab hinge bearings, elevator servo tab mechanism bearings, elevator trim tab hinge bearings, and elevator trim tab drive rod bearings with new bearings. This proposed AD results from reported incidents of flight control surface restrictions due to the deterioration of flight control surface bearings. We are proposing this AD to prevent corrosion of flight control surface bearings and freezing of moisture inside the bearings, due to loss of lubrication in the bearings, which could lead to flight control restrictions and result in reduced controllability of the airplane.

This document revises an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to all BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ airplanes, that would have required installation of a linear fluid-filled damper between each elevator surface and the airplane structure on both the left and right sides of the airplane, along with related structural and system modifications. This new action revises the proposed rule by updating and adding service information, and changing the compliance time. The actions specified by this new proposed AD are intended to prevent pitch oscillation (vertical bouncing) of the fuselage due to excessive ice buildup on the elevator servo tab, and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Hamilton Sundstrand (formerly Hamilton Standard Division of United Technologies Corporation) Model 14RF-19 propellers. This proposed AD would require replacing certain actuator yokes with improved actuator yokes. This proposed AD results from certain propeller system actuator yoke arms breaking during flight. We are proposing this AD to prevent actuator yoke arms breaking during flight, which could cause high propeller vibration, requiring the pilot to feather the propeller, and could contribute to reduced controllability of the airplane.

This action proposes to revoke colored Federal Airway B-12, modify three colored Federal Airways B-4, R-50 and G-7, and establish colored Federal Airway R-4 in Alaska. These amendments would remove all airways and routes off the Bishop, AK, Nondirectional Radio Beacon (NDB) in preparation for the NDB's eventual decommissioning from the National Airspace System (NAS).

This action proposes to amend the Gulf of Alaska Low and Control 1487L Offshore airspace areas in Alaska. Specifically, this action proposes to modify the Gulf of Alaska Low and Control 1487L airspace areas in the vicinity of the Yakutat Airport, Yakutat, AK, by lowering the affected controlled airspace floor to 700 feet mean sea level (MSL) for the Gulf of Alaska Low, and 1,200 feet MSL for Control 1487L. The FAA is proposing this action to provide additional controlled airspace for the safety of aircraft executing instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the Yakutat Airport.

FRA is proposing to clarify and amend its existing regulations in an effort to address various mechanical issues relevant to the manufacture, efficient utilization, and safe operation of passenger equipment and trains that have arisen since FRA's original issuance of the Passenger Equipment Safety Standards. FRA proposes miscellaneous amendments to its existing regulations in five areas by: Clarifying the terminology related to piston travel indicators; providing alternative design and additional inspection criteria for new passenger equipment not designed to allow inspection of the application and release of the brakes from outside the equipment; permitting some latitude in the use of passenger equipment with redundant air compressors when a limited number of the compressors become inoperative; recognizing current locomotive manufacturing techniques by permitting an alternative pneumatic pressure test for main reservoirs; and adding provisions to ensure the proper securement of unattended equipment. FRA is also clarifying the existing regulatory requirements related to the attachment of safety appliances and is proposing an identification and inspection protocol to address passenger equipment containing welded safety appliances or welded safety appliance brackets or supports. Finally, FRA is proposing to permit railroads the ability to apply out- of-service credit to certain periodic maintenance requirements.