Department of Transportation 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a Record of Decision (ROD) has been made following a Final Environmental Impact Statement prepared for the Southern Corridor project within Washington County, Utah. The ROD approves a location proposed for transportation improvements for the Southern Corridor project Washington County, Utah. The Southern Corridor Study Area includes an area in southern Washington County south and southeast of Interstate 15 (I-15) and State Route 9 (SR 9) including the cities of St. George, Washington, and Hurricane. The Selected Alternative (2800 West Alternative) includes a new interchange with I-15 at Reference Post 2 (Atkinville) and a new four-lane highway extending 26 miles to the intersection of 2800 West with SR 9. Selection of the Preferred Alternative was based on the best overall public interest to provide a safe and efficient transportation system and the social, economic, and environmental impacts. In addition, the project team considered public and resource agency input and city council recommendations or resolutions regarding the project. This project requires Federal approval of a proposed new Interstate access and Federal Highway Administration funding as authorized by Title 23 of the United States Code. Consequently, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in coordination with the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project's impact on the human environment. The Final EIS (FEIS) was issued on April 22, 2005. Pursuant to Section 6002 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users [23 U.S.C. 139(l)] any person or entity wishing to file a claim for judicial review challenging this decision must do so within 180 days of the publication of this notice.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of the RTCA Program Management Committee.

This notice requests public participation in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval process for the renewal of an existing PHMSA information collection. In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below has been forwarded to OMB for extension of the currently approved collection. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and the expected burden. PHMSA published a Federal Register Notice soliciting comments on the following collection of information and received none. The purpose of this notice is to allow the public an additional 30 days from the date of this notice to submit comments.

The Department is extending through January 30, 2006, the period for interested persons to submit comments to its proposed rule on medical oxygen and portable respiration assistive devices.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections of the aft pressure bulkhead web for fatigue cracks, crack indications, discrepant holes, and corrosion; and repair if necessary. This AD results from reports of fatigue cracks in the aft pressure bulkhead web. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct such fatigue cracks, which could result in a rapid decompression of the airplane.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is issuing this notice to advise the public that it has issued a Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) that evaluated proposed New Runways and Associated Development at Washington Dulles International Airport, Chantilly, VA.

This notice publishes FMCSA's decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 30 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from vision standards if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The agency has concluded that granting the renewal of these exemptions will continue to 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.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits 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. This notice is abbreviated to expedite docketing and public notice. Because the sections affected, modes of transportation, and the nature of application have been shown in earlier Federal Register publications, they are not repeated here. Request of modifications of special permits (e.g. to provide for additional hazardous materials, packaging design changes, additional mode of transportation, etc.) are described in footnotes to the application number. Application numbers with the suffix ``M'' demote a modification request. There applications have been separated from the new applications for special permits to facilitate processing.

This action revises Class E airspace at Yakutat, AK to provide adequate controlled airspace to contain aircraft executing three new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs), seven existing SIAPs and one revised Departure Procedure. This rule results in new Class E airspace upward from 1,200 feet (ft.) above the surface at Yakutat, AK. The existing airspace upward from 700 ft. above the surface is not changed.

The Board grants an exemption, under 49 U.S.C. 10502, from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 11323-25 for James George and J&JG Holding Company, a noncarrier (collectively, Petitioners), to continue in control of Saginaw Bay Southern Railway Company (SBS), upon SBS's becoming a rail carrier pursuant to a related transaction involving the acquisition and operation of a line of CSX Transportation, Inc.\1\ Petitioners control a Class III carrier, Lake State Railway Company (Lake State), operating in Michigan. One of Lake State's lines connects near Bay City, MI, with the line to be acquired by SBS in the related transaction.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The nature of the information collection is described as well as its expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on August 4, 2005, and comments were due by October 3, 2005. No comments were received.

This amendment amends Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, addition of new obstacles, or changes in air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et. seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on April 29, 2005 [FR Vol. 70, No. 82, pages 22388 and 22389]. No comments were received.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collections and their expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period was published on May 11, 2005 [70 FR 24860]. This is a request for a new collection.

This document grants in full the petition of Mitsubishi Motors R&D of America (Mitsubishi), for an exemption in accordance with Sec. 543.9(c)(2) of 49 CFR Part 543, Exemption from the Theft Prevention Standard, for the Mitsubishi Endeavor vehicle line beginning with model year (MY) 2006. This petition is granted because the agency has determined that the antitheft device to be placed on the Endeavor vehicle 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. Mitsubishi requested confidential treatment for the information and attachments it submitted in support of its petition. The agency will consider the petitioner's request for confidential treatment and will respond by separate letter.

This notice publishes the FMCSA's receipt of applications from three individuals for an exemption from the diabetes mellitus prohibition in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. If granted, the exemptions will enable these individuals to qualify as drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce without meeting the requirement prescribed in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(3).

The FAA proposes to supersede three existing airworthiness directives (ADs) that apply to certain Boeing Model 747 airplanes. The existing ADs currently require repetitive inspections of the body station (BS) 2598 bulkhead, and corrective action if necessary. This proposed AD would add a requirement to modify the bulkhead, including a one-time inspection and corrective action if necessary, which would terminate certain repetitive inspections. This proposed AD would also require a post-modification inspection of the modified area. This proposed AD results from new reports of cracking in all three areas that require inspection in accordance with the existing ADs. We are proposing this AD to prevent fatigue cracking of the BS 2598 bulkhead structure, which could result in inability of the structure to carry horizontal stabilizer flight loads, and reduced controllability of the airplane.

As authorized by section 5508 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), the U.S. DOT/FHWA is interested in working with eligible State and local governments and one or more private sector partners to build upon the Intelligent Transportation Infrastructure Program (ITIP) that began under the provisions of section 5117(b)(3) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). The SAFETEA-LU provides for the extension and further expansion of the ITIP program under the Transportation Technology Innovation and Demonstration Program (TTID), a new 2-part program that would advance the deployment of an operational intelligent transportation infrastructure system, through measurement of various transportation system parameters, to simultaneously aid in local transportation planning and analysis activities, while also supporting national monitoring of traffic congestion levels. The purpose of this program is threefold: Addressing national, local, and commercial data needs through enhancement of surveillance and data management capabilities in major metropolitan areas. This involves integration of data from existing surveillance infrastructure, and strategic deployment of supplemental surveillance infrastructure to support the provision of both real-time and archived roadway system performance data. At the national level, the goal is to develop an ability to measure the operating performance of the roadway system across the nation. Made available locally, such roadway system performance data can be used to assist in local system planning, evaluation, and management activities. The same data that is useful to the public transportation agencies also has value for commercial traveler information purposes. To achieve these objectives, the U.S. DOT/FHWA is seeking expressions of consent from eligible State and/or local transportation agencies/organizations interested in forming a public-private partnership, with a private partner that has either been pre-selected, or that will be selected, by the U.S. DOT/FHWA, to participate in the TTID program.

This amendment establishes, amends, suspends, or revokes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and/or Weather Takeoff Minimums for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, addition of new obstacles, or changes in air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

The Board is commencing an investigation into the practices of the National Classification Committee (NCC), which administers the motor carrier classification system for its motor carrier members pursuant to an agreement approved by the Board under 49 U.S.C. 13703. The purpose of this investigation is to develop a more thorough record regarding charges of abuse of market power by NCC, in its practices generally, and particularly with its action changing the classification of lighting products and fixtures in 2004.

These special conditions are issued for the Gulfstream Aerospace Limited Partnership (GALP) Model G150 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with use of a hydrophobic coating, rather than windshield wipers, as the means to maintain a clear portion of the windshield during precipitation conditions, as required by the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

This notice announces the availability of and requests comments on a proposed advisory circular (AC) that sets forth acceptable methods of compliance with 14 CFR part 25, Appendix H, section H25.5(a)(1). This proposed AC complements revisions to the airworthiness standards that are being proposed by a separate notice. This notice is necessary to give all interested persons an opportunity to present their views on the proposed AC.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for certain RRC 250-B and 250-C series turboshaft and turboprop engines. That AD currently requires a onetime inspection of the fuel nozzle screen for contamination, and if contamination is found, inspection and cleaning of the entire aircraft fuel system before further flight. That AD also requires replacing the fuel nozzle with a new design fuel nozzle, at the next fuel nozzle overhaul or by June 30, 2006, whichever occurs first. This proposed AD would require the same actions, but would add additional part numbers (P/Ns) to the list of affected fuel nozzles. This proposed AD would also explain that the existing AD, as worded, allows certain part number (P/N) fuel nozzles back into service. Those fuel nozzles must not be allowed back into service. This proposed AD results from the discovery that several P/Ns of fuel nozzles were inadvertently left out of AD 2004-24-09. We are proposing this AD to minimize the risk of sudden loss of engine power and uncommanded shutdown of the engine due to fuel contamination and collapse of the screen in the fuel nozzle.