Department of Transportation January 18, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA invites public comment on its intent to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to renew two information collections entitled, ``The Annual Report of Class I and Class II Motor Carriers of Property (Form M)'' and ``The Quarterly Report of Class I Motor Carriers of Property (Form QFR).'' These information collections are necessary to ensure that motor carriers comply with FMCSA's financial and operating statistics (F&OS) program requirements. This notice is required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Board grants an exemption, under 49 U.S.C. 10502, from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10902 for Iowa Interstate Railroad, Ltd. (IAIS), a Class II carrier, to sublease from CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSXT), and operate a line of railroad totaling approximately 31.9 miles. The rail line, presently leased and operated by CSXT extends from milepost BIF 95, in Utica, IL, to milepost BIF 126.9, in Henry, IL.

The required information will be used to determine if applicant proposals for conducting commercial space launches can be accomplished in a safe manner according to regulations and license orders issued by the Office of the Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation. Respondents are applying for licenses to authorized licensed launch activities.

FMCSA adopts as final and without change its interim regulations which implement section 4140 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). The regulations specify that: A driver who passed FMCSA- approved knowledge and skills tests for a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) school bus endorsement before September 30, 2002, has met the requirements for a school bus endorsement; the compliance date for States to administer knowledge and skills tests to all school bus drivers is extended to September 30, 2006; and the expiration date for allowing States to waive the driving skills test is also extended to September 30, 2006.

The National Parks Overflights Act mandates that the recommendations provide for ``substantial restoration of the natural quiet and experience of the park and protection of public health and safety from adverse effects associated with aircraft overflight.'' The FAA will use the information to monitor compliance with the regulations. These respondents are Grand Canyon National Park (GCNP) air tour operators. A notice for public comment was published in the Federal Register on 9/6/2005, vol. 70, 171, pages 53039-53040.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its findings on the noise compatibility program submitted by the town of Addison under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. (the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, hereinafter referred to as ``the Act'') and 14 CFR part 150. These findings are made in recognition of the description of Federal and nonfederal responsibilities in Senate Report No. 96-52 (1980). On September 22, 2004, the FAA determined that the noise exposure maps submitted by the town of Addison under part 150 were in compliance with applicable requirements. On December 22, 2005, the FAA approved the Addison Airport noise compatibility program. Most of the recommendations of the program were approved.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain Raytheon airplanes identified above. That AD currently requires a visual inspection to determine whether adequate clearance exists between the fan venturi motor casing and the adjacent equipment, and adjustments, if necessary; and a visual inspection to detect signs of overheating, degradation of insulating materials, and ingestion of debris into the motor, and replacement of discrepant parts with serviceable parts. This new AD instead requires that operators replace the fan venturi with a new or modified part. This AD results from reports that the fan venturi overheated and produced smoke while the airplane was on the ground. We are issuing this AD to prevent heat and fire damage to equipment adjacent to the fan venturi, which could result in smoke in the cabin and/or burning equipment.