Department of Transportation February 3, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations, the FAA is announcing the availability of and requesting comments on the Draft EA for the Oklahoma Spaceport. On October 23, 2002, the FAA published a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority's (OSIDA) proposal to operate a commercial launch facility at the Clinton-Sherman Industrial Airpark (CSIA) located in Burns Flat, Oklahoma. After substantial changes to the proposed action, the FAA reconsidered the scope of the analysis required to support the proposed action and alternatives and determined that an EA would more appropriately address the environmental consequences of the proposed action and alternatives. On October 7, 2005, the FAA issued a notice in the Federal Register announcing that the proposed action would be addressed in an EA. Under the proposed action, the FAA would issue a launch site operator license to OSIDA to operate a launch facility at the CSIA and approve the land transfer of the CSIA from the city of Clinton to OSIDA. The EA evaluates potential impacts to the environment from launches and landings of three types of suborbital horizontally launched reusable launch vehicles (RLVs) \1\ from the CSIA. The FAA may use the analysis in the EA as the basis for making a determination to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement or a Finding of No Significant Impact regarding the issuance of a launch site operator license as well as the licensing or permitting of the launch of certain types of launch vehicles, and the transfer of ownership of the CSIA from the City of Clinton to OSIDA.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for General MachineDiecron, Inc. (GMD) actuator nut assembly, part number (P/N) GMD115-810029-17 and P/N GMD115-810029-23, that are installed on certain airplanes. This proposed AD would require you to determine by maintenance records check and/or inspection whether any actuator nut assembly, P/N GMD115-810029-17 or P/N GMD115-810029-23, is installed on the right main landing gear (MLG) actuator, and, if installed, would require you to replace it with a new actuator nut assembly, P/N GMD115-810029-23B or FAA-approved equivalent P/N. This proposed AD results from several reports of failures of the actuator nut assembly, P/N GMD115-810029-17 and P/N GMD115-810029-23. We are issuing this proposed AD to prevent failure of the actuator nut assembly for the right MLG actuator, which could result in failure of the MLG. This failure could prevent the extension or retraction of the MLG.

This notice revises program apportionment or allocation amounts published in the December 20, 2005, FTA notice entitled ``FTA Fiscal Year 2006 Apportionments and Allocations.'' The revisions are required because Public Law 109-148, the Department of Defense, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, and Pandemic Influenza Act, 2006, mandates an across-the- board rescission of one percent of every program, project, and activity in fiscal year 2006. In addition, this notice identifies other changes or corrections to the December 20, 2005, notice. The notice also identifies the States selected for participation in a Section 5310 Pilot Program.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its determination that the noise exposure maps submitted by the England Economic and Industrial Development District for Alexandria International Airport under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et. seq. (Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act) and 14 CFR part 150 are in compliance with applicable requirements.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics invites the general public, industry and other governmental parties to comment on the continuing need for and usefulness of BTS collecting reports from air carriers on the aggregated indebtedness balance of a political candidate or party for Federal office. The reports are required when the aggregated indebtedness is over $5,000 on the last day of a month.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics invites the general public, industry and other governmental parties to comment on the continuing need for and usefulness of BTS requiring certificated air carriers to preserve accounting records, consumer complaint letters, reservation reports and records, system reports of aircraft movements, etc. Also, public charter operators and overseas military personnel charter operators are required to retain certain contracts, invoices, receipts, bank records and reservation records.