Department of Transportation November 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This rule codifies existing FTA administrative guidance for safety-sensitive employees of ferryboat operations that are subject to the drug and alcohol (D&A) testing regulations of both FTA and the United States Coast Guard (USCG). This rule will provide regulatory relief to ferryboat operators who were previously subject to duplicative D&A testing regulations, and improve ferryboat operator compliance with FTA D&A testing regulations. This rule does not adopt the proposed rule with respect to certain motor carrier operators who are subject to the D&A testing regulations of both FTA and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). FTA will retain its current guidance and interpretation with respect to these motor carrier operators.

These special conditions are issued for the Airbus A380-800 airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. Many of these novel or unusual design features are associated with the complex systems and the configuration of the airplane, including its full-length double deck. For these design features, the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards regarding ground turning loads. 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. Additional special conditions will be issued for other novel or unusual design features of the Airbus Model A380-800 airplane.

The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) requires the Federal Transit Administration (FTA or the Agency) to make certain changes to the Buy America requirements. This Second Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNPRM) proposes a publication process for public interest waivers to provide an opportunity for public comment; a clarification of Buy America requirements with respect to microprocessor waivers; new provisions to permit post-award waivers; clarifications in the definition of ``end products'' with regards to components and subcomponents, major systems, and a representative list of end products; a clarification of the requirements for final assembly of rolling stock and a list of representative examples of rolling stock items; expanding FTA's list of eligible communications, train control, and traction power equipment; and an update of the debarment and suspension provisions to bring them into conformity with statutory amendments made by SAFETEA-LU.

FMCSA announces the next public meeting of its Medical Review Board (MRB). The MRB members will continue deliberations about current FMCSA medical standards, as well as consider recommendations for new science-based standards and guidelines to ensure that the physical condition of drivers is adequate to enable them to safely operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the meeting is open to the public.

The FHWA has forwarded the information collection request described in this notice to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval of a new information collection. We published a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day public comment period on this information collection on September 21, 2006. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

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 FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared for proposed improvements along U.S. 63 between the U.S. 63 and U.S. 50 interchange in Osage County to a point in Phelps County, south of the Maries County Line.

This action proposes to revoke the Class E2 and E5 controlled airspace descriptions for Adak, Atka, Cold Bay, Nelson Lagoon, Saint George Island, Sand Point, Shemya, St. Paul Island, and Unalaska, AK. These locations lie within the boundaries of the Offshore Airspace Area Control 1234L. Since these airports lie within Control 1234L, the controlled airspace associated with these airports should be listed in the Control 1234L area description. A concurrent airspace action (docket 06-AAL-29) would incorporate this controlled airspace. There is one exception. The Class E2 surface area at Shemya, AK is no longer necessary and the docket 06-AAL-29 will not be carrying it forward. If both proposals are adopted there will be no change to controlled airspace, except for the revocation of the Shemya Class E surface area. The controlled airspace descriptions would be listed in paragraph 6007 of FAA Order 7400.9P, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, Control 1234L.

This action proposes to revise Class E airspace at Gulkana, AK. Two new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) are being developed for the Gulkana Airport. Amendments to a Departure Procedure (DP) and two SIAPs are also being developed. Adoption of this proposal would result in revision of existing Class E airspace upward from 700 feet (ft.) and 1,200 ft. above the surface at Gulkana Airport, Gulkana, AK.

Pursuant to FAA's rulemaking provisions governing the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption part 11 of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), this notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of any petition or its final disposition.

DOT intends to establish a system of records under the Privacy Act of 1974.

DOT intends to establish a system of records under the Privacy Act of 1974.

As authorized by Public Law 105-383 and Public Law 107-295, the Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.- build requirement of the coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below. The complete application is given in DOT docket 2006 26362 at https:// dms.dot.gov. Interested parties may comment on the effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. If MARAD determines, in accordance with Public Law 105-383 and MARAD's regulations at 46 CFR part 388 (68 FR 23084; April 30, 2003), that the issuance of the waiver will have an unduly adverse effect on a U.S.-vessel builder or a business that uses U.S.-flag vessels in that business, a waiver will not be granted. Comments should refer to the docket number of this notice and the vessel name in order for MARAD to properly consider the comments. Comments should also state the commenter's interest in the waiver application, and address the waiver criteria given in Sec. 388.4 of MARAD's regulations at 46 CFR part 388.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a new information collection. The New England Region Aviation Expo database performs conference registration and helps plan the logistics and non-pilot courses for the expo.

DOT proposes to relocate the time zone boundary in Indiana to move Pulaski County from the Central Time Zone to the Eastern Time Zone. This action is taken at the request of the County Commissioners and the County Council. DOT requests comment on whether this change would serve the convenience of commerce, the statutory standard for a time zone change. Persons supporting or opposing the change should not assume that the change will be made merely because DOT is making the proposal. Our decision in the final rule will be made based on all of the information developed during the entire rulemaking proceeding.

We propose to revise Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2003-17-05, which applies to all Short Brothers & Harland Ltd. (Shorts) Models SC-7 Series 2 and SC-7 Series 3 airplanes. AD 2003-17-05 currently establishes a technical service life for these airplanes and allows you to incorporate modifications, inspections, and replacements of certain life limited items to extend the life limits of these airplanes. Since we issued AD 2003-17-05, Shorts Service Bulletin SB 51-51 was revised to Revision 8, dated July 5, 2006, and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, issued an AD for the European Community to correct an unsafe condition for the specified product. AD 2003-17-05 contains conflicting information on the repetitive visual inspection requirement. Consequently, this proposed AD would retain the technical service life for these airplanes; would continue to allow modifications, inspections, and replacements of certain life limited items to extend the life limits of these airplanes; and would clarify the repetitive visual inspection requirement between one of the service bulletins and the maintenance program if an operator chooses to extend the life limit. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to clarify the inspection information to prevent failure of critical structure of the aircraft caused by fatigue.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 747 airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections for any cracking of the fuselage skin in section 41 of the airplane, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from a report of fatigue cracks found in the skin in section 41 of the fuselage, on an in-service Model 747 airplane. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracks at the fastener rows of the fuselage skin in section 41, which could join together and cause a loss of structural integrity and rapid decompression of the airplane.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed highway project in Hunterdon County, New Jersey.

This document denies a petition for rulemaking from GG Quad North America requesting that NHTSA redefine the term ``motorcycle'' so that the vehicle it seeks to import and sell, a four-wheeled vehicle with a motorcycle-like body, would be classified as a motorcycle and thus be subject to the Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSSs) for motorcycles. Currently, the petitioner's vehicle is classified as a passenger car. Since the initial FMVSSs were issued in 1967, the term ``motorcycle'' has been defined to exclude motor vehicles designed to travel on four wheels in contact with the ground. NHTSA is denying the petition because the petitioner has not shown that redefining ``motorcycle'' to include the petitioner's vehicle would be consistent with the safety purposes of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Denial of the petition means that the petitioner's vehicle will remain classified as a passenger car. Before it can be imported, offered for sale or sold in the United States, it must meet all FMVSSs applicable to that type of motor vehicle.