Department of Transportation 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is revising an earlier NPRM for an airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain EMBRAER Model EMB-145, -145ER, - 145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes. The original NPRM would have required replacing the electrical bonding clamps inside the fuel tanks and adjacent areas. The original NPRM resulted from a report of the failure of a fitting clamp of an electrical bonding cable for the fuel tubing. This action revises the original NPRM by adding airplanes to the applicability. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM to prevent loss of bonding protection in the interior of the fuel tanks or adjacent areas, and a consequent potential source of ignition in a fuel tank and possible fire or explosion.

The FAA issues these special conditions for Learjet 25, 25A, 25B, 25C, 25D, and 25F airplanes modified by Envoy Aerospace, LLC. These modified airplanes will have novel or unusual design features when compared with the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. The modification consists of installing Universal Avionics EFI-890 Electronic Flight Displays and Rockwell Collins AHS-1000A Attitude Heading Reference Systems. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for protecting these systems from effects of high-intensity radiated fields (HIRF). 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 solicits proposals to compete for Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 funds through the Alternative Transportation in Parks and Public Lands (ATPPL) program, administered by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in partnership with the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service. The purpose of the program is to enhance the protection of national parks and Federal lands, and increase the enjoyment of those visiting them. The program funds capital and planning expenses for alternative transportation systems such as buses and trams in federally-managed parks and public lands. Federal land management agencies and State, tribal and local governments acting with the consent of a Federal land management agency are eligible to apply. DOI, after consultation with and in cooperation with FTA, will determine the final selection and funding of projects.

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 2006-26479 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.

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 20xx-xxxx 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.

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 2006-26483 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.

This action changes the names of the controlling agency and using agency for Restricted Areas R-6608A, B, and C, Quantico, VA. The FAA is taking this action at the request of the U.S. Marine Corps to reflect the current organizational names. This is an administrative change that does not alter the boundaries, designated altitudes, time of designation, or activities conducted within the affected restricted areas.

This document denies a petition for rulemaking requesting that the agency amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, ``Occupant crash protection,'' to include belted test dummies in the rear seats of the dynamic crash tests, and to include a cargo test for occupant protection.

This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA and other Federal agencies that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to a proposed highway project, the St. Croix River Crossing on Trunk Highway (TH) 36 in Oak Park Heights, Washington County, Minnesota to State TH 35/64 in St. Joseph, St. Croix County, Wisconsin. Those actions grant approvals for the project.

Under the provisions of Title 49, U.S.C. Section 47153(c), notice is being given that the FAA is considering a request from the City of Concord to waive the requirement that approximately 0.66-acres of airport property, located at the Concord Regional Airport, be used for aeronautical purposes.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a current information collection. This information is needed to meet the requirements of Title 49, Section 40117(k), Competition Plans, and to carry out a passenger facility charge application.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) revision of a current information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on June 28, 2006, vol. 71, no. 124, pages 36869-36870. The FAA requires the information in the interest of aviation safety to protect aircraft operations from the potential hazardous effect of laser emissions.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 209, Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon Systems (ATCRBS)/Mode S Transponder.

This notice announces final environmental actions taken by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for public transportation projects in the following metropolitan areas: Brownsville, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; Dayton, Ohio; San Francisco, California; and Washington, DC. The purpose of this notice is to announce publicly the environmental decisions by FTA on the subject projects and to activate the limitation on any claims that may challenge these final environmental actions.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Raytheon Aircraft Company (RAC) Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D airplanes. This AD requires you to repetitively inspect the forward, vertical, and aft flanges of both the left and right wing rear spar lower caps for cracks, repair any cracks found, and report the inspection results to RAC. This AD results from additional fatigue cracks found in this area since inspections were performed to comply with Emergency AD 2006-18-51, which required immediate visual inspections of this area. We are issuing this AD for the purpose of performing a more rigorous inspection requiring cleaning and paint stripping of this section of the wing rear spar to detect and correct cracking in the wing spar lower caps of the affected airplanes before the cracks lead to failure. These wing rear spar cracks may result in wing failure which could result in the wing separating from the airplane with consequent loss of control.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-501, AT-502, AT-502A, AT-502B, and AT-503A airplanes, which supersedes AD 2002- 26-05 and AD 2002-11-05 R1. Since we issued AD 2002-26-05 and AD 2002- 11-05 R1, we determined that additional airplanes should be added to the applicability section and determined the safe life for new production airplanes and replacement spar caps should be extended. We also developed an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) to the requirements of this AD. This AD retains the actions required in AD 2002-26-05 and AD 2002-11-05 R1, adds additional airplanes to the Applicability section, extends the safe life for new production airplanes and replacement spar caps, and incorporates an AMOC. We are issuing this AD to prevent fatigue cracks from occurring in the wing lower spar cap before the established safe life is reached. Fatigue cracks in the wing lower spar cap could result in failure of the spar cap and lead to wing separation.

This action corrects an error in the airspace description contained in a Final Rule that was published in the Federal Register on Friday, October 6, 2006 (71 FR 59007). Airspace Docket No. 06-AAL-21.

FRA is issuing Safety Advisory 2006-05 recommending that each railroad operating passenger trains assess the rules, instructions, and procedures used to ensure that a train will not depart a station until all passengers successfully board or alight from the train, and ensure compliance with such rules, instructions, and procedures.

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.

The FMCSA announces establishment of the Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Advisory Committee. Section 4135 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) requires creation of a ``task force'' to study and address current impediments and foreseeable challenges to the CDL Program's effectiveness and measures needed to realize the full safety potential of the Program. The FMCSA is chartering an advisory committee under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) to satisfy this SAFETEA-LU requirement. This Notice provides background and details about the purpose and functions of the CDL Advisory Committee, in accordance with FACA, and discusses the issues the CDL Advisory Committee will study and address. The Secretary of Transportation will appoint to the CDL Advisory Committee 15 individuals, representing stakeholders. The CDL Advisory Committee will begin work by the end of calendar year 2006.

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.

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.