Department of Transportation January 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

OSDBU announces that it has published an opportunity to apply for the FY 2007 Small Business Transportation Business Resource Center funding on the grants.gov Web site (https://www.grants.gov). Section 4134 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: OSDBU is responsible for the implementation and execution of the Department of Transportation (DOT) activities on behalf of small businesses in accordance with Section 8, 15 and 31 of the Small Business Act (SBA), as amended. The OSDBU also administers the provisions of Title 49, the Minority Resource Center (MRC) which includes the duties of advocacy, outreach and financial services on behalf of small and disadvantaged business and those certified under CFR 49 parts 23 and or 26 as Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE). This request solicits competitive proposals from business centered community-based organizations, transportation-related trade associations, colleges and universities, community colleges or chambers of commerce for participation in OSDBU's Small Business Transportation Resource Centers (SBTRC) under the Minority Resource Center (MRC) program. OSDBU will enter into Cooperative Agreements with these organizations to outreach to the small business community in their designated region and provide financial and technical assistance, business training programs such as, business assessment, management training, counseling, technical assistance, marketing and outreach, and the dissemination of information, to encourage and assist small businesses to become better prepared to compete for, obtain, and manage DOT funded transportation-related contracts and subcontracts at the federal, state and local levels. Eligible applicants must be registered with the Internal Revenue Service as 501 C(6) or 501 C(3) tax-exempt organizations. To apply for funding, applicants must be registered with grants.gov. Registration with grants.gov may take two to five days before the system will allow you to apply for grants using the grants.gov Web site https://www.grants.gov/applicants/get registered.jsp. Submit application in accordance with the instructions provided. Applications for grant funding must be submitted electronically to OSDBU through the grants.gov Web site.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a two day Brain Injury Symposium to be held in Washington, DC (Federal Register/Vol. 71, No. 217/ Thursday, November 9, 2006/ Notices). This notice supplements the agenda for the symposium (see the previous announcement for further information, NHTSA-2006-26249:1).

PHMSA (also, ``we'' or ``us'') is amending the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) to: require cylinders of compressed oxygen and other oxidizing gases and packages of chemical oxygen generators to be placed in an outer packaging that meets certain flame penetration and thermal resistance requirements when transported aboard an aircraft; revise the pressure relief device (PRD) setting limit on cylinders of compressed oxygen and other oxidizing gases transported aboard aircraft; limit the types of cylinders authorized for transporting compressed oxygen aboard aircraft; and convert most of the provisions of an oxygen generator approval into requirements in the HMR. PHMSA is issuing this final rule in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to increase the level of safety associated with transportation of these materials aboard aircraft.

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 FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections to detect cracks in the vertical beam webs of the body station (BS) 178 bulkhead, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD also requires a terminating modification for the repetitive inspections. This AD results from reports of numerous cracks in the vertical beam webs. We are issuing this AD to prevent fatigue cracks in certain vertical beam webs, which could result in loss of structural integrity of the BS 178 bulkhead, and consequently could impair the operation of the control cables for the elevators, speed brakes, and landing gear, or could cause the loss of cabin pressure.

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 a certain petition 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.

This action informs the public that FMCSA intends to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve a new information collection required by the Commercial Driver's License Program Improvements (CDLPI) and the Commercial Driver's License Information System Modernization grant programs. That information consists of grant application preparation and quarterly reports. The CDLPI grant program also requires States' to conduct a self-assessment of their Commercial Driver's License (CDL) programs. This notice is required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This AD requires revising the Airworthiness Limitations Items (ALI) of the maintenance requirements manual to require additional inspection requirements of the maintenance requirements manual for certain principal structural elements (PSEs) related to fuselage cutouts and to reduce an inspection threshold for an existing ALI task on the aft entry door. This AD results from data obtained from the manufacturer's fatigue testing. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of certain PSEs, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Dassault Model Mystere-Falcon 50 and 900, and Falcon 900EX airplanes; and Model Falcon 2000 and Falcon 2000EX airplanes. This AD requires an inspection of the identification plates of the outboard slats to determine the type of identification plates and the part numbers. For certain airplanes, this AD also requires a revision to the Limitations and Normal Procedures sections of the airplane flight manual to provide procedures for operation in icing conditions; and replacement of the anti-icing manifold with an anti-icing manifold of the correct type design if necessary. For certain airplanes, this AD also requires related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from a finding that the outboard slats for Model Mystere-Falcon 50 airplanes have been erroneously authorized, in limited cases, as interchangeable for use on Model Mystere-Falcon 900 and Falcon 900EX airplanes; and Model Falcon 2000 and Falcon 2000EX airplanes. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the anti-icing manifold of the outboard slats, which could result in loss of control of the airplane.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Ridgway Landing Zone, Ridgway, PA. Development of an Area Navigation (RNAV), Helicopter Point in Space Approach, for the Ridgway Landing Zone, Ridgway, PA, has made this action necessary. Controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) is needed to contain aircraft executing the approach to the Ridgway Landing Zone. This is a correction to a final rule published on October 17, 2006. 71 FR 60817. This final rule corrects the spelling of ``Ridgeway'' to ``Ridgway''

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Tay 611-8, Tay 620-15, Tay 650-15, and Tay 651-54 series turbofan engines, with certain low pressure (LP) compressor modules installed. This AD requires an ultrasonic inspection (UI) of LP compressor fan blades for cracks, within 30 days after the effective date of the AD on certain serial number (SN) Tay 650-15 engines. This AD also requires initial and repetitive UIs of LP compressor fan blades on all engines. This AD also requires, for Tay 650-15 and Tay 651-54 engines, UIs of LP compressor fan blades whenever the blade set is removed from one engine and installed on a different engine. This AD results from a report that a set of LP compressor fan blades failed before reaching the LP compressor fan blade full published life limit. We are issuing this AD to prevent LP compressor fan blades from failing due to blade root cracks, leading to uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Boeing Model 767-200, -300, and -300F series airplanes. That AD currently requires an inspection of visually accessible areas for indications of overheating of the heater tape attached to the potable water fill and drain lines in the forward and aft cargo compartments, exposed foam insulation or missing or damaged protective tape around the potable water fill and drain lines, and debris or contaminants on or near the potable water fill and drain lines. That AD also requires corrective action, as necessary. This new AD requires repetitive inspections of the forward and aft cargo compartments, as applicable, for discrepancies of the potable water supply and gray water drain lines; and applicable corrective actions if necessary. This AD also requires replacing the heater tapes on the potable water supply and gray water drain lines of the forward and aft cargo compartments, as applicable, with new ribbon heaters, or deactivating and removing any defective heater tape and wrapping the drain line with foam insulation; either action ends the repetitive inspections. This AD results from a report of a fire in the aft cargo compartment. We are issuing this AD to prevent overheating of the heater tape on potable water fill and drain lines, which may ignite accumulated debris or contaminants on or near the potable water fill and drain lines, resulting in a fire in the airplane.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain Bombardier Model DHC-8-100, -200, and - 300 series airplanes. That AD currently requires modification of the flight compartment door; repetitive inspections for wear of the flight compartment door hinges following modification; and repair or replacement of the hinges with new hinges if necessary. This new AD requires using revised procedures for modifying and inspecting the flight compartment door and reduces the applicability of the existing AD. This AD results from a determination that certain cockpit doors are no longer subject to the existing requirements. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the alternate release mechanism of the flight compartment door, which could delay or impede the evacuation of the flightcrew during an emergency. This failure also could result in the flightcrew not being able to assist passengers in the event of an emergency.

In accordance with the provisions of 14 CFR 254.6, this final rule revises the minimum limit on domestic baggage liability applicable to air carriers to reflect inflation since July 2004, the year of the most recent revision to the liability limit. Section 254.6 requires that the Department periodically revise the limit to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. The rule adjusts the minimum limit of liability from the current amount of $2,800, set by the Department in 2004, to $3,000, to take into account the changes in consumer prices since the prior revision.

Under 49 U.S.C. 10502(a), on its own motion, the Board is granting an individual exemption from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10903 for Stillwater Central Railroad, Inc. (SLWC) to discontinue service over approximately 0.95 miles of railroad in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, OK. A petition to reject the notice of exemption filed by SLWC is granted. The Board is affirming BNSF Railway Company's (BNSF) use of the class exemption to abandon 2.95 miles of the line and denying a petition to reject the notice of exemption filed by BNSF.

The FAA is revising an earlier NPRM for an airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain EMBRAER Model ERJ 170 airplanes. The original NPRM would have required replacing the mini-latches on certain lavatory waste compartment doors with new, stronger latches, and other specified actions. The original NPRM resulted from reports of certain lavatory waste compartment doors opening during flight due to movement of the waste compartment during takeoff, because the mini- latches installed on the doors of those compartments lose their strength over time. This action revises the original NPRM by adding airplanes to the applicability. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM to prevent the inability of the waste compartment doors to adequately contain a fire inside the lavatory waste compartment, and consequent uncontained fire and smoke within a lavatory during flight.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4- 600R, C4-605R Variant F, and F4-600R (collectively called A300-600) series airplanes; and Model A310 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires a one-time inspection for damage of the integrated drive generator (IDG) electrical harness and pyramid arm, and repair if necessary. This proposed AD would add new repetitive inspections, which, when initiated, would terminate the inspection required by the existing AD. This proposed AD would also require repairing damage and protecting the harness. The proposed AD would also provide for optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This proposed AD also removes certain airplanes from the applicability of the existing AD. This proposed AD results from a report of structural damage on the forward pyramid arm of an engine pylon due to chafing of the IDG electrical harness against the structure of the pyramid arm. We are proposing this AD to prevent electrical arcing in the engine pylon, which could result in loss of the relevant alternating current (AC) bus bar, reduced structural integrity of the engine pylon, and possible loss of control of the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as un-damped extension of the main landing gear (MLG), potentially leading to loss of side stay integrity and then MLG collapse. The proposed AD would require actions that are intended to address the unsafe condition described in the MCAI.

This document announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 1996 BMW K75 motorcycles that were not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) are eligible for importation into the United States because they have safety features that comply with, or are capable of being altered to comply with, all such standards.

The Board, on its own motion, in a decision served on January 26, 2007, is exempting Norfolk Southern Railway Company and CSX Transportation, Inc. from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10903 to discontinue service over a line of railroad known as the Robbinsville Industrial Track, subject to the employee protective conditions in Oregon Short Line R. Co.AbandonmentGoshen, 360 I.C.C. 91 (1979). The line extends between milepost 32.20 and milepost 37.90 in the cities of Hamilton Township and Washington Township, Mercer County, NJ, a distance of approximately 5.7 miles. The decision also grants a petition for reconsideration filed by Mr. James Riffin in a related docket, STB Docket No. AB-167 (Sub-No. 1185X), a proceeding in which Consolidated Rail Corporation filed a notice of exemption to abandon the instant line.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 777-200, -300, and -300ER series airplanes. This AD requires replacement of the gimbal plates of the left and right outboard trailing edge flaps with improved gimbal plates and other specified actions. This AD results from a broken pivot link found on the inboard support for the outboard trailing edge flap. We are issuing this AD to prevent disconnection of the drive arm from its drive gimbal, due to a broken pivot link on an outboard flap support, which could result in unexpected roll of the airplane and loss of control of the airplane.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A300 airplanes; and Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called A300-600 series airplanes). This AD requires replacing the pressure limiter of the parking brake system with a new or modified pressure limiter. This AD results from a report indicating that failure of the parking brake system occurred on a Model A300-600 airplane. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the parking brake system and interference with emergency use of the brake pedals, which could lead to airplane collision with surrounding objects or departure from the runway.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to all Boeing Model 747 airplanes. That AD currently requires a one-time inspection to determine whether the outer cylinder of the wing landing gear has certain part numbers, and replacement of the outer cylinder of the wing landing gear with a new, improved, or reworked part if necessary. That AD also requires removal of the load evening system, if such a system is installed. This new AD requires, for certain airplanes, an additional one-time inspection to determine whether the outer cylinder has a certain other part number. For those certain airplanes, this new AD also requires replacement of the outer cylinder with a reworked or new, improved part and related investigative and corrective actions, if necessary. This AD results from identification of an additional unsafe part. We are issuing this AD to prevent fracture of the outer cylinder of the wing landing gear, which could result in collapse of the wing landing gear.

This notice is to advise interested persons that PHMSA's Office of Hazardous Materials Safety's Office of International Standards will conduct a public meeting to review and solicit input on the program of work agreed to by the UN Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UN SCOE) for its 2007-2008 biennium and in particular, to solicit input relative to requirements for the transport of dangerous goods in limited quantities, including consumer commodities, which is a major item on this program of work. In addition, the Office of International Standards is developing a five year work plan to address international and domestic harmonization efforts taking into account its role in representing the U.S. in international forums. The public is invited to comment on any areas of a general or specific interest which should be included in this plan.