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

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 207, Airport Security Access Control Systems.

This notice sets forth the FAA's final opinion on the transferability of interim operating authority under the National Parks Air Tour Management Act.

This final rule sets safety and oversight rules for a broad variety of sightseeing and commercial air tour flights. The rule responds to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendations, Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports, and Department of Transportation Inspector General Reports that recommend better oversight of the sightseeing and commercial air tour industry. The intended effect of this final rule is to standardize requirements for air tour operators and consolidate air tour safety standards within part 136.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated 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:

This notice announces the availability of the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Proposed Guidance on New and Small Starts Policies and Procedures and requests your comments on it. The guidance explains proposed changes to the New and Small Starts programs that will become effective upon the issuance of Final Guidance, which will be announced in a subsequent Federal Register notice. FTA requests comments on the Proposed Guidance, which is available in DOT's electronic docket and on FTA's Web site.

The Clean Air Act (CAA) section 176(c), 42 U.S.C. 7506(c) and Amendments of 1990 \1\ require that all Federal actions conform to an applicable State Implementation Plan (SIP). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established criteria and procedures for Federal agencies to use in demonstrating conformity with an applicable SIP that can be found at 40 CFR 93.150 et.seq. (``The Rule'').

This action corrects a final rule published in the Federal Register on January 18, 2007 (72 FR 2182), Airspace Docket No. 06-ASW- 1, FAA Docket No. FAA-2006-24926. In that rule, an inadvertent error was made in the legal description for VOR Federal Airway V-75. Specifically, the description did not exclude the portion of the airway that is in Canadian airspace. This action corrects that error.

The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for a new information collection, which is summarized below under Supplementary Information. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

This notice requests public participation in the OMB approval process for the renewal of an existing PHMSA information collection. This renewal of information complies with the natural gas pipeline operator's reporting requirements. PHMSA is requesting OMB approval for renewal of this information collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. With this notice, PHMSA invites the public to submit comments over the next 60 days on ways to minimize the burden associated with the collection of information related to natural gas pipelines operator's reports.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for CFM International CFM56-5 and -5B series turbofan engines. That AD requires exhaust gas temperature (EGT) harness replacement or the establishment of an EGT baseline and trend monitoring. That AD also requires replacement, if necessary, of certain EGT harnesses and EGT couplings as soon as a slow and continuous EGT drift downward is noticed after the effective date of that AD. This AD requires the same actions but for an increased population of affected EGT harnesses. This AD results from CFM International adding subsequently certified engine models to the list of engines that could have affected harnesses installed. We are issuing this AD to prevent unexpected deterioration of critical rotating engine parts due to higher than desired engine operating EGTs.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority (Authority), in cooperation with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA), intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the proposed Phase 2 of the Exposition Corridor Light Rail Transit Project. Phase 2 would extend from the current planned terminus of the Exposition Corridor Light Rail Transit Project Phase 1 in Culver City, California, approximately 6 to 8 miles to an end-of-line station near 5th Street and Colorado Boulevard in Santa Monica, California. The EIS will be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and its implementing regulations. The purpose of this notice is to alert interested parties regarding the intent to prepare the EIS, to provide information on the nature of the proposed project and possible alternatives, to invite public participation in the EIS process, including comments on the scope of the EIS proposed in this notice, to announce that public scoping meetings will be conducted, and to identify participating agency contacts.

On January 17, 2007, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced a public meeting regarding the Buy America second notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) to allow the public to ask questions regarding the SNPRM published on November 30, 2006. In the public meeting notice, FTA also extended the comment period to February 28, 2007, to allow affected parties time to carefully consider the changes made in the SNRM and the information presented at the public meeting. This Notice announces the agenda for the public meeting, and a conference call number for interested parties who cannot attend in person.

The FHWA is currently conducting a reassessment of the Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS), which is a national highway transportation system database maintained and used primarily by the FHWA as a resource for information about the extent, condition, performance, use, and operating characteristics of the Nation's highways. This notice requests public comment on the draft HPMS Reassessment Recommendations Report, which is available in the docket and via the FHWA Web site at www.fhwa.dot.gov/policy/ohpi/hpms/ index.htm. This draft report documents in detail various issues and proposed changes to specific HPMS data items and the associated collecting and reporting procedures based in part upon customer and data provider needs. The FHWA requests public comments on this draft report. The report would enhance and improve HPMS procedures and incorporate changing data customer needs while building a stronger partnership with the HPMS data user and provider community.

This notice denies a petition submitted to NHTSA under 49 U.S.C. 30162 by the Law Offices of Lisoni & Lisoni of Pasadena, California. The petition requests that the agency open a safety-related defect investigation into alleged defects in Firestone Steeltex tires manufactured from 1999 through 2005 in four Firestone plants located in Joliette, Canada; Aiken, South Carolina; Decatur, Illinois; and Cuernavaca, Mexico. After review of the information submitted by the petitioners and other pertinent information, NHTSA has concluded that further expenditure of the agency's investigative resources on the issues raised by the petition does not appear warranted.

These special conditions are issued to Aviation Technology Group (ATG), 8001 S. InterPort Blvd., Englewood, CO 80112 for a type certificate for the Javelin Model 100 airplane. These airplanes will have novel and unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisaged in the applicable airworthiness standards. These novel and unusual design features include the installation of electrical and electronic systems that perform critical functions for which the applicable regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate airworthiness standards for the protection of these systems from the 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 the airworthiness standards applicable to these airplanes.

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, Interstate Route I-29/I-35/U.S. Route 71 Corridor, Paseo Missouri River Bridge, from approximately 0.5 miles north of Missouri Route 210/Armour Road south to the northwest corner of the central business district loop in downtown Kansas City, in the Counties of Jackson and Clay, State of Missouri. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

FMCSA announces the availability of Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks (CVISN) grant funding as authorized by Section 4126 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). This is a discretionary grant program that provides funding for States to deploy, operate, and maintain elements of their CVISN program, including commercial vehicle, commercial driver, and carrier-specific information systems and networks. The agency in each State designated as the primary agency responsible for the development, implementation, and maintenance of the CVISN-related systems is eligible to apply for grant funding. To apply for funding, applicants must register with the grants.gov Web site (https://www.grants.gov/applicants/get registered.jsp) and submit an application in accordance with instructions provided. Applications for grant funding must be submitted electronically to FMCSA through the grants.gov Web site. Section 4126 of SAFETEA-LU distinguishes between two types of CVISN projects: Core and Expanded. To be eligible for funding of Core CVISN deployment project(s), a State must have its most current Core CVISN Program Plan and Top-Level Design approved by FMCSA and the proposed project(s) should be consistent with its approved Core CVISN Program Plan and Top-Level Design. A State may also apply for funds to prepare an Expanded CVISN Program Plan and Top-Level Design if FMCSA acknowledged the staff as having completed Core CVISN deployment. In order to be eligible for funding of any Expanded CVISN deployment project(s), a State must have its most current Expanded CVISN Program Plan and Top-Level Design approved by FMCSA and any proposed Expanded CVISN project(s) should be consistent with its Expanded CVISN Program Plan and Top-Level Design.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This 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 cracking in the wing main landing gear (MLG) rib 5 aft bearing forward lug, which could affect the structural integrity of the MLG attachment. This AD requires actions that are intended to address the unsafe condition described in the MCAI.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This 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 loose rivets on frames C18 BIS and C19, which could result in a reduced structural integrity of the tail area. We are issuing this AD to require actions to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

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 the 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 final Agency guidance describes the eligibility of ``joint development'' improvements under 49 U.S.C. 5301 et seq. (Federal transit law) by interpreting the definition and operation of the term ``capital project'' as defined at 49 U.S.C. 5302(a)(1)(G), and as amended by Section 3003(a) of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). This final Agency guidance is the culmination of three notices issued by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA or Agency), the first of which appeared in the Federal Register on January 31, 2006. FTA intends to publish the text of this final Agency guidance as a stand-alone FTA Circular titled The Eligibility of Joint Development Improvements under Federal Transit Law.

This action revises Class E airspace at Mekoryuk, AK. Three new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) are being developed for the Mekoryuk Airport. One Departure Procedure (DP) and two SIAPs are being amended. This rule results in the revision of Class E airspace upward from 700 feet (ft.) above the surface at the Mekoryuk Airport, Mekoryuk, AK.

This action revises Class E airspace at Northway, AK. Two new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) are being developed for the Northway Airport. One SIAP and a Departure Procedure (DP) are being amended. This rule results in the revision of Class E airspace upward from 700 feet (ft.) and 1,200 ft. above the surface at the Northway Airport, Northway, AK.