Department of Transportation May 31, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document denies the petition of SS II of America, Inc. (SS II) for a temporary exemption from the air bag requirements of FMVSS No. 208 for the SS II Shelby Series II from September 1, 2006 through July 31, 2008. The basis for the application was that compliance would cause substantial economic hardship to a manufacturer that has tried in good faith to comply with the standard.\1\ We have determined that it would not be in the public interest or consistent with the Safety Act to grant an economic hardship exemption to permit this vehicle to be sold without air bags.

This document announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 2006 Harley Davidson FX, FL, and XL 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 (1) they are substantially similar to vehicles that were originally manufactured for sale in the United States and that were certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety standards, and (2) they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

This document announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 1986 and 1987 Volkswagen Transporter multipurpose passenger vehicles 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 (1) they are substantially similar to vehicles that were originally manufactured for sale in the United States and that were certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety standards, and (2) they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain General Electric Company (GE) CF6-50C series turbofan engines. This AD requires reworking certain forward fan stator cases and installing a fan module secondary containment shield. This AD results from reports of uncontained fan blade failures causing damage and separation of airplane hydraulic lines. We are issuing this AD to prevent uncontained fan blade failures, which can result in separation of airplane hydraulic lines, damage to critical airplane systems, and possible loss of airplane control.

This action modifies the Class E airspace area at St. Johns, AZ. The establishment of an Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) to Runway 32 at St. Johns Industrial Air Park, St. Johns, AZ, has made this action necessary. Additional controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface is needed to contain aircraft executing the RNAV (GPS) IAP to RWY 32 at St. Johns Industrial Air Park makes this proposal necessary. The intended effect of this action is to provide adequate controlled airspace for aircraft executing the RNAV (GPS) SIAP to RWY 32 at St. Johns Industrial Air Park, St. Johns, AZ.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

This document responds to a petition for rulemaking regarding the Federal motor vehicle safety standard on lighting. Mr. Richard Fairall petitioned the agency to amend the standard to incorporate performance requirements for a ``stroboscopic lighting system'' that can be installed on the front and rear of a motorcycle as a collision avoidance system. NHTSA is denying this petition because the petitioner did not demonstrate or provide any quantitative data showing that implementation of his recommended lighting system would result in a reduction of death and injury to motorcyclists or other motorists. However, notwithstanding the absence of detailed safety data in Mr. Fairall's submission, because NHTSA has a continued interest in identifying potential countermeasures to reduce motorcycle crashes, the agency conducted a preliminary evaluation of the petitioner's recommended auxiliary ``stroboscopic lighting system.'' The preliminary evaluation did not persuade NHTSA that the stroboscopic lighting system would result in fewer motorcycle crashes.