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

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for General Electric Company (GE) CF34-8C1/-8C5/-8C5B1/-8E5/-8E5A1, and CF34-10E series turbofan engines with certain part number (P/N) and serial number (SN) fuel metering units (FMU) installed. This proposed AD would require a onetime test of the FMU for a miswired (reversed polarity) condition of the input wires to the overspeed solenoid. This proposed AD results from the discovery of miswired FMU overspeed solenoids in the field. We are proposing this AD to prevent the engine from failing to shutdown as commanded during an overspeed, leading to uncontained engine failure.

The Board grants an exemption, under 49 U.S.C. 10502, from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 11323-25 for Soo Line Railroad Company d/b/a Canadian Pacific Railway's (CPR), a Class I rail carrier, acquisition and operation of BNSF Railway Company's (BNSF), a Class I rail carrier, property interests in 35.26 miles of rail lines that are jointly owned by CPR and BNSF and a contiguous 9.96-mile rail line that is solely owned by BNSF,\1\ subject to labor protective conditions.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that PHMSA has forwarded an Information Collection Request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new information collection. This information collection is a survey of hazardous liquid operators to obtain information on unregulated low- stress hazardous liquid pipeline characteristics. The purpose of this notice is to invite the public to submit comments on the request to OMB.

This action will remove the Class D, E2, E4, and E5 airspace at Utica, NY, and amend the Class D and E2 airspace at Rome, NY. This action will also establish Class E5 airspace at Rome, NY. The Oneida County Airport, Utica, NY, is permanently closed and no longer operational, moving aircraft operations to Griffiss Airfield, Rome, NY. The closure necessitates the removal of all Class D and E airspace at Utica, NY. Subsequently, this action amends the Class D and E2 airspace at Rome, NY, published in the Federal Register on January 25, 2007, (72 FR 3365) but not charted due to inaccuracies in the legal descriptions. This action will also establish Class E5 airspace at Rome, NY, to replace the Class E5 airspace being removed at Utica, NY. Class D surface area airspace is required when the control tower is open to contain Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and other Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. Class E2 surface area airspace is required when the control tower is closed to contain SIAPs and other IFR operations at the airport. Class E5 airspace extends upward from 700 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) and is required to contain SIAPs and other IFR operations at the airport. This action will amend Class D airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 3,000 feet MSL within an 8.4-mile radius and Class E2 airspace within an 8.4-mile radius of the Griffiss Airfield. This action will also establish Class E5 airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 10.9 mile radius of Griffiss Airfield and within 5 miles each side of the Griffiss Airfield ILS localizer northwest course from the 10.9-mile radius to 15 miles northwest of Griffiss Airfield and within a 26-mile radius of the airport extending clockwise from a 125[deg] bearing to 200[deg] bearing from the airport.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Gainesville, FL, to accommodate a new Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) helicopter point in space approach that has been developed for Shands Hospital. Controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) is needed to contain the SIAP.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Live Oak, FL, to accommodate a new Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) helicopter point in space approach that has been developed for Suwannee Hospital Emergency Heliport. Controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) is needed to contain the SIAP.

This action amends the Class E airspace area at Lee's Summit Municipal Airport, Lee's Summit, MO. A review of the legal description revealed an incorrect coordinate describing the Airport Reference Point (ARP) for Lee's Summit Municipal Airport. This action corrects that error.

Section 1114 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) (Pub. L. 109-59; 119 Stat. 1144) continued the highway bridge program to enable States to improve the condition of their highway bridges over waterways, other topographical barriers, other highways, and railroads. Section 1114(f) amends 23 U.S.C. 144 by adding subsection (r), requiring the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) to publish in the Federal Register a report describing construction materials used in new Federal-aid bridge construction and bridge rehabilitation projects.

This notice provides interested parties with the opportunity to comment on changes to the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) 2007 National Transit Database (NTD) Urbanized Area Annual Reporting Manual (Annual Manual). Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 5335, FTA requires recipients of FTA Urbanized Area Formula Grants to provide an annual report to the Secretary of Transportation via the NTD reporting system according to a uniform system of accounts (USOA). In an ongoing effort to improve the NTD reporting system and be responsive to the needs of the transit agencies reporting to the NTD, FTA annually refines and clarifies the reporting requirements through revisions to the Annual Manual. At this time, FTA is not accepting comments on the NTD Rural Reporting Manual. Comments will be accepted by FTA on the NTD Rural Reporting Manual under a separate Federal Register Notice, which will be forthcoming.

This notice provides interested parties with the opportunity to comment on the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) National Transit Database (NTD) Rural Reporting Manual (Rural Manual). Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 5335, FTA requires recipients of grants under 49 U.S.C. 5311 (Other Than Urbanized Area Formula Grants) to provide an annual report to the Secretary of Transportation via the NTD reporting system according to a uniform system of accounts (USOA). 49 U.S.C. 5311 provides additional specifications for annual reporting from recipients of Section 5311 grants. The Rural Manual provides complete details as to FTA's implementation of these annual requirements through reporting to the Rural NTD Module. In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 5334, and in an ongoing effort to be responsive to the needs of NTD reporters, the Rural Manual is available in the DOT docket for public comment.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to all Airbus Model A318-100, A319-100, A320-200, A321-100, and A321-200 series airplanes, and Model A320-111 airplanes. That AD currently requires an inspection to determine whether certain braking and steering control units (BSCUs) are installed or have ever been installed. For airplanes on which certain BSCUs are installed or have ever been installed, the existing AD requires an inspection of the nose landing gear (NLG) upper support, and corrective action if necessary; and a check of the NLG strut inflation pressure, and an adjustment if necessary. For some of these airplanes, the existing AD also requires a revision to the aircraft flight manual to incorporate an operating procedure to recover normal steering in the event of a steering failure. This new AD instead requires repetitive inspections of the NLG upper support, and related investigative/corrective actions in accordance with new service information; and removes the one-time inspection that was required by the existing AD. This new AD also provides an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This AD results from a report of an incident where an airplane landed with the NLG turned 90 degrees from centerline, and from additional reports of NLG upper support anti-rotation lugs rupturing in service. We are issuing this AD to prevent landings with the NLG turned 90 degrees from centerline, which could result in reduced controllability of the airplane.

This Rule establishes, amends, suspends, or revokes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures 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, adding new obstacles, or changing 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 FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to all Avions Marcel Dassault-Breguet Model Falcon 10 airplanes. That AD currently requires either revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) and installing a placard in the flight deck to prohibit flight into known or forecasted icing conditions, or repetitively inspecting for delamination of the flexible hoses in the wing (slat) anti-icing system and performing corrective actions if necessary. That AD also provides optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This new AD mandates the previously optional terminating action. This AD results from a report of in-service delamination of a flexible hose in the slat anti-icing system at a time earlier than previously reported. We are issuing this AD to prevent collapse of the flexible hoses in the slat anti-icing system, which could lead to insufficient anti-icing capability and, if icing is encountered in this situation, could result in reduced controllability of the airplane.

This safety advisory is addressed to persons involved in the use, operation, fabrication, or other handling of mobile acetylene trailers. In this notice, we discuss recent acetylene incidents, requirements in the Hazardous Materials Regulations, national consensus standards issued by the Compressed Gas Association and National Fire Protection Association, operating procedures, fire mitigation and detection systems, and training of persons who operate, charge, and discharge mobile acetylene trailer systems. We urge companies and workers to review their operating practices to ensure that filling and discharge operations are conducted in the safest possible manner. In addition, we are requesting information on the effectiveness of current DOT regulations and industry best practices, as well as suggestions for enhancing the safety of these operations.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes to rule and invites public comment on the release of 2.43 acres of land at the Oceano Airport, Oceano, California, from all the conditions in the grant agreements under the provisions of Section 125 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21), now 49 U.S.C. 47107(h)(2). The land will be sold to the San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District and used for commercial purposes by the District for purposes compatible with the airport.

PHMSA is issuing this updated advisory bulletin to owners and operators of natural gas pipeline distribution systems concerning the susceptibility of older plastic pipe to premature brittle-like cracking. PHMSA previously issued three advisory bulletins on this subject: Two on March 11, 1999 and one on November 26, 2002. This advisory bulletin expands on the information provided in the three prior bulletins by listing two additional pipe materials with poor performance histories relative to brittle-like cracking and by updating pipeline owners and operators on the ongoing voluntary efforts to collect and analyze data on plastic pipe performance. Owners and operators of natural gas pipeline distribution systems are encouraged to review the three previous advisory bulletins in their entirety.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) invites the general public, industry and other governmental parties to comment on the continuing need for and usefulness of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requiring large certificated air carriers to file ``On-Time Flight Performance Reports'' and ``Mishandled-Baggage Reports'' pursuant to 14 CFR 234.4 and 234.6. These reports are used to monitor the quality of air service that major air carriers are providing the flying public.

The Federal Transit Administration invites public comment about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of the following new information collection: Customer Service Surveys of FTA Grantees and Stakeholders. The information to be collected from the surveys covered in this request will provide FTA with a means to gather data directly from its customers. The surveys will be used to assess how FTA's services are perceived by customers and stakeholders, determine opportunities for improvement and establish goals to measure results. The surveys will be limited to data collections that solicit voluntary opinions and will not involve information that is required by regulations. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments was published on June 8, 2007.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and the expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period was published on March 14, 2007 (72 FR 11931-11932).

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Honeywell International Inc. (Honeywell) TFE731-2C, -3B, -3BR, -3C, -3CR, -3D, -3DR, -4R, -5AR, -5BR, -5R, -20R, -20AR, -20BR, -40, -40AR, -40R, and -60 series turbofan engines. This proposed AD would require removal from service of certain high pressure (HP) turbine rotor assemblies with part numbers (P/Ns) 3075772-1 and 3060841-1 using a drawdown schedule, and returning them to Honeywell for curvic root radius inspection. This proposed AD results from the manufacturer's report that some HP turbine rotor discs received improperly machined radii in the root of the forward and aft curvic teeth during manufacture. We are proposing this AD to prevent uncontained failure of the HP turbine rotor assembly and damage to the airplane.

The FAA is amending the certification standards for original and amended type certificates for aircraft engines by modifying the standards for engine life-limited parts. This final rule establishes new and uniform standards for the design and testing of life-limited parts for aircraft engines certificated by the FAA and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). This rule retains the current lifing requirements, introduces damage tolerance requirements into the design process, and strengthens cooperation between engineering, manufacturing, and service elements of turbine engine manufacturers. These new requirements provide an added margin of safety and will reduce the number of life-limited parts failures due to material, manufacturing, and service induced anomalies. Additionally, this action adds new standards for the design of reciprocating engine turbocharger rotors.

FRA proposes revisions to the regulations governing freight power brakes and equipment by adding a new subpart addressing electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) brake systems. The proposed regulations are designed to provide for and encourage the safe implementation and use of ECP brake system technologies. The proposal contains specific requirements relating to design, interoperability, training, inspection, testing, handling defective equipment, and periodic maintenance related to ECP brake systems. The document also identifies provisions of the existing regulations and statutes where FRA is proposing to provide flexibility to facilitate the introduction of this advanced brake system technology.