Department of Transportation November 21, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice provides interested parties with the opportunity to comment on changes to the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) 2008 National Transit Database (NTD) Safety & Security Reporting Manual (Safety & Security Manual). Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 5335, FTA requires those transit agencies that are reporting to the NTD from urbanized areas to provide reports within 30 days of a major safety or security incident, and to provide a monthly report on minor safety and security incidents. In an ongoing effort to improve the NTD reporting system, and to be responsive to the needs of NTD data users and of the transit agencies reporting to the NTD, FTA annually refines and clarifies the Safety & Security Module reporting requirements through revisions to the Safety & Security Manual.

This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA, USACE, 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, Browns Park Road, Red Creek to Colorado State Line in Daggett County, Utah. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

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:

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Bombardier Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes. The existing AD currently requires inspecting contactors 1K4XD, 2K4XD, and K4XA to determine the type of terminal base plate, and applying sealant on the terminal base plates if necessary. This proposed AD would require an inspection to determine if certain alternating current (AC) service and utility bus contactors have a terminal base plate made from non-G9 melamine material, and corrective actions if necessary; or reidentification of the mounting tray of the contactors; as applicable. This proposed AD also limits the applicability of the existing AD. This proposed AD results from incidents of short circuit failures of certain AC contactors located in the avionics bay. We are proposing this AD to prevent short circuit failures of certain AC contactors, which could result in arcing and consequent smoke or fire.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and - 500 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires repetitive detailed inspections for damage of the electrical wire and sleeve that run to the fuel boost pump through a conduit in the fuel tank, and arcing damage of the conduit and signs of fuel leakage into the conduit; replacement of the sleeve with a new, smaller-diameter sleeve; and related investigative and corrective actions, as applicable. This new AD reduces the inspection threshold for certain airplanes. This AD results from a report of a fuel tank explosion on a Model 727-200F airplane on the ground, and a report of chafed wires and a damaged power cable sleeve of a fuel boost pump discovered during an inspection on a Model 737-300 airplane. (The fuel boost pump installation on certain Model 737 airplanes is almost identical to the installation on Model 727 airplanes.) We are issuing this AD to detect and correct chafing of the fuel boost pump electrical wiring and leakage of fuel into the conduit, and to prevent electrical arcing between the wiring and the surrounding conduit, which could result in arc-through of the conduit, and consequent fire or explosion of the fuel tank.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that PHMSA forwarded an Information Collection Request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an extension of the currently approved information collection: ``Pipeline Safety: Periodic Underwater Inspections'' (2137-0618). The purpose of this notice is to invite the public to submit comments on the request.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection abstracted below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The nature of the information collection is described as well as its expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on August 27, 2007. No comments were received.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for CFM International, S.A. CFM56-5C4/1 series turbofan engines. That AD currently requires that the low pressure turbine (LPT) conical support, part number (P/N) 337-002-407-0, be removed from service at or before reaching the cyclic life limit of 9,350 cycles-since-new (CSN). This AD requires that the same P/N LPT conical support be removed from service before reaching the new, relaxed cyclic life limit of 20,000 CSN. This AD results from CFM International, S.A. performing a life extension study of the LPT conical support, P/N 337-002-407-0. We are issuing this AD to prevent LPT conical supports from remaining in service beyond their certified cyclic life limit, which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) Model 206A and 206B helicopters. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The aviation authority of Canada, with which we have a bilateral agreement, states in the MCAI:

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of the RTCA Program Management Committee.

NHTSA issued a report in 2002 on the results of a comprehensive school bus research program examining ways of further improving school bus safety. Based on that research, we are now proposing several upgrades to the school bus passenger crash protection requirements. For new school buses of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), we propose to require lap/shoulder belts in lieu of the lap belts that are currently specified. For school buses with gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR) greater than 4,536 kilograms (kg) (10,000 pounds), this NPRM provides guidance to State and local jurisdictions on the subject of installing seat belts. Each State or local jurisdiction would continue to decide whether to install belts on these large school buses. Where State or local decisions are made to install lap or lap/shoulder belts on large school buses, this NPRM proposes performance requirements for those voluntarily-installed seat belts on large school buses manufactured after the proposed effective date. Other changes to school bus safety requirements are also proposed, including raising the height of seat backs from 20 inches to 24 inches on all new school buses.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR part 107, subpart B), notice is hereby given that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the application described herein. Each mode of transportation for which a particular special permit is requested is indicated by a number in the ``Nature of Application'' portion of the table below as follows: 1Motor vehicle, 2Rail freight, 3Cargo vessel, 4Cargo aircraft only, 5Passenger-carrying aircraft.