Department of Transportation December 19, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document announces a meeting of the National Safe Routes to School Task Force to the Secretary of Transportation. This is the fifth meeting of the Task Force. The purpose of the Task Force is to advise the Secretary of Transportation, through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Safety, on strategies to advance Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Programs nationwide and to encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school pursuant to section 1404(h) of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) (Pub. L. 109-59, Aug. 10, 2005). The meeting is open to the public and will have time allocated for public testimony. The public is welcome to present written or oral comments to the Task Force.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 10 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemption renewals will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 12 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemption renewals will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 767-200 and -300 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require replacing the wire segments of the four Fuel Quantity Indicating System (FQIS) wire bundles with new, improved wire segments. This proposed AD results from operator inspections of the FQIS wire bundles that revealed corrosion at the connections between the ground wire and shield of each of the four FQIS wire bundles. We are proposing this AD to prevent this corrosion, which could reduce system protection of the lightning shield and result in loss of the electrical grounding between the lightning shield and the airplane structure. This condition, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require an inspection to determine the manufacturer and manufacture date of the oxygen masks in the passenger service unit and the lavatory and attendant box assemblies, corrective action if necessary, and other specified action. This proposed AD results from a report that several passenger masks with broken in-line flow indicators were found following a mask deployment. We are proposing this AD to prevent the in-line flow indicators of the passenger oxygen masks from fracturing and separating, which could inhibit oxygen flow to the masks and consequently result in exposure of the passengers and cabin attendants to hypoxia following a depressurization event.

This action revises Class E airspace at Soldotna, AK to provide adequate controlled airspace to contain aircraft executing Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs). Two SIAPs are being developed for the Soldotna Airport. This action revises existing Class E airspace upward from 700 feet (ft.) and 1,200 ft. above the surface at the Soldotna Airport, Soldotna, AK.

This action revises Class E airspace at Buckland, AK to provide adequate controlled airspace to contain aircraft executing Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs). Two SIAPs and a textual departure procedure (DP) are being amended for the Buckland Airport. Additionally, two SIAPs are being developed. This action revises existing Class E airspace upward from 700 feet (ft.) and 1,200 ft. above the surface at the Buckland Airport, Buckland, AK.

This action revises Class E airspace at Chevak, AK to provide adequate controlled airspace to contain aircraft executing Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs). Two SIAPs are being developed for the Chevak Airport. This action revises existing Class E airspace upward from 700 feet (ft.) and 1,200 ft. above the surface at the Chevak Airport, Chevak, AK.

This action establishes Class E Airspace at Lewiston, ME. The existing controlled airspace from nearby Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport does not adequately support a new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning system (GPS) Special Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP) that has been developed for medical flight operations. This action enhances the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations by providing the required controlled airspace to protect for this approach around the Central Maine Medical Center.

This action establishes additional Class E Airspace at Farmington, ME. The existing controlled airspace does not adequately support a new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Special Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP) that has been developed for medical flight operations. This action enhances the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations by providing the required controlled airspace to protect for this approach around Franklin Memorial Hospital