Department of Transportation 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 35001 et seq.), this notice announces the intention of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the revision of the currently approved information collection: 49 U.S.C. 5335(a) and (b) National Transit Database NTD). FTA would like to add the collection of rural transit data under the NTD to this collection, as mandated by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), enacted August 10, 2005.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for the proposed improvement of USH 14/STH 11 between Janesville, in Rock County, and IH 43 near Darien, in Walworth County, Wisconsin.

This notice proposes to amend Class E airspace at Mooresville, NC. Two Copter Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) helicopter point in space approaches have been developed for Lowe's Mooresville Heliport, Mooresville, NC. As a result, additional controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) is needed to accommodate the SIAPs and for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at Lowe's Mooresville Heliport. This action proposes to amend the Class E5 airspace for Mooresville, NC, to the south in order to include the point in space approaches serving Lowe's Mooresville Heliport.

The FAA is notifying the public of the outcome of our periodic review of existing regulations. This notice summarizes the public comments we received and our responses to them. This action is part of our effort to make our regulatory program more effective and less burdensome.

This amendment establishes, amends, suspends, or revokes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and/or Weather Takeoff Minimums 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, addition of new obstacles, or changes in 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.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Maritime Administration's (MARAD's) intention to request extension of approval for three years of a currently approved information collection.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Maritime Administration's (MARAD's) intention to request extension of approval for three years of a currently approved information collection.

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 Board has approved the third quarter 2007 rail cost adjustment factor (RCAF) and cost index filed by the Association of American Railroads. The third quarter 2007 RCAF (Unadjusted) is 1.197. The third quarter 2007 RCAF (Adjusted) is 0.558. The third quarter 2007 RCAF-5 is 0.531.

This action proposes special conditions for the Adam Aircraft, Model A700 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature(s) associated with aft mounted engine fire protection. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its findings on the noise compatibility program submitted by the Portland International Airport under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. (the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, hereinafter referred to as ``the Act'') and 14 CFR part 150. These findings are made in recognition of the description of Federal and nonfederal responsibilities in Senate Report No. 96-52 (1980). On December 13, 2006, the FAA determined that the noise exposure maps submitted by the Portland International Airport under Part 150 were in compliance with applicable requirements. On June 7, 2007, the FAA approved the Portland International Airport noise compatibility program. Most of the recommendations of the program were approved.

This notice amends the Model Specifications for Calibrating Units for Breath Alcohol Testers (Model Specifications) by adopting an alternate test procedure for evaluating the accuracy of both wet bath and dry gas breath alcohol calibrating units infra-red spectroscopy, as proposed in the Federal Register on August 13, 1997 (62 FR 43416). Published with this notice is an updated Conforming Products List of Calibrating Units for Breath Alcohol Testers (CPL) of calibrating units that meet the Model Specifications. This updated CPL includes 22 new listings8 wet bath units and 14 dry gas units.

The FHWA has forwarded the information collection request described in this notice to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to renew an information collection. We published a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day public comment period on this information collection on April 12, 2007. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Eclipse Aviation Corporation (Eclipse) Model EA500 airplanes. This AD requires you to incorporate information into the Limitations section of the airplane flight manual (AFM) that will require operation only in day visual flight rules (VFR), allow only a VFR flight plan, and maintain operation with two pilots. This AD is being issued because of three instances of loss of primary airspeed indication due to freezing condensation within the pitot system. The loss of air pressure in the pitot system could cause the stall warning to become unreliable and the stick pusher, overspeed warning, and autopilot to not function. The concern is heightened by the aerodynamic characteristics of the Eclipse Model EA500 airplane, which relies on the stall warning and the stick pusher to alert the pilot prior to the loss of aircraft control. The standby airspeed is reliable and not affected by this failure mode. A temporary AFM revision prohibits operation in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), requires two pilots, and limits the airspeed and altitude envelope if the event occurs in flight. The AFM limitations and FAA operational rules allow Model EA500 flight crews to file an instrument flight rule (IFR) flight plan even though the airplane is not approved for flight in IMC. This potentially causes an undue workload burden and confusion when the pilot has to refuse any instructions that take them into IMC. We are issuing this AD to prevent an unsafe condition when Air Traffic Control's (ATC's) ability to maintain traffic separation is compromised because an airplane on an IFR flight plan cannot accept a flight plan into IMC.

This action withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that proposed a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain EMBRAER Model EMB-135 and EMB-145 series airplanes. That action would have required an inspection of the base and support surfaces of the glide slope antenna and of certain electrical connectors of the navigation system, and applicable corrective actions if necessary. Since the issuance of the NPRM, we have received new data showing that the proposed inspection and corrective actions will not eliminate the display of erroneous or misleading information to the flightcrew in the cockpit. However, we have been informed that the navigation system manufacturer has developed effective corrective actions to address the unsafe condition identified in the NPRM. Since we issued the NPRM, we have issued other rulemaking, which provides corrective actions for the identified unsafe condition. Accordingly, the proposed rule is withdrawn.

FMCSA announces that the MRB will hold its next meeting on July 26, 2007. The meeting will provide the public an opportunity to observe and participate in MRB deliberations about the revision and development of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation (FMCSR) medical standards, in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

The Commission clarifies the standard for determining the acceptability of costs that Sprint Nextel Corporation (Sprint) is required to pay in connection with the 800 MHz rebanding process. Specifically, the Commission clarified the provision in the 800 MHz Report and Order that such costs must be the ``minimum necessary'' to accomplish rebanding of 800 MHz licensees in a reasonable, prudent and timely manner

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This 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 is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 777 airplanes. This AD requires repetitive measurements of the freeplay of the right and left elevators, rudder, and rudder tab, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD also requires repetitive lubrication of the elevator, rudder, and rudder tab components. This AD results from reports of freeplay-induced vibration of unbalanced control surfaces. Excessive freeplay of control surfaces can cause unacceptable airframe vibration during flight. The potential for vibration of the control surface should be avoided because the point of transition from vibration to divergent flutter is unknown. We are issuing this AD to prevent flutter, which can cause damage to the control surface structure and consequent loss of control of the airplane.