Department of Transportation 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On April 20, 2007, the FAA published in the Federal Register a direct final rule entitled Change in Extinguishing Agent Container Requirements. The rule aligned the operational and certification requirements regarding airplane extinguishing agent containers or fire bottles; and it removed an obsolete section reference from part 135. This action withdraws the rule because the FAA received several adverse comments.

The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for renewal of an existing information collection that is summarized below under Supplementary Information. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

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) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collections and their expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period was published on March 14, 2007 (72 FR 11930). Comments: Comments should be directed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725-17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention NHTSA Desk Officer. Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection. Form Number: This collection of information uses no standard forms.

This action proposes to revise Class E airspace at Hoquiam, WA. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate aircraft using the Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) at Bowerman Airport. The FAA is proposing this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft operations at Bowerman Airport, Hoquiam, WA.

This action proposes to establish Class E surface airspace at Everett, WA. Controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate aircraft executing Special Visual Flight Rules (SVFR) operations at Everett, Snohomish County Airport (Paine Field), Everett, WA.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain Cessna Model 500, 550, S550, 560, 560XL, and 750 airplanes. That AD currently requires installing identification sleeves on the wires for the positive and negative terminal studs of the engine and/or auxiliary power unit (APU) fire extinguishing bottles, as applicable, and re-connecting the wires to the correct terminal studs. This new AD retains the requirements of the existing AD; adds airplanes to the applicability; and, for certain airplanes only, requires a review of wiring changes made using the original issue of one service bulletin and corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from a determination that additional airplanes are subject to the unsafe condition described in the existing AD. We are issuing this AD to ensure that the fire extinguishing bottles are activated in the event of an engine or APU fire, and that flammable fluids are not supplied during a fire, which could result in an unextinguished fire in the nacelle or APU.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a new information collection. The information is being used to properly identify airmen to allow the agency to verify their foreign license being used to qualify for a US certificate.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for GEAE CF6-45A, 45A2, -50A, -50C, -50CA, -50C1, -50C2, -50C2B, - 50C2D, -50C2F, -50C2R, -50E, -50E1, -50E2, and -50E2B turbofan engines. This proposed AD would require replacing the compressor discharge pressure (CDP) restoring spring assembly on certain main engine controls (MECs) or re-marking MECs that already incorporate GEAE Service Bulletin (SB) No. CF6-50 S/B 73-0119, dated March 21, 2005. This proposed AD results from reports of five events involving fractured CDP restoring spring assemblies. We are proposing this AD to prevent loss of engine thrust control that could lead to loss of control of the airplane.

This document announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 2003 Kawasaki VN1500-P1/P2 series 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 2005 Honda CR-V 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.

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 collection for National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) data reporting. On March 23, 2007, PHMSA published a Federal Register notice soliciting comments on this information collection. No comments were received. The purpose of this notice is to allow the public an additional 30 days to submit comments.

This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to a proposed highway project, along State Route 52 from east of Interstate 15 to Mast Boulevard in the County of San Diego, State of California. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

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.

This amendment amends Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed 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.

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model S-76A, B, and C helicopters. This action requires a one-time ultrasonic inspection of the main rotor shaft assembly (M/R shaft) for cracking. This amendment is prompted by the discovery of cracking that occurred during the manufacturing of certain M/R shafts. The actions specified in this AD are intended to detect cracking in the M/R shaft, which could result in separation of the main rotor and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA and other Federal agencies that are found within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(l). These actions relate to a proposed highway project, Interstate 93 beginning at the Massachusetts State Line in Salem, and proceeding northerly 19.8 miles to the junction of I-293 in Manchester in Rockingham and Hillsborough Counties, State of New Hampshire. These actions grant licenses, permits, and approval of the project.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended) this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below which will be forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for renewal. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on Wednesday, February 14, 2007 (Vol. 72, FR 7110-7111). No comments were received.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requests public comment on the American Pyrotechnics Association's (APA) application for an exemption from the prohibition against driving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) after the 14th hour of coming on duty. The exemption for nine motor carriers would be applicable for a period beginning 7 days prior to, and 2 days immediately following Independence Day in 2007 and 2008. Fireworks personnel who operate CMVs in conjunction with fireworks shows celebrating Independence Day would be allowed to exclude off-duty and sleeper-berth time of any length in the calculation of the 14 hours. Drivers would not be allowed to drive after accumulating a total of 14 hours of on-duty time, following 10 consecutive hours off duty, and would continue to be subject to the 11- hour driving time limit, and the 60- and 70-hour weekly limits. APA believes the exemption would achieve a level of safety equivalent to what would be provided by compliance with the 14-hour rule as it applies to other drivers of property-carrying vehicles.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 and MD-11F airplanes. This AD requires installing bracket assemblies and jumper wires in the center main wheel well to improve the bonding path between the structure (wall) of the lower auxiliary fuel tank and its internal fuel pumps; measuring the electrical resistance between the fuel pump housings and the fuel tank structure; and doing corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct an inadequate bond between the internal fuel pump housings and the structure of the lower auxiliary fuel tank. This condition, if not corrected, could fail to meet fault current requirements and result in a potential ignition source that, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could cause a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

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:

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) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collections and their expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period was published on February 14, 2007 (72 FR 7114).