Department of Transportation February 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document increases the maximum civil penalties for violations of the odometer tampering and disclosure requirements and certain administrative provisions of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. This action is taken pursuant to the Federal Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, which requires us to review and, as warranted, adjust penalties based on inflation at least every four years.

On August 4, 2006, the Arizona Eastern Railway (AZER) filed a petition with the Surface Transportation Board (Board) seeking an exemption under 49 United States Code (U.S.C.) 10502 from prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10901 for authority to construct and operate 12 miles of new rail line in Graham County, Arizona (AZ). The Board, through its Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) and in cooperation with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), is the lead agency responsible for the preparation of the Environmental Assessment (EA). The Proposed Action is the construction and operation of a new rail line to connect the Phelps Dodge Dos Pobres Mine (Mine) with the existing 133.5-mile AZER line that operates between Miami, AZ and Bowie, AZ. The proposed rail line would begin near Safford, AZ, at AZER milepost 1133.5, known as the ``Lone Star Junction'' and proceed northerly for 12.1 miles, terminating at the Mine. The proposed rail line would cross agricultural and undeveloped lands, the Gila River, and then would turn in a northeast direction toward the Safford Municipal Airport. The proposed rail line would cross U.S. Highway 70 west of the San Simon River and would also cross Solomon Road, Airport Road, Lone Star Mountain Road, San Juan Road, and Phelps Dodge Road. The crossing at U.S. Highway 70 would consist of a signalized at-grade crossing, including warning lights and automated gates. The other roadway crossings, where traffic volumes are generally low, would consist of signed at-grade crossings with warning lights. The proposed rail line would accommodate one round trip per day, seven days per week, each day of the year. Each trip would consist of 20 to 25 railcars. Principal commodities to be handled include sulfuric acid, copper, and copper-related products. Based on the information provided from all sources to date and its independent analysis, SEA preliminarily concludes that construction and operation of the proposed rail line would not have significant environmental impacts if the Board imposes and AZER implements the recommended mitigation measures set forth in the EA. Copies of the EA have been served on all interested parties and will be made available to additional parties upon request. The entire EA is also available for review on the Board's Web site (https:// www.stb.dot.gov) by clicking on the ``Decisions and Notices'' link, then ``E-LIBRARY'' and searching by the Service Date (February 25, 2008) or Docket Number (FD 34836). SEA, working with FRA, will consider all comments received when making its final recommendations to the Board. The Board will then consider SEA's final recommendations and the complete environmental record in making its final decision in this proceeding.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for General Electric Company (GE) CF6-80C2 and CF6-80E1 series turbofan engines. This proposed AD would require replacement of all clevis pins installed on the thrust reverser central drive units and upper and lower actuators, or replacement of pins that fail an on-wing rebound hardness test. This proposed AD results from failure of a thrust reverser during landing due to unapproved clevis pins being installed. The failure was due to lack of clevis pin hardness. We are proposing this AD to prevent thrust reverser failure, which could lead to damage to the thrust reverser and airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above that would supersede an existing AD. 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 Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) of Canada, under international agreement, jointly publish and presently administer the St. Lawrence Seaway Regulations and Rules (Practices and Procedures in Canada) in their respective jurisdictions. Under agreement with the SLSMC, the SLSDC is amending the joint regulations by updating the Regulations and Rules in various categories. The changes will update the following sections of the Regulations and Rules: Condition of Vessels; Seaway Navigation; and, Information and Reports. The SLSDC is seeking to harmonize the ballast water requirements for vessels transiting the U.S. waters of the Seaway after having operated outside the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) with those currently required by Canadian authorities for transit in waters under Canadian jurisdiction of the Seaway. These amendments are necessary to take account of updated procedures and will eliminate the confusion regarding the requirements for saltwater flushing in the binational waters of the Seaway System.

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.

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.

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 November 29, 2007. No comments were received.

This document announces the scheduling of a teleconference by the National Safe Routes to School Task Force to the Secretary of Transportation. 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). During this teleconference, the Task Force will discuss their draft report to the Secretary.

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

This notice announces that Federal actions taken by the California Department of Transportation (Department) pursuant to its assigned responsibilities under 23 U.S.C. 327, as well as actions by other Federal agencies, are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139 (l)(1). The actions relate to a proposed Interstate 80 Across the Top Bus/Carpool Lanes Project (Post Miles 0.3 to 10.4), from west of West El Camino Avenue to Watt Avenue in Sacramento County, State of California. This action grants approval for the project.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 707 airplanes, and Model 720 and 720B series airplanes. This AD requires revising the FAA-approved maintenance program by incorporating new airworthiness limitations (AWLs) for fuel tank systems to satisfy Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 88 requirements. This AD also requires the initial performance of certain repetitive AWL inspections to phase in those inspections, and repair if necessary. This AD results from a design review of the fuel tank systems. We are issuing this AD to prevent the potential for ignition sources inside fuel tanks caused by latent failures, alterations, repairs, or maintenance actions, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) to supersede AD 2007-16-14, which applies to all Taylorcraft (Taylorcraft) A, B, and F series airplanes. AD 2007-16-14 currently requires you to do an initial visual inspection of the left and right wing front and aft lift struts for cracks and corrosion and replace any cracked strut or strut with corrosion that exceeds certain limits. If the strut is replaced with an original design vented strut, AD 2007-16-14 requires you to repetitively inspect those struts thereafter. Since we issued AD 2007-16-14, we determined that the eddy current inspection method does not address the unsafe condition for the long term. We also determined that Models FA-III and TG-6 airplanes are not equipped with the affected struts. Consequently, this AD retains the actions required in AD 2007-16-14, except it removes the eddy current inspection method (provides 24-month credit if already done using this method), adds the radiograph method as an inspection method, changes the Applicability section, and changes the compliance time between the repetitive inspections. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks and corrosion in the left and right wing front and aft lift struts. This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of the lift strut and lead to in-flight separation of the wing.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 727 airplanes. This AD requires revising the FAA-approved maintenance program by incorporating new airworthiness limitations (AWLs) for fuel tank systems to satisfy Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 88 requirements. This AD also requires the initial inspection of a certain repetitive AWL inspection to phase in that inspection, and repair if necessary. This AD results from a design review of the fuel tank systems. We are issuing this AD to prevent the potential for ignition sources inside fuel tanks caused by latent failures, alterations, repairs, or maintenance actions, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 707 airplanes and Model 720 and 720B series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections for any cracking of or damage to the left side and right side flight deck No. 2, No. 4, and No. 5 windows, as necessary, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from reports of in-flight departure and separation of the flight deck windows. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking in the vinyl interlayer or damage to the structural inner glass panes of the flight deck No. 2, No. 4, and No. 5 windows, which could result in loss of a window and rapid loss of cabin pressure. Loss of cabin pressure could cause crew communication difficulties or crew incapacitation.

This notice proposes to change aircraft engine fire protection certification standards to upgrade and harmonize them with European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) requirements. The proposed changes, if adopted, would provide nearly uniform fire protection certification standards for engines certificated in the United States under 14 CFR part 33 and in European countries under EASA Certification Specifications for Engines (CS-E), and would simplify international type certification.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an Environmental Assessment will be prepared for a proposed interchange project in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT).

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:

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:

This action establishes Class E airspace at La Pointe, WI. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate aircraft using new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs). The FAA proposes this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft operations at La Pointe, WI, Madeline Island Airport.

This action corrects a direct final rule published in the Federal Register January 22, 2008 (73 FR 3625), Airspace Docket No. 08- ASW-3, FAA Docket No. FAA-2008-027. In that rule, an error was made in the geographic coordinates of the legal description for Maverick County Memorial International. This action also deletes that portion of the legal description referencing Notice to Airmen effective date and times.

This action establishes Class E Airspace at Dover-Foxcroft, ME to support a new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Special Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP) that has been developed for medical flight operations into the Mayo Regional Hospital. This action enhances the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations by providing that required controlled airspace to protect for this approach around Dover-Foxcroft, ME.

This action corrects an error in the geographic coordinates of a final rule published in the Federal Register October 30, 2007, that established additional controlled airspace at Williamsport-Lycoming County Airport (72 FR 61297), Airspace Docket No. FAA-2005-22491.

This action modifies Class E Airspace at Bradford, PA. The existing controlled airspace from nearby Bradford Regional 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 for the University of Pittsburgh. This action will enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations by providing the required controlled airspace to support this approach at Bradford, PA.

This action establishes Class E Airspace at Bridgton, ME to support a new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Special Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP) that has been developed for medical fight operations into the Bridgton Hospital. This action enhances the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations by providing that required controlled airspace to protect for this approach around Bridgton, ME.