Department of Transportation July 30, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces final environmental actions taken by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for public transportation projects in the following areas: Houston, Texas, Portland, Oregon, and Orlando, Florida. The purpose of this notice is to announce publicly the environmental decisions by FTA on the subject projects and to activate the limitation on any claims that may challenge these final environmental actions.

This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA and other Federal agencies that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to the I-405, Tukwila to Renton Improvement Project (I-5 to SR 169Phase 2) (The Project) located in Tukwila and Renton; King County; I-405 in the State of Washington. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

FMCSA announces its decision to grant Rotel North American Tours, LLC (Rotel), an exemption to enable 22 drivers with German commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) to operate 11 commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in the U.S. without a CDL issued by one of the States. Rotel conducts tours of the U.S. on a seasonal basis for Europeans. It uses motor coaches that are equipped with onboard sleeping and eating facilities. The drivers, in addition to operating the CMVs, provide oral commentary in German. Rotel previously was able to conduct these operations without exemption because its drivers were able to obtain (and renew) non-resident CDLs from certain States. However, there are currently no States willing to issue non-resident CDLs. Rotel states that it must obtain this exemption or end its specialty tour operations.

This action extends the length of Area Navigation (RNAV) route Q-110 and makes a minor realignment of jet route J-73 in Florida. These modifications support the Florida West Coast Airspace Redesign project. The extension of Q-110 provides an RNAV route for use by aircraft transitioning between Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) and Jacksonville ARTCC airspace. The extension also assists aircraft in circumnavigating military airspace associated with the Avon Park Air Force Range. The realignment of J-73 provides space for the Q-110 extension. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safe and the efficient use of the navigable airspace in the western Florida area.

This notice announces three fact-finding informal airspace meetings to solicit information from airspace users and others concerning a proposal to revise the Class B airspace area at Chicago, IL. The purpose of these meetings is to provide interested parties an opportunity to present views, recommendations, and comments on the proposal. All comments received during these meetings will be considered prior to any revision or issuance of a notice of proposed rulemaking. Times and Dates: The informal airspace meetings will be held on Tuesday, September 23, 2008, from 2 p.m.-7 p.m., Wednesday, September 24, 2008, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., and Thursday, September 25, 2008, from 2 p.m.-7 p.m. Comments must be received on or before October 2, 2008.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for BHTC Model 430 helicopters. 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 aviation authority of Canada, with which we have a bilateral agreement, states in the MCAI: ``It has been determined that the existing rigging procedures for the tail rotor pitch change mechanism have to be changed due to possibility of parts interference.'' The cumulative effect of individual part tolerances resulting in the total assemblage of those parts being out of tolerance could result in the tail rotor yoke striking another part other than the flapping stop (parts interference) cited in the MCAI. Also, the misalignment of the tail rotor counterweight bellcrank may result in higher tail rotor pedal forces and a higher pilot workload after failure of the 1 hydraulic system. Both parts interference and the misaligned counterweight bellcrank create an unsafe condition. This AD require actions that are intended to address these unsafe conditions.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter Deutschland GMBH (Eurocopter) Model MBB-BK 117C-2 helicopters. 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 European Aviation Safety Agency for the Republic of Germany, with which we have a bilateral agreement, states in the MCAI: