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

PHMSA's Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) is requesting each operator of a rural low-stress hazardous liquid pipeline to complete a voluntary survey to gather information concerning the mileage and characteristics of these pipelines to assess the costs of subjecting rural low-stress pipeline mileage to the pipeline safety standards and regulations pursuant to the PIPES Act. The purpose of this notice is to request all operators of LSPs to complete the voluntary survey, including operators of low-stress pipelines that will not be subject to the pipeline safety standards and regulations until Phase II of the rulemaking proceeding.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for RRD Dart 528, 529, 532, 535, 542, and 552 Series turboprop engines. That AD currently requires a dimensional inspection of the intermediate pressure turbine (IPT) disk or an ultrasonic inspection of the seal arm contact between the high pressure turbine (HPT) and the IPT disk seal arm and reworking or replacing the IPT disk if worn beyond acceptable limits. This AD continues to require those actions. This AD results from us including an incorrect engine model and omitting an engine model from the applicability of the existing AD. We are issuing this AD to prevent HPT disk failure, which can result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.

PHMSA proposes to amend the Hazardous Materials Regulations to maintain alignment with international standards by incorporating various amendments, including changes to proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, special provisions, packaging authorizations, air transport quantity limitations, and vessel stowage requirements. These revisions are necessary to harmonize the Hazardous Materials Regulations with recent changes to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, the International Civil Aviation Organization's Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air, and the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. The proposals include amendments and clarifications addressing the safe transportation of batteries and battery-powered devices. Consistent with recent changes to the International Civil Aviation Organization's Technical Instructions, PHMSA is proposing to clarify the prohibition against transporting electrical devices, including batteries and battery-powered devices that are likely to create sparks or generate a dangerous amount of heat. PHMSA also is proposing to modify and enhance requirements for the packaging and handling of batteries and battery-powered devices, particularly in air commerce, to emphasize the safety precautions that are necessary to prevent incidents during transportation. PHMSA developed these proposals in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration in order to enhance the safe transportation of batteries and battery-powered devices.

The Department of Transportation is directing all interested persons to show cause why it should not issue an order finding Priester Aviation, LLC, fit, willing, and able, and awarding it certificates of public convenience and necessity to engage in interstate and foreign charter air transportation of persons, property and mail.

This notice advises the public that FMCSA is placing in the public docket four additional documents concerning hours of service (HOS) for commercial motor vehicle drivers. FMCSA published an interim final rule (IFR) on this issue on December 17, 2007. The Agency now dockets the supplemental documents.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Park Service (NPS), in accordance with the National Parks Air Tour Management Act of 2000, announce the next meeting of the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG) Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC). This notification provides the dates, location, and agenda for the meeting. Dates and Location: The NPOAG ARC will meet on September 3-4, 2008. The meeting will take place at the Red Lion Hotel, Port Angeles, WA. The hotel is located at 221 North Lincoln Street, Port Angeles, WA 98362. The hotel phone number is (360) 452-9215. The meetings will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on September 3 and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on September 4th. This NPOAG meeting will be conducted in closed session and is not open to the public.

This action proposes to amend the Norton Sound Low, Woody Island Low, Control 1234L, and Control 1487L Offshore Airspace Areas in Alaska. This action would modify these areas by lowering the airspace floors to provide additional controlled airspace for aircraft instrument flight rule (IFR) operations at Alaska airports.

Notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee (RETAC), pursuant to section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C., App. 2).

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Hawker Beechcraft Corporation Model 390 airplanes. This AD requires you to repetitively do a post-flight check (owner/operator holding at least a private pilot certificate checking for residual heat in the angle-of- attack (AOA) probes or an appropriately-rated mechanic doing a maintenance manual operational test of the heat of the AOA probes) after every flight and replace or modify (upload software) the stall warning AOA transmitters. This AD results from reports of the potential for unannunciated loss of the heating function in the left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) stall warning AOA transmitters of Model 390 airplanes. We are issuing this AD to correct potentially inadequate stall warning with loss of stick pusher function.

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) Model 369A, OH-6A, 369D, 369E, 369F, 369FF, 369H, 369HE, 369HM, and 369HS helicopters that requires repetitive tap inspections of each tail rotor (T/R) blade abrasion strip. This amendment is prompted by an incident in which an abrasion strip separated from a T/R blade. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent disbonding and subsequent separation of an abrasion strip from a T/R blade, which could result in vibration, loss of the T/ R, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

The Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center (MMAC) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces a public meeting to obtain public comment on the MMAC Site Environmental Assessment for the Facilities Master Plan. The environmental assessment has been prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (40 CFR parts 1500-1508) and FAA Order 1050.1E, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures. The environmental assessment document can be reviewed at: https://employees.faa.gov/org/centers/mmac/employeeservices/a mp/env/. The public meeting will be conducted on Monday, July 28, 2008 at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center (6500 S. MacArthur Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73169) at 1:30 p.m. in Building 230.

This document makes a correction to a proposed airworthiness directive (AD), which was published in the Federal Register on July 3, 2008 (73 FR 38160), and applies to certain Stemme GmbH & Co. KG (Stemme) Model S10-VT powered sailplanes. This document proposed to require replacement of the single ear clamps in the fuel system with improved design parts. The FAA incorrectly referenced the docket number of this proposed AD as ``FAA-2008-0685'' instead of ``FAA-2008-0788.'' This document corrects the docket number.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) Models 175 and 175A airplanes. This AD requires you to check the airplane logbook to determine if the original engine mounting brackets have been replaced. If the original engine mounting brackets are still installed, this AD requires you to repetitively inspect those brackets for cracks and replace any cracked engine mounting bracket. After replacing all four original engine mounting brackets, no further action will be required by this AD. This AD was prompted by a report that the engine became detached from the firewall during landing on one of the affected airplanes. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the engine mounting brackets, which could result in failure of the engine mounting bracket. This failure could lead to the engine detaching from the firewall.

This document proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) model helicopters that would require, within 30 days, reducing the current gross weight limit to a maximum gross weight limit of 5,400 pounds and inserting a copy of this AD into the Limitations section of the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) or making certain optional modifications that constitute terminating actions. This proposal is prompted by flight tests that show that the information currently listed in the Limitations section of the RFM is inconsistent with the actual performance of the helicopter. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent loss of directional control of the helicopter.

This notice announces the availability of three new consensus standards and a revision to a previously accepted consensus standard relating to the provisions of the Sport Pilot and Light-Sport Aircraft rule issued July 16, 2004, and effective September 1, 2004. ASTM International Committee F37 on Light Sport Aircraft developed the new and revised standards with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) participation. By this notice, the FAA finds the new and revised standards acceptable for certification of the specified aircraft under the provisions of the Sport Pilot and Light-Sport Aircraft rule.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain McDonnell Douglas transport category airplanes. The existing AD currently requires modification of the installation wiring for the electric motor-operated auxiliary hydraulic pumps in the right wheel well area of the main landing gear; repetitive inspections of the numbers 1 and 2 electric motors of the auxiliary hydraulic pumps for electrical resistance, continuity, mechanical rotation, and associated airplane wiring resistance/voltage; and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD would, for certain airplanes, also require modifying and rerouting, as applicable, certain components of the wiring of the electric motor for the auxiliary hydraulic pump located in the right wheel well. This proposed AD results from reports of failure of the electric motor for the auxiliary hydraulic pump. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the electric motors of the hydraulic pump and associated wiring, which could result in fire at the auxiliary hydraulic pump and consequent damage to the adjacent electrical equipment and/or structure.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt fifty-six individuals from its rule prohibiting persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) from operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. The exemptions will enable these individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

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 a proposed highway project, which consists of the reconstruction of New York State (NYS) Route 17 from Elmira to Chemung in Chemung County, New York. This project will convert a section of NYS Route 17 from a partial control access expressway having at-grade intersections to a full control of access freeway. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

The FAA proposes to rule and invites public comment on the release of land at the Liberal Mid-America Regional Airport under the provisions of Section 125 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21).

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.