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

The FAA proposes to modify the standard grant application requirements that are required of a sponsor of a nonprimary airport before receiving a grant under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). The FAA is providing an opportunity for public comment on proposals to modify the grant application requirements. Sponsors of nonprimary airports are now required to provide a variety of information when submitting an AIP grant application. This modification would require that a sponsor of a nonprimary airport submit a list of the aircraft (fixed wing and rotary wing) that are based on the airport.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200 airplanes. This AD requires inspecting the drive assembly of the aft elevator standby loop of the elevator standby cable system for interference between the clevis and bolt of the bellcrank assembly, correct orientation of the pull-pull cable clevis bolt, and excessive freeplay of the bellcrank assembly bearing, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD also requires modifying the pull-pull cable clevis in the drive assembly of the aft elevator standby loop for certain airplanes. This AD results from a report of an aborted takeoff due to a control column disconnect. We are issuing this AD to prevent binding of the bolt that connects the cable 264A clevis to the bellcrank assembly against the adjacent (upper) clevis of the pull-pull cable assembly. This binding condition could result in slow airplane rotation or a control column disconnect during takeoff and a runway excursion if takeoff must be aborted.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain Bombardier Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. That AD currently requires inspecting all barrel nuts to determine if the barrel nuts have a certain marking, inspecting affected bolts to determine if the bolts are pre-loaded correctly, and replacing all hardware if the pre-load is incorrect. For airplanes on which the pre-load is correct, the existing AD requires doing repetitive visual inspections for cracking of the barrel nuts and cradles and replacing all hardware for all cracked barrel nuts. The existing AD also requires replacing all hardware for certain affected barrel nuts that do not have cracking, which would end the repetitive inspections for those airplanes. The existing AD also provides an optional replacement for all affected barrel nuts. This new AD requires replacing all affected barrel nuts and applying a certain compound to the affected barrel nuts and bolts. This AD results from reports of cracking in the barrel nuts at the four primary front spar wing-to- fuselage attachment joints. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the barrel nuts at the wing front spar wing-to- fuselage joints, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the wing-to-fuselage attachments and consequent detachment of the wing.

Under this Notice, the FRA encourages eligible applicants to submit applications for grants to fund rail line relocation and improvement projects. This Notice of Funds Availability does not apply to the nine (9) projects specifically enumerated in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 (Division K of Pub. L. 110-161 (December 26, 2007)).

FMCSA announces that Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo) has applied for an exemption from the Federal requirement for a driver of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) to hold a commercial driver's license (CDL). Volvo requests that the exemption cover one Swedish field test engineer who will test-drive CMVs for Volvo within the United States. This Volvo employee holds a valid Swedish CDL. Volvo states the exemption is needed to support a Volvo field test to meet future clean air standards, to test-drive Volvo prototype vehicles to verify results in ``real world'' environments, and to deliver the vehicles if necessary in the United States. Volvo believes the knowledge and skills tests and training program that Swedish drivers undergo to obtain a Swedish CDL ensures the exemption would provide a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety obtained by complying with the U.S. requirements for a CDL.

The FAA proposes to rule and invite public comment on the release of land at Seattle Tacoma International Airport under the provisions of Section 125 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21).

FMCSA previously announced its decision to renew Volvo Trucks North America's (Volvo) exemption for eight of its drivers to enable them to test-drive commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in the United States without a commercial driver's license (CDL) issued by one of the States. FMCSA requested comment on the renewal of the exemption, but received no comments.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for GE CF6-80A series turbofan engines with certain stage 1 high- pressure turbine (HPT) rotor disks, installed. This proposed AD would require removal from service of those stage 1 HPT rotor disks within 30 days after the effective date of the AD. This proposed AD results from the FAA learning that those disks are susceptible to cracks developing in the bottoms of the dovetail slots. We are proposing this AD to prevent cracks developing in the bottoms of the dovetail slots that could propagate to a failure of the disk and cause an uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.

This notice announces a meeting of the National Task Force to Develop Model Contingency Plans to Deal with Lengthy Airline On-Board Ground Delays.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) invites comments on its intention to revise forms PHMSA F 7100.2Incident Report For Gas Transmission and Gathering Systems; PHMSA F 7100.1 Incident Report for Gas Distribution Systems; and PHMSA F 7000-1 Accident Report for Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Systems, and its intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for revised information collection burdens.

This document announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 2005-2006 Mercedes Benz SLK class (171 chassis) passenger cars manufactured between August 31, 2004 and August 31, 2006 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 (the U.S.-certified version of the 2005-2006 Mercedes Benz SLK class (171 chassis) passenger cars manufactured between August 31, 2004 and August 31, 2006,) and (2) they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

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, SH-75 Timmerman Junction to Ketchum, Project No. STP-F-2392(035), Key No. 3077, in Blaine County, in the State of Idaho. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

This notice sets forth the reasons for the denial of a petition (Defect Petition DP08-001) submitted by Mr. William Kronholm to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) by letter dated January 10, 2008, under 49 U.S.C. 30162. The Petition requests that the agency commence a proceeding to determine the existence of a defect related to motor vehicle safety within the electronically actuated throttle control system that is allegedly causing sudden and uncontrolled acceleration in model year (MY) 2006 to 2007 Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks (vehicles). After conducting a technical review of the material cited and provided by the petitioner and other information, and taking into account several considerations, including, among others, allocation of agency resources, agency priorities, and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that a defect related to motor vehicle safety exists, NHTSA has concluded that further investigation of the issues raised by the petition is not warranted. The agency accordingly has denied the petition.

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.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace at Kwethluk, AK. Two Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) are being developed for the Kwethluk Airport at Kwethluk, AK. Adoption of this proposal would result in creating Class E airspace upward from 700 feet (ft.) and 1,200 ft. above the surface at the Kwethluk Airport, Kwethluk, AK.

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 extension of currently approved collections. 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 June 5, 2008 (73 FR 32078). The Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis filed a letter strongly supporting the continuation of the T-100 System.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 34 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemption renewals will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Central Broward East-West public transportation improvements in Broward County, Florida, from Sawgrass Mills/Bank Atlantic Center in western Broward County, to the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in eastern Broward County, with the alignment located in the vicinity of Sawgrass Corporate Park, Interstate-595 (I-595), State Road 7 (SR 7), Broward Boulevard and Andrews Avenue. The EIS will be prepared in accordance with regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as well as provisions of the recently enacted Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users. The purpose of this Notice of Intent is to alert interested parties regarding the plan to prepare the EIS, to provide information on the nature of the proposed transit project, to invite participation in the EIS process, including comments on the scope of the EIS proposed in this notice, and to announce that public scoping meetings will be conducted.

This document makes a correction to a proposed airworthiness directive (AD), which was published in the Federal Register on August 7, 2008 (73 FR 45902), and applies to certain Cessna Aircraft Company (type certificate previously held by Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing) (Cessna) Models LC40-550FG, LC41-550FG, and LC42-550FG airplanes. This document proposed to revise AD 2007-07-06 with a new AD that would retain the actions currently required in AD 2007-07-06; allow installing access panels; and change the serial number applicability. The FAA incorrectly referenced the docket number of this proposed AD as ``FAA-2007-27268'' instead of ``FAA-2007-27628.'' This document corrects the docket number.

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.