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

This notice announces the availability of a Record of Decision by FHWA pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Protection Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321, as amended and the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500- 1508). In addition, this notice announces actions taken by FHWA and other Federal agencies that are final with in the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). These actions relate to a proposed highway project, US-131 in St. Joseph County, Michigan. These actions grant approvals for the project.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 airplanes. That AD currently requires inspecting to determine the part number and serial number of the fuel tank boost pumps and, for airplanes with affected pumps, revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) and the FAA-approved maintenance program. The existing AD also provides for optional terminating action for compliance with the revisions to the AFM and the maintenance program. This new AD requires modifying or replacing the fuel tank boost pumps, which would terminate the AFM limitations and the maintenance program revisions. This AD results from a report that a fuel tank boost pump failed in service, due to a detached screw of the boost pump housing that created a short circuit between the stator and rotor of the boost pump motor and tripped a circuit breaker. We are issuing this AD to prevent electrical arcing in the fuel tank boost pump motor, which, in the presence of a combustible air-fuel mixture in the pump, could result in an explosion and loss of the airplane.

The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) to supersede AD 78-08-09, which applies to certain Allied Ag Cat Productions, Inc. (formerly Grumman-American) (Allied Ag Cat) Models G-164, G-164A, and G-164B airplanes. AD 78-08-09 currently requires repetitively inspecting the interior and the exterior of the main tubular spar of the rudder assembly for corrosion, taking necessary corrective action if corrosion is found, and applying corrosion protection. Since we issued AD 78-08-09, the rudder main tubular spar failed on a later production airplane. Consequently, this AD retains the actions required in AD 78-08-09 and expands the applicability to include all G-164 series airplanes. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct corrosion in the rudder main tubular spar, which could result in failure of the weld to the main spar tube. This failure could lead to loss of directional control.

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:

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:

Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatement of previously approved collections. This document describes one collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

The Surface Transportation Board seeks written public comments on the independent study prepared by Christensen Associates, Inc., entitled, A Study of Competition in the U.S. Freight Railroad Industry and Analysis of Proposals That Might Enhance Competition.

This action changes the controlling agency of R-6901A and R- 6901B, Fort McCoy, WI, from ``FAA Chicago ARTCC'' to ``FAA, Minneapolis ARTCC.'' This action also changes the controlling agency of R-6903, Sheboygan, WI, from ``FAA, Chicago ARTCC'' to ``FAA, Minneapolis ARTCC.'' The FAA is taking this action in response to a request from Minneapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) to reflect an administrative change of controlling agency responsibility for the restricted areas. There are no changes to the boundaries; designated altitudes; time of designation; or activities conducted within the affected restricted area.

The Board will hold a meeting on Tuesday, November 18, 2008, to receive a briefing from and discuss with the Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) staff the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) being prepared in STB Finance Docket No. 35087. The meeting will be open for public observation but not public participation.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) Models 182Q and 182R airplanes that are equipped with Societ[eacute] de Motorisations A[eacute]ronautiques (SMA) Aircraft Diesel Engine (ADE) Model SR305- 230-1 or Model SR305-230 converted to Model SR305-230-1 installed under Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA03302AT. This proposed AD would require you to remove the intercooler and the intercooler inlet and outlet hoses, install a reworked intercooler and new intercooler inlet and outlet hoses, inspect hoses and clamp torques, and repetitively inspect installation of the intercooler outlet and inlet hose assemblies for any displacement or damage of clamps or hoses, and, if necessary, replace any damaged clamps or hoses. This proposed AD results from a report of two instances of induction hose disconnection occurring while in service, resulting in a loss of turbo boost and a significant loss of engine power. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct improper intercooler outlet and intercooler inlet hose assembly installations, which could result in loss of turbo boost and a significant loss of engine power. This failure could lead to an inability to maintain constant altitude in flight.

This notice announces the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) National Transit Database (NTD) policy on natural disaster adjustments for data used in urbanized area apportionments. On August 14, 2008, FTA proposed a new policy allowing transit systems suffering a marked decrease in transit service data due to a natural disaster to use their transit service data from a prior year in the urbanized area apportionments. FTA received three comments on this policy change and is now formally adopting the new policy.

NHTSA is amending Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, ``Occupant crash protection,'' to update many of the child restraint systems (CRSs) listed in Appendix A of the standard. The CRSs in Appendix A are used by NHTSA to test advanced air bag suppression or low risk deployment systems, to ensure that the air bag systems pose no reasonable safety risk to infants and small children in the real world. The amendments replace the CRSs listed in Appendix A with CRSs that are more available and more representative of the CRS fleet currently on the market.

The Federal Transit Administration invites public comment about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval to renew the following information collection: 49 U.S.C. section 5316Job Access and Reverse Commute Program. The information to be collected for this program is used to determine eligibility for funding and to monitor the grantees' progress in implementing and completing project activities. The information submitted ensures FTA's compliance with applicable federal laws and OMB Circular A-102. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments was published on September 12, 2008.

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:

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 727 airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections for any crack in the area of the elevator side fitting/hinge fitting joint and for any crack or elongation inside and outside of the holes in the clevis and in the lug, corrective actions if necessary, and other specified actions. This AD results from reports of elongated holes and cracks found in the lugs of the attachment fittings of the elevator quadrant upper support assembly at the tip of the vertical fin. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct damage to the aft attachment lugs of the elevator quadrant support assembly that could lead to failure of the lugs. This condition could accelerate wear elsewhere in the elevator control system, which could reduce the crew's ability to maintain safe flight.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 767-200 and -300 series airplanes. This AD requires replacing the wire segments of the four Fuel Quantity Indicating System (FQIS) wire bundles with new, improved wire segments. This AD results from operator inspections of the FQIS wire bundles that revealed corrosion at the connections between the ground wire and shield of each of the four FQIS wire bundles. We are issuing this AD to prevent this corrosion, which could reduce system protection of the lightning shield and result in loss of the electrical grounding between the lightning shield and the airplane structure. This condition, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that the Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Interstate 5 (I-5) High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) and Truck Lanes project in the City of Santa Clarita and the County of Los Angeles (Federal Register Vol. 72, No. 90; FR Doc. E7-8937), California will be withdrawn, and an Environmental Assessment (EA) in lieu of an EIS is being prepared for this proposed highway project.

This notice lists the location and time of the sixteenth meeting of the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission.

This action revises Class E airspace at Ruby, AK to provide adequate controlled airspace to contain aircraft executing Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs). One SIAP is being amended for the Ruby Airport. This action revises existing Class E airspace upward from 700 feet (ft.) and 1,200 ft. above the surface at Ruby Airport, Ruby, AK.

The FAA is correcting a final rule published in the October 10, 2008, Federal Register. The final rule addressed congestion in the New York City area by assigning slots at John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Newark Liberty (Newark) International Airports in a way that allows carriers to respond to market forces to drive efficient airline behavior. The original rule incorrectly identified the date by which limited slots will revert to the FAA for auction. This rule corrects the date.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing transport category airplanes. This AD requires replacing any insulation blanket constructed of polyethyleneteraphthalate (PET) film, ORCON Orcofilm[reg] AN-26 (hereafter ``AN-26''), with a new insulation blanket. This AD results from reports of in-flight and ground fires on certain airplanes manufactured with insulation blankets covered with AN-26, which may contribute to the spread of a fire when ignition occurs from sources such as electrical arcing or sparking. We are issuing this AD to ensure that insulation blankets constructed of AN-26 are removed from the fuselage. Such insulation blankets could ignite and propagate a fire that is the result of electrical arcing or sparking.

These special conditions are issued for AmSafe Aviation to amend the list of approved models. These airplanes, as modified by AmSafe Aviation, will have novel and unusual design features associated with the lap belt or shoulder harness portion of the safety belt, which contains an integrated airbag device. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate and appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the airworthiness standards.

The FHWA has forwarded the information collection request described in this notice to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval of a new information collection. We published a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day public comment period on this information collection on August 4, 2008. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.