Department of Transportation 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FAA is proposing to amend Advisory Circular 150/5200-30, Airport Winter Safety and Operations, to establish new operational criteria for the closure of runways (paragraph 5-5) due to inclement weather during the winter season. The proposed operational criteria specify those events associated with winter contaminated runways that trigger airport operators to implement runway closure procedures. A subsequent requirement associated with the implementation of such closures is the timely notification of airport users and the public by issuance of a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). To ensure that the intent of this safety initiative is attained, the airport's Snow and Ice Control Plan, required per 14 CFR Part 139, Certification of Airports, should contain a formal memorandum-of-understanding between the airport traffic control tower and the airport operator that covers at a minimum (1) that the airport traffic control tower will transmit timely needed information to the airport operator, such as, all pilot braking action reports of ``POOR'' and ``NIL'' and (2) procedures that the airport traffic control tower will follow upon the airport operator's decision to close a runway. The draft advisory circular is available for downloading at https://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/airports/ resources/draft_advisory_circulars/

As authorized by 46 U.S.C. 12121, the Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirement of the coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below. The complete application is given in DOT docket MARAD-2008-0078 at https://www.regulations.gov. Interested parties may comment on the effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. If MARAD determines, in accordance with 46 U.S.C. 12121 and MARAD's regulations at 46 CFR part 388 (68 FR 23084; April 30, 2003), that the issuance of the waiver will have an unduly adverse effect on a U.S.-vessel builder or a business that uses U.S.-flag vessels in that business, a waiver will not be granted. Comments should refer to the docket number of this notice and the vessel name in order for MARAD to properly consider the comments. Comments should also state the commenter's interest in the waiver application, and address the waiver criteria given in Sec. 388.4 of MARAD's regulations at 46 CFR part 388.

The Maritime Administration announces that the Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council (MTSNAC) will hold a meeting to review and approve an updated and revised Intermodal Report, finalize an expanded Marine Transportation System outreach and education program to addresses the economic benefits that our ports and the Marine Transportation System contribute to the nation, and discuss other issues of importance to the Marine Transportation System. A public comment period is scheduled for 11:15 a.m.-11:45 p.m. on Wednesday, September 17, 2008. To provide time for as many people to speak as possible, speaking time for each individual will be limited to three minutes. Members of the public who would like to speak are asked to contact Richard J. Lolich by September 10, 2008. Commenter's will be placed on the agenda in the order in which notifications are received. If time allows, additional comments will be permitted. Copies of oral comments must be submitted in writing at the meeting. Additional written comments are welcome and must be filed by September 27, 2008.

This notice contains a summary of certain petitions 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 any petition or its final disposition.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) revision of a current information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on May 15, 2008, vol. 73, no. 95, page 28183. Respondents conducting general operation and flight of aircraft or any activity that could encroach on airspace must apply for approval.

The FAA is publishing notice of proposed release of 0.239 acres of land (a portion of parcel 165 as identified on the Exhibit ``A'' Property Map) at the Baltimore-Washington International Airport, Baltimore, Maryland, to the Maryland State Highway Administration (MSHA) for the improvement of Corporate Center Drive. There are no impacts to the Airport and the land is not needed for airport development as shown on the Airport Layout Plan. The parcel was acquired with local funding only based on the Noise Compatibility Plan (NCP) developed under the PART 150 Update.

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

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 are revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800 and -900 series airplanes. The original NPRM would have required a one-time general visual inspection of frames between body station (BS) 360 and BS 907 to determine if certain support brackets of the air conditioning (A/C) outlet extrusions are installed; medium- and high-frequency eddy current inspections for cracking of the frames around the attachment holes of the subject brackets; and repair if necessary. The original NPRM would also have required installing new, improved fittings for all support brackets of the A/C outlet extrusions between BS 360 and BS 907. The original NPRM resulted from numerous reports of multiple cracks in the frames around the attachment holes of certain support brackets of the A/C outlet extrusions. This action revises the original NPRM by adding an airplane to the applicability and reducing the compliance time for certain airplanes. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM to prevent frame cracking, which, if not corrected, could lead to a severed frame that, combined with cracking of the skin lap splice above stringer 10, could result in rapid decompression of the airplane.

The FAA is amending type certification standards for aircraft engine control systems. These changes reflect current industry practices and harmonize FAA standards with those recently adopted by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). These changes establish uniform standards for all engine control systems for aircraft engines certificated by both U.S. and European countries and will simplify airworthiness approvals for import and export.

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. This notification revises Federal Register notice published on July 30, 2008 (Vol. 73, No. 147, Page 44311) to indicate a change in the meeting location and time of meetings. Dates and Location: The NPOAG ARC will meet on September 3-4, 2008. The meeting will now take place in a commercial office building at 826 East Front Street, Port Angeles, WA, leased by the NIPS. The office phone number at this facility is (360)-565-1320. The meetings will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on September 3 and from 8 a.m to 3 p.m. on September 4th. This NPOAG meeting will be conducted in closed session and is not open to the public.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 216: Aeronautical Systems Security.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued 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:

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain EMBRAER Model EMB-135 airplanes and Model EMB-145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes. That AD currently requires replacing the metallic tubes enclosing the vent and pilot valve wires in the left- and right-hand wing fuel tanks with non-conductive hoses. This new AD adds airplanes to the applicability of the existing AD. This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent an ignition source inside the fuel tank that could ignite fuel vapor and cause a fuel tank explosion and loss of the airplane.

FMCSA previously announced its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 25 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has reviewed the comments submitted in response to the previous announcement and concluded that granting these exemptions will provide a level of safety that will be equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 19 individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). The exemptions will enable these individuals to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce without meeting the prescribed vision standard. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemptions will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these CMV drivers.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 16 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.

This final rule amends 49 CFR part 544, Insurer Reporting Requirements. This Part specifies the requirements for annual insurer reports and lists in appendices those passenger motor vehicle insurers that are required to file reports on their motor vehicle theft loss experiences. An insurer included in any of these appendices must file three copies of its report for the 2005 calendar year before October 25, 2008. If the passenger motor vehicle insurers remain listed, they must submit reports by each subsequent October 25.

The FAA is amending its proposal to prohibit the filtering of some original flight recorder sensor signals. Comments to the NPRM published in November 2006 and changes in available technology have caused us to reexamine our position on data filtering. We are now proposing that certain critical data parameters may be filtered if a certificate holder can show that the data can be accurately reconstructed. This proposed rule would improve the integrity and quality of the data recorded on digital flight data recorders while giving aircraft designers and operators more flexibility in system design and operation where allowable, including an option to filter data.