Department of Transportation 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action proposes to revise Class D and E airspace at King Salmon, AK. Nine Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs), and a textual Obstacle Departure Procedure (ODP) are being amended for the King Salmon Airport at King Salmon, AK. Adoption of this proposal would result in revision of Class D and E airspace upward from the surface, and from 700 feet (ft.) and 1,200 ft. above the surface at the King Salmon Airport, King Salmon, AK.

FMCSA previously announced its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 15 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.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA announces its plan to submit the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for its review and approval and invites public comment on this submission. The information collection concerns records of inspection, repair, and maintenance of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). The FMCSA requests approval to revise and renew an ICR entitled, ``Inspection, Repair and Maintenance.'' FMCSA collects this information to ensure that motor carriers have adequate documentation of their systematic inspection, repair, and maintenance programs necessary to reduce the likelihood of CMV crashes.

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-2008-0108 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.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The nature of the information collection is described as well as its expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on September 2, 2008. No comments were received.

On October 16, 2008, the final rule in this proceeding providing regulatory relief for implementation and use of electronically controlled pneumatic brake systems was published with an effective date of December 15, 2008. See 73 FR 61512. See 73 FR 61512. To comply with the Congressional Review Act, the effective date of the final rule is being delayed to January 12, 2009.

NHTSA will hold a public meeting regarding its Initial Decision that model year (MY) 2007 and certain MY 2008 BMW Mini Cooper S vehicles (subject vehicles) contain a defect related to motor vehicle safety in the vehicle's exhaust pipe tips.

This document proposes amendments to certain provisions of the early warning reporting (EWR) rule published pursuant to the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation (TREAD) Act, responds to a petition for rulemaking, and proposes amendments to information identifying products involved in a recall under 49 CFR part 573 Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports. This document proposes to modify the threshold for submitting quarterly EWR reports for light vehicle, bus, and trailer manufacturers. It further proposes to require manufacturers to submit product names that are consistent from reporting quarter to quarter or advise NHTSA of changes; to add a requirement that light vehicle manufacturers specify the vehicle type and the fuel or propulsion system type of each model in their quarterly EWR submissions; to add a new component category for light vehicle manufacturers; and to correct the definition of ``other safety campaign.'' It also proposes to amend part 573 Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports to add a requirement that tire manufacturers provide tire identification numbers of recalled tires and manufacturers provide the country of origin of a component involved in a recall.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive detailed and high frequency eddy current inspections to detect cracks of the backup intercostals and the upper sill of the forward airstair doorway, and applicable corrective actions. This proposed AD would also provide for an optional terminating action, which would eliminate the need for repetitive inspections. This proposed AD results from a report indicating that cracks were found in the backup intercostals and upper sill web of the forward airstair doorway. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the backup intercostals and upper sill web of the forward airstair doorway, which could result in a rapid loss of cabin pressure.

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

This notice announces the availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Section 4(f) Evaluation for the Detroit River International Crossing Study (DRIC). This action is pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., as amended and the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508). The FEIS identifies the Preferred Alternative for a new border crossing between Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario; describes the environmental impacts of the proposed project and proposed mitigation; and addresses comments received on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Section 4(f) Evaluation issued in February 2008.

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.

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 minimum performance standard (MPS) for Personnel Parachute Assemblies and Components contained in Appendix 1 of technical standard order (TSO)-C23e is substantially different from the version submitted for public comment. As such, this notice announces the cancellation of TSO-C23e.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above that would supersede an existing AD. 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:

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a current information collection. Certain organizations may apply to perform certification functions on behalf of the FAA. The data from this report is used to target those leading outsource maintenance providers that may have a higher risk level which in turn would merit an increase of FAA surveillance.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is considering a proposal to change a portion of the airport from aeronautical use to non-aeronautical use and to authorize the sale of certain airport property. The sale will include a perpetual navigational easement, precluding the building of any structures. The area is a 28.665-acre parcel of vacant land located east of the airport. The land was acquired via warranty deed dated November 18, 1987, recorded November 23, 1987, in Randolph County, Book No. 246, Page No. 490-491. There are no impacts to the airport by allowing the airport to sell the property. The land is not needed for aeronautical use. Approval does not constitute a commitment by the FAA to financially assist in the disposal of the subject airport property nor a determination of eligibility for grant-in aid funding from the FAA. The disposition of the proceeds from the sale of the airport property will be in accordance with FAA's Policy and Procedures Concerning the Use of Airport Revenue, published in the Federal Register on February 16, 1999. In accordance with Section 47107(h) of Title 49, United States Code, this notice is required to be published in the Federal Register 30 days before modifying the land-use assurance that requires the property to be used for an aeronautical purpose.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9-10, DC-9-20, DC-9-30, DC-9-40, and DC-9-50 series airplanes, equipped with tail cone evacuation slide containers as specified above. This AD requires modifying the tail cone slide. This AD also requires additional tail cone drops and slide deployments, and repair if necessary. This AD results from several reports of inadvertent tail cone deployments in which the tail cone slide failed to deploy. We are issuing this AD to ensure that the tail cone evacuation slide deploys correctly. Failure of the slide to deploy during an emergency evacuation could result in injury to flightcrew and passengers.

This notice revises mathematical calculations of the total annual burden hours for OMB Control No. 2137-0022, indicated under the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of the Docket No. PHMSA-2008-0018 (Notice 08-1) Information Collection Activities Under OMB Review; 2008 Renewals, published in the Federal Register on February 13, 2008 (73 FR 8400). 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 will be forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comments. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and the expected burden.

We are adopting a new 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:

FMCSA announces a public meeting of the Agency's MRB. The MRB public meeting will provide the public an opportunity to observe and participate in MRB deliberations about FMCSA's medical standards, in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

In response to a petition filed by Indiana Rail Road Company (INRD) on October 7, 2008, the Board is instituting a declaratory order proceeding under 49 U.S.C. 721 and 5 U.S.C. 554(e). The Board seeks to determine whether a track INRD proposes to construct from its east-west main line at Dugger, IN, to a new coal operation south of that main line will be a spur track exempt from Board approval under 49 U.S.C. 10906 or a line of railroad subject to the Board's jurisdiction and requiring Board approval under 49 U.S.C. 10901. The Board seeks public comment on this matter.

This document supersedes AD 2008-18-52 and publishes in the Federal Register an amendment adopting Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-22-53 which was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) Model MD900 helicopters by individual letters. This AD requires turning ON both Vertical Stabilizer Control System (VSCS) switches and turning OFF the autopilot (AP/SAS) switch; pulling certain AP/SAS circuit breakers; installing a placard near the AP/SAS master switch; installing an airspeed limitation placard on the instrument panel; and making changes to the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM). This AD is prompted by 4 occurrences in which the left VSCS adapter tubes failed on the MD900 helicopters and the vertical stabilizer became uncontrollable, resulting in reduced yaw control of the helicopter. There were no injuries, but in one occurrence, due to the high speed quick yaw, the helicopter lost a window and a door. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent loss of yaw control and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

The FAA publishes a monthly notice, as appropriate, of PFC approvals and disapprovals under the provisions of the Aviation Safety and Capacity Expansion Act of 1990 (Title IX of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990) (Pub. L. 101-508) and Part 158 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 158). This notice is published pursuant to paragraph d of Sec. 158.29.