Department of Transportation March 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 concerning vehicle safety features for consumer information purposes (OMB Control number 2127-0629).

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Fokker Model F.28 Mark 0100 airplanes. The existing AD currently requires revisions to the airplane flight manual (AFM) to include procedures to prohibit use of reverse engine thrust power settings between idle and emergency maximum and to prohibit stabilized engine operation in a certain engine speed range on the ground. This proposed AD would continue to require revising the AFM to include certain procedures. This proposed AD would also require removing the normal maximum (second) detent for the reverse-thrust control. In addition, this proposed AD would require revising the AFM to prohibit use of reverse thrust in flight and to limit operation of Max Reverse thrust. This proposed AD results from issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. We are proposing this AD to prevent inadvertent operation in the prohibited stabilized engine speed range on the ground, which could result in uncontained engine fan blade failure due to high cycle fatigue cracking.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed highway project in Manatee and Hillsborough Counties, Florida.

This notice announces the bi-annual meeting of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aeronautical Charting Forum (ACF) to discuss informational content and design of aeronautical charts and related products, as well as instrument flight procedures development policy and design criteria.

This notice announces the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) policy on the reporting of coordinated human services transportation data to the National Transit Database (NTD). On August 12, 2008, FTA proposed a new policy clarifying how transit providers reporting to the NTD may include sponsored trips in their reports. FTA received two comments on the proposed policy and is now formally adopting the new policy.

This document proposes to extend by 18 months a requirement that trailers with antilock brake systems be equipped with an external antilock malfunction indicator lamp. It also considers making the requirement permanent. The indicator lamp requirement, which is included in the Federal motor vehicle safety standard that governs vehicles equipped with air brakes, was originally scheduled to sunset on March 1, 2009, but has been extended to September 1, 2009 in an interim final rule published in today's Federal Register. Under our proposal, the sunset date would be extended until March 1, 2011. This rulemaking is in response to a petition from the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), which has asked that this requirement be made permanent. Extending the sunset date for an additional 18 months would enable the agency to fully analyze CVSA's request that the requirement be made permanent, and avoid a potential confusing time gap in the vehicles subject to the requirement.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and its implementing regulations, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) hereby announces that it is seeking renewal of the following currently approved information collection activities. Before submitting these information collection requirements (ICRs) for clearance by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified below.

In accordance with the memorandum of January 20, 2009, from the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, entitled ``Regulatory Review,'' published in the Federal Register on January 26, 2009, FMCSA is seeking public comment on a contemplated delay of 90 days in the effective date of its January 16, 2009, final rule entitled ``Elimination of Route Designation Requirement for Motor Carriers Transporting Passengers over Regular Routes.'' The final rule announced the discontinuation of the administrative requirement that applicants seeking for-hire authority to transport passengers over regular routes submit a detailed description and a map of the route(s) over which they propose to operate. The effective date of the rule is March 17, 2009, with a compliance date of July 15, 2009. The FMCSA is considering a temporary 90-day extension in the effective date to June 15, 2009, to allow the Agency the opportunity for further review and consideration of the final rule. FMCSA acknowledges that the January 20, 2009, memorandum only recommends 60 days, but is allowing for 90 days to give us enough time to consider and respond to comments.

FMCSA previously announced its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 9 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 renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 11 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 Aviation Administration (FAA) is issuing this notice to advise the public that it is making available a FONSI/ROD, a Written Reevaluation of New Information Concerning Section 4(f) Mitigation Measures, and a Supplemental Section 4(f) Determination, effective February 4, 2009, for the proposed extension of Runway 6-24 at Erie International Airport (ERI), Tom Ridge Field, Erie, Pennsylvania.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace at Rushville, NE. Controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Modisett Airport, Rushville, NE. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft operations at Modisett Airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its findings on the Noise Compatibility Program submitted by the Mobile Airport Authority under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. (the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, hereinafter referred to as ``the Act'') and 14 CFR Part 150. These findings are made in recognition of the description of Federal and non-Federal responsibilities in Senate Report No. 96-52 (1980). On May 1, 2006, the FAA determined that the noise exposure maps submitted by the Mobile Airport Authority under Part 150 were in compliance with applicable requirements. On October 26, 2006, the FAA approved the Mobile Regional Airport noise compatibility program. Most of the recommendations of the program were approved. On August 29, 2008, the Mobile Airport Authority requested approval to revise two of the ten approved proposed action measures.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for certain RR RB211-524 series turbofan engines. That AD currently requires initial and repetitive borescope inspections of the head section and meterpanel assembly of the combustion liner, and replacement if necessary with serviceable parts. This proposed AD would require those same inspections, and replacement if necessary with serviceable parts. This proposed AD would also add more part number (P/ N) combustion liners to the applicability of this proposed AD. This proposed AD results from an inquiry submitted by an operator, which resulted in RR performing a complete review of the affected front combustion liner part numbers. We are proposing this AD to prevent deterioration of the engine combustion liner, which can result in combustion liner breakup, case burn-through, engine fire, and damage to the airplane.

This notice corrects an error in the FHWA notice published on February 17, 2009, at 74 FR 7535. The notice announced that actions taken by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and other Federal agencies were final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(I)(1). The actions related to a proposed highway project, the Triangle Parkway, which begins at NC 540 in Wake County and ends at I-40 in Durham County, North Carolina. The Triangle Parkway is also known as State Transportation Improvement Program Project U-4763B. Those actions granted licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.