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

Section 6005 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) established the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Pilot Program (pilot program), codified at 23 U.S.C. 327. To ensure compliance by each State participating in the pilot program, 23 U.S.C. 327(g) mandates semiannual audits during each of the first 2 years of State participation. This final report presents the findings from the third FHWA audit of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) under the pilot program.

This action amends Class E airspace at Minneapolis, MN. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAP) at Anoka County-Blaine Airport (Janes Field), Minneapolis, MN. This action also updates the geographic coordinates of the Anoka County-Blaine Airport (Janes Field) and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to coincide with the FAA's National Aeronautical Charting Office, and makes minor corrections to the legal description published in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at Anoka County-Blaine Airport (Janes Field).

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Platteville, WI. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Platteville Municipal Airport, Platteville, WI. This action would also reflect the name change of the airport from Grant County Airport and update the geographic coordinates to coincide with the FAAs National Aeronautical Charting Office. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations for SIAPs at Platteville Municipal Airport.

NHTSA intends to establish a system of records under the Privacy Act of 1974 as part of its Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save program (CARS program), which implements the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act of 2009 (CARS Act). The system of records will contain personally identifiable information (PII) about individual car purchasers/lessees and may contain PII about a limited number of sole proprietor automobile salvage auctions and disposal facilities participating in the CARS Program, which is a temporary program covering eligible automobile purchases/leases occurring between July 1, 2009 and November 1, 2009. The system of records is more thoroughly detailed below and in the Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) that NHTSA will include in the docket for the CARS final rule at https:// www.regulations.gov, being published in the Federal Register on or about July 24, 2009 and on the DOT Privacy Web site at https:// www.dot.gov/privacy.

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, Grand Parkway (State Highway 99) Segment F-1, from United States Highway 290 (U.S. 290) to State Highway 249 (S.H. 249) in Harris County, Texas. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

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.

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.

This document amends the Federal motor vehicle safety standard on air brake systems to improve the stopping distance performance of truck tractors. The rule requires the vast majority of new heavy truck tractors to achieve a 30 percent reduction in stopping distance compared to currently required levels. For these heavy truck tractors (approximately 99 percent of the fleet), the amended standard requires those vehicles to stop in not more than 250 feet when loaded to their gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) and tested at a speed of 60 miles per hour (mph). For a small number of very heavy severe service tractors, the stopping distance requirement will be 310 feet under these same conditions. In addition, this final rule requires that all heavy truck tractors must stop within 235 feet when loaded to their ``lightly loaded vehicle weight'' (LLVW).

On March 17, 2009, FMCSA published a notice in the Federal Register (74 FR 11318) extending the effective date of its January 16, 2009 final rule entitled ``Elimination of Route Designation Requirement for Motor Carriers Transporting Passengers Over Regular Routes'' until June 15, 2009. This allowed for the solicitation of additional public comments on the final rule and gave the incoming Administration sufficient time to consider and respond to comments. After reviewing the one comment that was received, FMCSA decided to allow the January

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-2009-0069 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

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-2009-0068 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

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) (Public Law 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.

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.

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.

This document grants in full the Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.'s (MBUSA) petition for exemption of the SLK Class Line Chassis (SLK- Class) vehicle line in accordance with 49 CFR part 543, Exemption from the Theft Prevention Standard. This petition is granted because the agency has determined that the antitheft device to be placed on the line as standard equipment is likely to be as effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as compliance with the parts-marking requirements of the Theft Prevention Standard (49 CFR part 541).

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain CFM International Model CFM56-3B1 and -3B2 turbofan engines. This proposed AD would require initial and repetitive inspections for damage to the fan blades. This proposed AD results from a report of a failed fan blade with severe out-of-limit wear on the underside of the blade platform where it contacts the damper. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of multiple fan blades, which could result in an uncontained failure of the engine and damage to the airplane.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Boeing Model 747-200F, 747-200C, 747-400, 747-400D, and 747-400F series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires repetitive inspections for cracking of certain fuselage internal structure (i.e., Sections 42 and 46 fuselage frames, upper deck floor beams, electronic bay access door cutout, nose wheel well, and main entry doors and door cutouts), and repair if necessary. This proposed AD would require additional repetitive inspections for cracking of certain fuselage structure (i.e., Section 41 fuselage frames where they connect to upper deck floor beams, and section 41 fuselage frames between stringer (S-8 and S-12), and related investigative/corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD would also reduce the inspection threshold and repetitive inspection intervals for certain airplanes. This proposed AD results from fatigue tests and analysis by Boeing that identified additional areas of the fuselage where fatigue cracks can occur. We are proposing this AD to prevent the loss of structural integrity of the fuselage, which could result in rapid depressurization of the airplane.

By notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published on July 21, 2009 ([CITE]), FRA proposed regulations implementing a requirement of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 that certain passenger and freight railroads install positive train control systems. The proposal includes required functionalities of the technology and the means by which it would be certified. The proposal also describes the contents of the positive train control implementation plans required by the statute and contains the proposed process for submission of those plans for review and approval by FRA. These proposed regulations could also be voluntarily complied with by entities not mandated to install positive train control systems. This document announces a public hearing being conducted in connection with this proceeding.

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:

PHMSA is proposing to incorporate by reference (IBR) into the pipeline safety regulations all or parts of new editions of voluntary consensus standards to allow pipeline operators to use current technology, new materials, and other industry and management practices. In this document, PHMSA also proposes to make nonsubstantive edits and clarify regulatory language in certain provisions. These proposed amendments to the pipeline safety regulations would not require pipeline operators to undertake any significant new pipeline safety initiatives.

The FHWA, on behalf of Caltrans, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by Caltrans that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to a proposed highway project, State Route-39 (SR-39, San Gabriel Canyon Road) Rehabilitation/ Reopening Project [post mile 40.0-44.4] in the Angeles National Forest, County of Los Angeles, State of California. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

On July 13, 2009, the Maritime Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) published in the Federal Register a notice of availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Port Dolphin Energy LLC, Port Dolphin Energy Liquefied Natural Gas Deepwater Port license application. The notice incorrectly listed the project's docket number as USCG-2006-28532. The correct docket number is USCG-2007-28532. This number should be included on all comments submitted regarding the Port Dolphin Deepwater Port license application. Additionally, the closing date for the comment period was incorrectly listed. The correct date on which comments must be received is August 27, 2009.

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:

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Honeywell International Inc., T5313 and T5317 series turboshaft engines. This AD requires initial and repetitive visual inspections and initial and repetitive ultrasonic inspections of combustion chamber housings (CCHs) for cracks. This AD results from eight instances of cracks in CCHs. Two of the instances resulted in an engine shutdown during flight. We are issuing this AD to detect cracks in the CCH, which could result in rupture of the CCH, leading to loss of engine power and damage to the helicopter.