Department of Transportation November 20, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Boeing Model 747-100, 747-100B, 747- 100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, 747-400F, and 747SR series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires repetitive inspections to find cracking of the web, strap, inner chords, and inner chord angle of the forward edge frame of the number 5 main entry door cutouts, and repair, if necessary. This proposed AD would expand the inspection areas to include the frame segment between stringers 16 and 23. This proposed AD would reinstate the repetitive inspections specified above for certain airplanes. This proposed AD would also require repetitive inspections for cracking of repairs. This proposed AD results from additional reports of cracks that have been found in the strap and inner chord of the forward edge frame of the number 5 main entry door cutouts, between stringers 16 and 23. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct such cracks. This condition, if not corrected, could cause damage to the adjacent body structure, which could result in depressurization of the airplane in flight.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in cooperation with the City of Hercules, CA (City) is planning to prepare a joint Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the construction of a proposed intermodal transit center project which includes a new passenger train station on the existing Capitol Corridor line, a transit bus terminal, access roadways, and parking facilities, located in Hercules, California. The project would serve commuters, visitors and recreational users who desire an alternative way to travel to and from the City of Hercules and the San Francisco Bay area and the Sacramento area to access employment, entertainment, and recreational destinations. This EIS/EIR will not study a ferry terminal as part of the proposed project. Any future ferry terminal will be evaluated under a separate environmental document. However, the potential for a future ferry terminal will be considered in the cumulative impact analysis for this project. The purpose of this Notice of Intent (NOI) is to alert interested parties on the preparation of an EIS/EIR, to provide information on the proposed transit project, to invite participation in the EIS/EIR process, including comments on the scope of the EIS/EIR, and to announce the public scoping meeting that will be conducted.

This document contains a correction to the title of the Notice of Availability of the Environmental Assessment served and published in the Federal Register on Monday, October 26, 2009 (74 FR 55085) by the Board's Section of Environmental Analysis. That notice, published in this docket, was titled ``Eastern Iowa Industrial Center Rail Project Construction and Operation ExemptionCity of Davenport, Iowa.'' The correct title should read, ``City of Davenport, IAConstruction and Operation Exemptionin Scott County, IA.''

This proposed rule would prohibit any person holding a certificate to conduct certain operations from knowingly employing, or making a contractual arrangement with, certain individuals to act as an agent or a representative of the certificate holder in any matter before the FAA under certain conditions. These restrictions would apply if the individual, in the preceding 2-year period: Directly served as, or was directly responsible for the oversight of, a Flight Standards Service Aviation Safety Inspector; and had direct responsibility to inspect, or oversee the inspection of, the operations of the certificate holder. This proposed rule would also apply to persons who own or manage fractional ownership program aircraft that are used to conduct operations under specific regulations described in this document. This proposed rule would establish these restrictions to prevent potential organizational conflicts of interests which could adversely affect aviation safety.