Department of Transportation 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 28 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 action announces a limited waiver of the minimum usage requirements that apply to Operating Authorizations at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) for nonstop flights to or from Mexico. This policy is effective from April 27, 2009, through September 12, 2009.

We are superseding an existing 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:

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) Models 208 and 208B airplanes. This AD requires you to measure the roll and the yaw bridle cable tension (adjusting as necessary) and to torque the clamp screws. This AD results from two reported incidences of slack bridle cables with the swaged balls unseating from their drum recesses. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct loose bridle cable clamps, which could result in the swaged ball unseating from the recess in the servo drum and contacting the cable guard pin. This failure could lead to very limited control of the rudder and/or aileron with consequent loss of control.

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 (two different MCAI) describes the unsafe condition as:

FMCSA previously announced its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 21 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 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 grant Rotel North American Tours, LLC (Rotel), amendment of its existing exemption that permits 22 named drivers, employed by Rotel and possessing German CDLs, to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in the U.S. without a CDL issued by one of the States. The Rotel roster of its 22 exempt drivers is amended to permit three new Rotel drivers to be substituted for three drivers no longer employed by Rotel. The new Rotel drivers are subject to all the terms and conditions of the current exemption, including its expiration date of July 30, 2010.

FRA is removing 49 CFR part 265 because the relevant statutory authority for the regulation found in the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 has expired. FRA expects that removal of part 265 will reduce the administrative burden to government and industry, reduce government printing costs, and provide a more concise and useful Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.

This establishes, amends, suspends, or revokes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

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 has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collections and their expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period was published on February 19, 2009 [FR Doc. 2009-0037, Vol. 74, No. 32, Pages 7737-7738].

The Maritime Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) announce the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for Port Dolphin Energy LLC, Port Dolphin Energy Liquefied Natural Gas Deepwater Port license application. The application describes a project that would be located approximately 28 miles off the western coast of Florida, and approximately 42 miles from Port Manatee, Manatee County, Florida. The Maritime Administration and Coast Guard request public comments on the FEIS and application. Publication of this notice begins a 45-day comment period and provides information on how to participate in the process.

This action proposes to establish a restricted area (R-2502A) at Fort Irwin, CA, as part of a Department of the Army initiative at the National Training Center (NTC). The NTC is being expanded to meet the critical need of the Army for additional training land and airspace suitable for maneuvering large numbers of military personnel and equipment. Additionally, this action would modify the Silver military operation area (MOA) in the vicinity of the NTC Complex. Unlike restricted areas, which are designated under 14 CFR part 73, MOAs are not rulemaking airspace actions. However, since the proposed R-2502A infringes on the Silver MOA, the FAA is including a description of the Silver MOA change in this rule. The MOA change described here will also be published in the National Flight Data Digest (NFDD). The Army requested these airspace changes to provide the additional special use airspace (SUA) above the expanded ground maneuver area to facilitate realistic combat training at the NTC.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Boeing Model 747-100B SUD, 747-300, 747-400, and 747-400D series airplanes; and Model 747-200B series airplanes having a stretched upper deck. The existing AD currently requires repetitively inspecting for cracking or discrepancies of the fasteners in the tension ties, shear webs, and frames at body stations 1120 through 1220; and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD would also require modifying the frame-to- tension-tie joints at body stations 1120 through 1220 (including related investigative actions and corrective actions if necessary), which would provide a terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This proposed AD would also require new repetitive inspections after the modification, corrective actions if necessary, and additional modification requirements at a specified time after the first modification. This proposed AD would also remove certain airplanes from the applicability. This proposed AD results from reports of cracked and severed tension ties, broken fasteners, and cracks in the frame, shear web, and shear ties adjacent to tension ties for the upper deck. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the tension ties, shear webs, and frames of the upper deck, which could result in rapid decompression and reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

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.

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-2009-0065 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 proposes to amend the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes concerning flightcrew alerting. The

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is making minor technical changes to a final rule published in the Federal Register on May 14, 2009. That final rule amended the FAA's drug and alcohol regulations to place them in a new part. In that final rule the FAA inadvertently did not include an instruction to amend a cross-reference to two appendices.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is amending a final rule published in the Federal Register on March 7, 2008. That final rule amended cockpit voice recorder and digital flight data recorder regulations affecting certain air carriers, operators, and aircraft. In that final rule, the FAA failed to include conforming amendments to certain operating rules to ensure that certain new requirements apply to only newly manufactured aircraft.

Pursuant to 40 CFR 1508.22 and 43 TAC Sec. 2.5(e)(2), the FHWA, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and Alamo Regional Mobility Authority are issuing this notice to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed transportation project on United States Highway (US) 281 from Loop (LP) 1604 to Borgfeld Road, about 7.5 miles, in Bexar County, Texas. Areas within the city of San Antonio are included in the study area.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), Council on Environmental Quality NEPA implementing regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500- 1508), and FAA Order 1050.1E, Change 1, the FAA is announcing the availability of the Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for Pegasus Launches at the U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site (USAKA/RTS).

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: