Department of Transportation January 25, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracks in the fuselage skin and backup structure at the lower VHF antenna cutout at station 1197 + 99 between stringers 39 left and 39 right, and corrective actions if necessary. Certain repairs terminate certain inspection requirements. This AD was prompted by reports of cracking found in the section 46 fuselage lower skin around the periphery of the VHF antenna baseplate at station 1197 + 99. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracks in the fuselage skin and internal backup structure, which could result in rapid decompression of the airplane.

FMCSA announces its final decision regarding Volvo Trucks North America's (Volvo) application for an exemption for Andreas Hamsten to enable him to continue to test-drive commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in the United States without a commercial driver's license (CDL) issued by one of the States. FMCSA previously announced its decision to renew the exemption and requested comment on the decision. No comments were received.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 20 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 DOT's TIFIA Joint Program Office (JPO) announces the availability of funding to support new applications for credit assistance. Under TIFIA, the DOT provides secured (direct) loans, lines of credit, and loan guarantees to public and private applicants for eligible surface transportation projects of regional or national significance. Projects must meet statutorily specified criteria to be selected for credit assistance. Because demand for the TIFIA program can exceed budgetary resources, the DOT is utilizing periodic fixed-date solicitations that will establish a competitive group of projects to be evaluated against the program objectives. This notice outlines the process that applicants must follow. This notice supersedes the notice published in the Federal Register on January 19, 2011, at 76 FR 3190.

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-2011-0004 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.

The Maritime Administration, in coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard, will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) as part of the environmental review of the Liberty Deepwater Port License Application. The application describes an offshore natural gas deepwater port facility that would be located approximately 16.2 miles off the coast of New Jersey and will connect via offshore pipeline to a 9.2 mile onshore pipeline. Publication of this notice begins a scoping process that will help identify and determine the scope of environmental issues to be addressed in the EIS. This notice requests public participation in the scoping process and provides information on how to participate.

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:

This document requests public comment on the supplementary material provided by the applicant, Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), in response to the FAA's requests for clarification of its application to impose and use a PFC at General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport, East Boston, Massachusetts. The FAA received additional documentation and information in support of Massport's PFC application, received April 15, 2010. The FAA is soliciting public comment on this supplementary material. Once received and following the FAA's review of any comments submitted pursuant to this notice, a Final Agency Decision is anticipated either approving or disapproving the application, in whole or in part, within 60 days of the date of this Notice. The ruling will be issued under the provisions of the 49 U.S.C. 40117 and 14 Code of Federal Regulations part 158 (14 CFR part 158).

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: