Department of Transportation April 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document extends the period for public comment on the above-referenced NPRM. The proposed AD would require repetitive inspections of the upper and lower main wing spar cap angles for cracks and/or corrosion and installing inspection access panels. The proposed AD would also require replacing the wing spar cap angles if moderate or severe corrosion is found and applying corrosion inhibitor. The proposed AD was prompted by reports of intergranular exfoliation and corrosion of the upper and/or lower wing main spar cap angles found on the affected airplanes. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracks, intergranular exfoliation and corrosion in the wing main spar cap angles, which could result in reduced strength of the wing spar and the load carrying capacity of the wing. This could lead to wing failure and consequent loss of control. This extension of the comment period is necessary to assure that all interested persons have ample opportunity to present their views on the proposed requirements of the NPRM.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) proposes to restrict the use of hand-held mobile telephones, including hand-held cell phones, by drivers during the operation of a motor vehicle containing a quantity of hazardous materials requiring placarding under Part 172 of the 49 CFR or any quantity of a select agent or toxin listed in 42 CFR Part 73. Additionally, in accordance with requirements proposed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), motor carriers are prohibited from requiring or allowing drivers of covered motor vehicles to engage in the use of hand-held mobile telephones while driving. This rulemaking would improve health and safety on the Nation's highways by reducing the prevalence of distracted driving-related crashes, fatalities, and injuries involving drivers of commercial motor vehicles.

This action amends all Anchorage, AK, Federal airways that are affected by the relocation of the Anchorage VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) navigation aid. This action is necessary for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) within the National Airspace System.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) invites public comments on a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the revision and amendment of a previously approved Information Collection Request (OMB Control 2105-0563) in accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104- 13, 44 USC 3501 et seq.). The previous approval granted the Department of Transportation authority to collect information involving National Infrastructure Investments or ``TIGER II'' Discretionary Grants pursuant to Title I of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for 2010 (the ``FY 2010 Appropriations Act). The Office of the Secretary of Transportation (``OST'') is referring to these grants as ``TIGER II Discretionary Grants.'' The original collection of information was necessary in order to receive applications for grant funds pursuant to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010 (``FY 2010 Appropriations Act''), Title IDepartment of Transportation, Office of the Secretary, National Infrastructure Investments, Public Law 111-117, 123 Stat. 3034. The purpose of the TIGER II Discretionary Grants program is to advance projects that will have a significant impact on the Nation, Metropolitan area or a region. This revision revises the original request to include an additional information collection. The additional information to be collected will be used to, and is necessary to, evaluate the effectiveness of projects that have been awarded grant funds and to monitor project financial conditions and project progress in support of the Supplemental Discretionary Grants for Capital Investments in Surface Transportation Infrastructure, referred to by the Department as ``Grants for Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery'', or ``TIGER'' Discretionary Grants program authorized and implemented pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the ``Recovery Act'') (OMB Control Number: 2105-0560) and the grants for National Infrastructure Investments under the FY 2010 Appropriations Act or TIGER II'' Discretionary Grants. The purposes of the TIGER and TIGER II Discretionary Grant programs include promoting economic recovery and supporting projects that have a significant impact on the Nation, a metropolitan area, or a region. A 60-day Federal Register notice was published on February 15, 2011 (76 FR 8804). Since the publication of the 60-day Federal Register notice, no comments were received to the Docket (DOT-OST-2011-0019) and therefore no review of comments was required, so none was performed by the Department.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is seeking nominees to serve on TRACS. The Advisory Committee meets twice a year to advise FTA on transit safety issues. On February 1, 2010, FTA issued an initial notice (75 FR 5172) soliciting nominations to serve on TRACS. From that solicitation, 21 members were chosen, each representing a broad base of expertise relating to rail transit safety. The FTA Administrator (Administrator) has since determined that he would like to seek additional members to serve on TRACS. Specifically, the Administrator would like to augment the TRACS' existing knowledge base with professionals who have done academic research in the safety field.

This document responds to seven petitions for reconsideration submitted regarding our August 2004 final rule that amended the Federal motor vehicle safety standard on lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment. After careful review of the petitions, we are revising certain requirements of the standard pertaining to the visibility of lamps mounted on motorcycles to increase the compatibility of our visibility requirements with those of theUnited Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE R53). We are otherwise denying the petitions.

This document denies, in part, the petitions for reconsideration of the December 4, 2007, final rule reorganizing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108 (49 CFR 571.108). The petitions are denied only as they relate to subpart S6.6.3 (License Plate Holder) of the final rule.

The FAA will be holding a public meeting on Wednesday, June 1, 2011, on the U.S. registration of aircraft in the name of owner trustees. The FAA is seeking the views from the public with respect to the use of owner trusts to register aircraft for the benefit of beneficiaries that are neither U.S. citizens nor resident aliens.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The nature of the information collection is described as well as its expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on February 3, 2011, and comments were due by April 4, 2011. No comments were received.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt sixteen individuals from its rule prohibiting persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) from operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. The exemptions will enable these individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Model 737-700 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require, for certain airplanes, replacing the seat track pivot link assemblies, seat track sections, and floor panels. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD would also require moving certain rows of passenger seats. For certain other airplanes, this proposed AD would require inspecting certain areas of the seat tracks for damage and corrective actions if necessary, and moving certain rows of passenger seats. This proposed AD results from reports that the aft seat leg fittings span the station (STA) 521.45 stay-out zone. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the seat attachment structure and possible injury to passengers during an emergency landing.

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.

In accordance with the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 5117(c), PHMSA is publishing the following list of special permit applications that have been in process for 180 days or more. The reason(s) for delay and the expected completion date for action on each application are provided in association with each identified application.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the 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 the products listed above. This AD requires installing an auto shutoff feature for the center override/jettison fuel pumps, and installing power control circuitry for the center override/jettison and main jettison fuel pumps. This AD also requires installing new software in the electrical load management system (ELMS) electronics units in certain power management panels; installing airplane information management system 2 (AIMS-2) software in the AIMS-2 hardware; and making certain wiring changes. This AD was prompted by results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent potential ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

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:

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD requires installing a full authority digital engine control (FADEC) backup battery, replacing the supplement pilot's operating handbook and FAA approved airplane flight manual, and replacing the FADEC backup battery every 12 calendar months. This AD was prompted by an incident where an airplane experienced an in-flight engine shutdown caused by a momentary loss of electrical power to the FADEC. We are issuing this AD to prevent interruption of electrical power to the FADEC, which could result in an uncommanded engine shutdown. This failure could lead to a loss of engine power.

The Secretary of Transportation announces the renewal of the National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council to provide advice and recommendations regarding emergency medical services (EMS) matters to the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and through NHTSA to the Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services. The NHTSA's Office of EMS serves as sponsor of the Advisory Council for the Secretary. The purpose of this notice is to inform interested parties of the renewal of NEMSAC.