Department of Transportation June 27, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of discretionary funds in Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 for two programs in support of the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Livability Initiative: the Bus and Bus Facilities grant funds (49 U.S.C. 5309(b)) (``Bus Livability Program'') and the Alternatives Analysis Program (49 U.S.C. 5339), both authorized by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), Pub. L. 109-59, August 10, 2005. The Bus Livability Program will be funded using at least $150 million in available FY 2011 Discretionary Bus and Bus Facilities Program funds. The Alternatives Analysis program will be funded using up to $25 million in FY 2010 and FY2011 discretionary funds. These discretionary program funds will be distributed in accordance with the mission of each program and in support of the U.S. DOT's Livability Initiative and the Partnership for Sustainable Communities between the U.S. DOT, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Please note that this notice is one of several discretionary funding opportunities that FTA intends to issue by early Fall 2011. This notice includes priorities established by FTA for these discretionary funds, the criteria FTA will use to identify meritorious projects for funding, and describes how to apply for funding under each discretionary program. This announcement is available on the FTA Web site at: https://www.fta.dot.gov. FTA will announce final selections for each program on the Web site and in the Federal Register. Additionally, a synopsis of each funding opportunity will be posted in the FIND module of the government-wide electronic grants Web site at https://www.grants.gov.

This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to a proposed highway project, Colton Crossing Rail-to-Rail Grade Separation Project, City of Colton, in the County of San Bernardino, State of California. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requests public comment on an application for exemption submitted by National Gas Vehicles for America (NGVAmerica) regarding the provision in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) prohibiting the location of any part of a fuel system on a bus manufactured on or after January 1, 1973, ``within or above the passenger compartment.'' NGVAmerica states that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has adopted safety standards specific to natural gas vehicles that do not restrict the location of such fuel systems. NGVAmerica plans to file a petition in the near future to request a modification to the FMCSRs and requests the exemption to allow buses equipped with roof-mounted natural gas tanks operating in interstate commerceand therefore subject to the FMCSRsto operate without penalty while the differences between the NHTSA and FMCSA regulations are resolved.

This action establishes helicopter RNAV routes as part of the U.S. air traffic service route (ATS) structure and designates two helicopter RNAV routes (TK-routes) in the northeast corridor between the Washington, DC, and New York City metropolitan areas. The TK-routes are for use by helicopters having IFR-approved Global Positioning System (GPS)/Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) equipment. The FAA is taking this action to enhance safety and to improve the efficient use of the navigable airspace for en route IFR helicopter operations.

This notice clarifies MARAD's position on the application of cargo preference requirements under 46 U.S.C. 55305 to its shipyard and vessel financing guarantees.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. That AD currently requires, for certain airplanes, repetitive inspections for chafing and other damage of the case drain tube from the hydraulic pump case installed on the left-hand engine, and corrective action if necessary. That AD also requires, for all airplanes, repetitive inspections for discrepancies of the left engine's nacelle tubing, repetitive inspections for evidence of fluid leakage within the left engine accessory compartment, and corrective actions if necessary. This new AD also requires replacing the left engine fuel and hydraulic tubing and installing a tubing support channel, which terminates the repetitive inspections required in the existing AD. This new AD also removes airplanes from the applicability. This AD was prompted by reports of chafed hydraulic tubes in the left- hand engine. We are issuing this AD to prevent chafed hydraulic tubes in the left-hand engine and consequent hydraulic tube failure and uncontrolled loss of flammable fluid within the engine cowling, which could result in a fire in the engine nacelle and loss of control of the airplane.

This rule 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.

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 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: