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

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Requirement (ICR) abstracted below is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on April 20, 2011 (76 FR 22165).

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 March 30, 2011 [76 FR 17746].

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This proposed AD would require repetitive detailed inspection and high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspections for cracks of the wing center section (WCS) spanwise beams, and repair if necessary. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracks found in the web pockets of the WCS spanwise beams. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracking in the WCS spanwise beams, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the wings.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above that would supersede an existing AD. 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 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.

The FMCSA requests public comment on its draft strategic plan, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration 2011-2016 Strategic Plan: Raising the Safety Bar. This is FMCSA's second strategic plan since the Agency was established as a standalone administration within the Department of Transportation (DOT) in 2000. In keeping with DOT's and FMCSA's top priority safety, the draft strategic plan is shaped by three core principles: (1) Raise the bar to enter the motor carrier industry; (2) Maintain high safety standards to remain in the industry; and (3) Remove high-risk carriers, drivers and service providers from operation. The Agency's new 5-year Strategic Plan provides continuing direction for FMCSA to further reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities related to commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), which include passenger carrier vehicles (e.g., buses). We welcome and invite comments and feedback on FMCSA's future direction. Comments will be considered and incorporated as appropriate. Comment Date: Comments are due July 29, 2011.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Maritime Administration's (MARAD's) intention to request extension of approval for three years of a currently approved information collection.

This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA and other Federal agencies that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to a proposed highway project (Interstate Route 75 and adjacent road network and interchanges) in the Cities of Cincinnati, Arlington Heights, Evendale, Glendale, Lincoln Heights, Lockland, Reading, and Sharonville, in Hamilton County, Ohio. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

FMCSA announces its decision to grant the application for exemption from the American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) on behalf of 9 member motor carriers seeking relief from FMCSA's hours-of-service (HOS) regulation that prohibits driving of commercial motor vehicles (CMV) after the 14th hour after the driver comes on duty [49 CFR 395.3(a)(2)].

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt twenty-one 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.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 19 individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). The exemptions will enable these individuals to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce without meeting the prescribed vision standard. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemptions will provide a level of safety that is equivalent too, or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these CMV drivers.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This proposed AD would require deactivation and removal of the vapor cycle system (VCS) installed per STC SA03674AT held by Premier Aircraft Services (originally held by DER Services) following DER Services Master Document List MDL-2006-020-1, Revision C, dated February 3, 2009; Revision D, dated April 22, 2009; Revision E, dated May 12, 2010; or Revision F, dated July 6, 2010. This proposed AD would also require revision to the airplane weight and balance. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of damage around the VCS compressor mounting areas found during maintenance inspections. We are proposing this AD to remove the VCS mount, which could result in the air conditioner compressor disconnecting in the engine compartment. This condition could result in engine stoppage or additional damage to the engine.

We propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain TCM and R-RM series reciprocating engines. The existing AD currently requires replacement of certain magnetos if they fall within the specified serial number (S/N) range, inspection of the removed magneto to verify that the stop pin is still in place, and, if the stop pin is not in place, inspection of the engine gear train, crankcase, and accessory case. Since we issued that AD, we became aware of an error in the previous AD applicability in the range of magneto S/ Ns affected, and of the need to include certain engines made by R-RM, under license of TCM. This proposed AD would correct the range of S/Ns affected, require the same replacement and inspections, and would add R-RM C-125, C-145, O-300, IO-360, TSIO-360, and LTSIO-520-AE series reciprocating engines to the applicability. We are proposing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR part 107, subpart B), notice is hereby given that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the application described herein. Each mode of transportation for which a particular special permit is requested is indicated by a number in the ``Nature of Application'' portion of the table below as follows: 1Motor vehicle, 2Rail freight, 3Cargo vessel, 4Cargo aircraft only, 5Passenger-carrying aircraft.

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.