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

The Maritime Administration (MarAd) announces that the Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council (MTSNAC) will hold a meeting on October 12-13, 2011 to assess its priorities for the coming year, and to discuss other issues of importance to the Marine Transportation System. During the two day meeting, a public comment period is scheduled for 1 p.m.-1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 12, 2011. Members of the public who would like to speak are asked to contact Richard J. Lolich by October 5, 2011. To provide time for as many people to speak as possible, speaking time for each individual will be limited to three minutes. We hope to be able to accommodate everyone who would like to speak at the meeting, but if there are more interested participants than time available, we will limit participants in order of date and time of registration. Commenters will be placed on the agenda in the order in which notifications are received. If time allows, time will be allotted to those attending the meeting to speak, even if they had not previously registered to speak. Copies of oral comments must be submitted in writing at the meeting. Additional written comments are welcome and must be filed with Richard Lolich by October 14, 2011. [See also FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT]

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, 42 United States Code 4321-4347 (as amended), Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA implementing regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] parts 1500-1508), and FAA Order 1050.1E, Change 1, the FAA is announcing the availability of and requesting comments on the Draft EA for Issuing an Experimental Permit to SpaceX for Operation of the Grasshopper Vehicle at the McGregor Test Site, Texas. The Draft EA was prepared in response to an application for an experimental permit from Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX). Under the Proposed Action, the FAA would issue an experimental permit to SpaceX to conduct suborbital launches and landings of the Grasshopper Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) from the McGregor test site in McGregor, TX. The Grasshopper RLV is a vertical takeoff and vertical landing vehicle. The McGregor test site is located within the city limits of the City of McGregor, TX in Coryell and McLennan Counties, approximately 20 miles southwest of Waco, TX. The Draft EA addresses the potential environmental impacts of implementing the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative of not issuing an experimental permit to SpaceX. The FAA has posted the Draft EA on the FAA/AST Web site at https:// www.faa.gov/about/officeorg/headquartersoffices/ast/. In addition, copies of the Draft EA were sent to persons and institutions on the distribution list (see Chapter 8 of the Draft EA). A paper copy of the Draft EA may be reviewed for comment during regular business hours at the following location: McGinley Memorial Library, 317 Main Street, McGregor, TX 76657.

This action amends Class D and Class E airspace areas and removes Class E airspace designated as an extension at Manassas Regional Airport/Harry P. Davis Field, Manassas, VA. A Standard Instrument Approach Procedure has been cancelled. Therefore modification to the airspace areas is required for the safety and airspace management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. This action also notes the name change of the airport.

In this document, PHMSA is seeking comment on its intent to clarify its fireworks approvals policy whereby the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety (OHMS), Approvals and Permits Division will accept only those classification approval applications for Division 1.1 fireworks that have been examined and assigned a recommended shipping description, division and compatibility group by a DOT-approved explosives test laboratory, or that have been issued an approval for the explosive by the competent authority of a foreign government acknowledged by PHMSA's Associate Administrator. If the Associate Administrator finds the approval request meets the regulatory criteria, the new explosive will be approved in writing and assigned an EX number.