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

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.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 4 individuals for exemption from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals to qualify as drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce without meeting the Federal vision standard.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Maritime Administration's (MARAD) intentions to request approval of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to conduct a new information collection entitled, ``the Maritime Administration's Panama Canal Expansion Study Outreach Program.'' This program is being implemented as part of MARAD's comprehensive study of the 2014 Panama Canal Expansion (Study) and its anticipated impacts on U.S. Ports and infrastructure.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This action amends Class E airspace for Sturgis, SD, to accommodate new Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures at Sturgis Municipal Airport. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action amends Class E airspace for Valley City, ND. Decommissioning of the Valley City non-directional beacon (NDB) at Barnes County Municipal Airport, Valley City, ND, has made this action necessary to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action amends Class E airspace for Bryan, OH. Decommissioning of the Bryan non-directional beacon (NDB) at Williams County Airport, Bryan, OH, has made this action necessary to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action amends Class E Airspace at Fayette, AL, as the Fayette Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) has been decommissioned and new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures have been developed at Richard Arthur Field. This action enhances the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. This action also updates the airport's geographic coordinates and notes the name change to Richard Arthur Field.

This action proposes to amend Class D airspace at Altus Air Force Base (AFB), OK. Procedural changes implemented to enhance safety for aircraft operating in the vicinity of Altus/Quartz Mountain Regional Airport, Altus, OK, has made this action necessary for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at Altus AFB.

FRA announces the forty-fifth meeting of the RSAC, a Federal Advisory Committee that develops railroad safety regulations through a consensus process. The RSAC meeting topics will include opening remarks from the FRA Administrator, and status reports will be provided by the Electronic Device Distraction, Critical Incident, Track Safety Standards, Dark Territory, Passenger Safety, and Medical Standards Working Groups. This agenda is subject to change, including the possible addition of further proposed tasks under the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008.

Pursuant to Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 5 U.S.C. App. 2), notice is hereby given of a teleconference of the Space Transportation Operations Working Group (STOWG) of the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC). The teleconference will take place on Thursday, November 17, 2011, starting at 11 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. Individuals who plan to participate should contact Susan Lender, DFO, (the Contact Person listed below) by phone or email for the teleconference call in number. The proposed agenda for this teleconference is to follow up on issues raised during the October 13, 2011, STOWG meeting. These issues include: Gathering best practice guidelines on the long-term sustainability of space for consideration by the UN Office of Outer Space Affairs; and Collecting COMSTAC's suggestions for revisions to Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 420. Interested members of the public may submit relevant written statements for the COMSTAC working group members to consider under the advisory process. Statements may concern the issues and agenda items mentioned above or additional issues that may be relevant for the U.S. commercial space transportation industry. Interested parties wishing to submit written statements should contact Susan Lender, DFO, (the Contact Person listed below) in writing (mail or email) by November 14, 2011, so that the information can be made available to COMSTAC members for their review and consideration before the November 17, 2011, teleconference. Written statements should be supplied in the following formats: one hard copy with original signature or one electronic copy via email. An agenda will be posted on the FAA Web site at https://www.faa.gov/ go/ast. Individuals who plan to participate and need special assistance should inform the Contact Person listed below in advance of the meeting.

This action proposes to amend Class E Airspace at Rockingham, NC, as the Roscoe Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) has been decommissioned and new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures have been developed at Richmond County Airport. This action also would update the airport's geographic coordinates and note the name change to Richmond County Airport. This action would enhance the safety and airspace management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 159: Global Positioning System (GPS) 87th meeting.

The FHWA, on behalf of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), announces the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the 6th Street Viaduct Seismic Improvement Project in Los Angeles County, California.

Projects funded under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) must meet the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 50101, Buy American Preferences. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is considering issuing waivers to foreign manufacturers of airport avian radar systems that meet the requirements of FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5220-25, Airport Avian Radar Systems. This notice requests information from manufacturers of systems meeting the technical requirements to determine whether a waiver to the Buy American Preferences should be issued.

Pursuant to section 658.11 of title 23, Code of Federal Regulations, the Indiana Division of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announces the continued closure of the I-64 Sherman-Minton Bridge over the Ohio River between Indiana and Kentucky which the Indiana Governor closed on September 9, 2011, for safety considerations. After consultation with the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), and the FHWA, it was recommended that the bridge be closed after the discovery of a crack in a critical load-carrying element of the bridge. The closure is for an indefinite period of time. The INDOT is detouring eastbound I-64 traffic onto I-265 eastbound to I-65 southbound to cross the Ohio River and rejoin I-64 eastbound in Kentucky. The KYTC is detouring westbound I-64 traffic, bound for destinations beyond Louisville, onto northbound I-264 (or I-265) to southbound I-71 to northbound I-65 to cross the Ohio River and follow the Indiana detour. Under title 23 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 658.11 (Additions, deletions, exceptions, and restrictions), the FHWA can grant the closing of the Interstate system or other National Network route based upon specified justification criteria in section 658.11(d)(2). The FHWA is also authorized to delete any route from the National Network on an emergency basis based on safety considerations pursuant to section 658.11(e). The FHWA has decided to approve the request by the Indiana Division of the FHWA as an emergency deletion in accordance with section 658.11(e) due to the safety considerations discussed in this notice. The FHWA is requesting comments from the general public on the alternate routes selected by Indiana due to the closure.

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Sikorsky Model S-92A helicopters. This action requires making pen and ink changes, inserting a copy of this AD, or inserting specified temporary revisions into the Limitations section of the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) limiting the maximum rolling groundspeed for a normal landing or takeoff from 65 knots to 50 knots for helicopters with a certain serial-numbered landing gear retract actuator (actuator). Instead of limiting the groundspeed, replacing the affected actuator with a modified actuator is terminating action for the requirements of this AD. This amendment is prompted by a report of a main landing gear that would not retract. The manufacturer reports that certain actuators were manufactured with down-lock keys that did not meet the specified minimum hardness requirements. This condition, if not corrected, could lead to a landing gear collapse following a roll- on landing that exceeds 50 knots groundspeed. These actions are intended to prevent collapse of a landing gear and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

This action proposes special conditions for the Gulfstream Aerospace LP (GALP) Model G280 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with operation without normal electrical power. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment adopting Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2011-15-51, which was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of the specified Bell Model 407 and 427 helicopters by individual letters. This AD requires inspecting certain hydraulic servo actuators to determine whether the shaft turns independently of the nut or the clevis assembly. If the shaft turns independently, this AD requires replacing the servo with an airworthy servo. If the shaft does not turn independently, the AD requires inspecting to determine the condition of the lock washers. Based on the condition of the lock washers, the AD requires either replacing the servo with an airworthy servo, or if any tab of the lock washer is not flush against a flat surface of the nut or clevis assembly, bending it flush against a flat surface. The AD also requires reidentifying the servo by metal-impression stamping or by vibro- etching ``67.01'' onto the modification plate. Also, the AD requires before installing a servo with a part number or serial number identified in this AD, not identified by ``67-01'' on the modification plate, inspecting it by following the requirements of this AD. This AD is prompted by a report that a quality escape by a supplier has occurred and certain servos may have a loose nut, shaft, and clevis assembly due to improper lock-washer installation. An investigation after an accident revealed the clevis nut on the servo was loose. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent a malfunction of a servo in the flight control system and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Eurocopter model helicopters. This action requires inspecting the upper end fitting ball joints of the main rotor servocontrols for lateral play, and depending on the findings either repetitively inspecting the ball joint or replacing the servocontrol. This amendment is prompted by reports of noncompliant swaging of the end fitting ball joints on main rotor servocontrols. Investigation has shown that the swaging load applied to the ball joints was 1.3 metric tons instead of the specified 13 metric tons. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent failure of the upper end fitting ball joints of the main rotor servocontrols, failure of the upper end fittings, and loss of control of the helicopter.

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.