Department of Transportation 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Tireco, Inc., (Tireco), has determined that approximately 6,170 of its ``GEO-Trac'' brand P235/75R15 passenger car tires, manufactured between June 12, 2009 and August 20, 2009 by the fabricating manufacturer, the Shandong Linglong Tyre Co., Ltd., and imported into the United States by Tireco, do not comply with paragraph S5.5(c) of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 139, New pneumatic radial tires for light vehicles. Tireco has filed an appropriate report pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports (dated August 31, 2009). Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and 30120(h) and the rule implementing those provisions at 49 CFR part 556, Tireco has petitioned for an exemption from the notification and remedy requirements of 49 U.S.C. chapter 301 on the basis that this noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety. Notice of receipt of Tireco's petition was published, with a 30-day public comment period, on April 21, 2010, in the Federal Register (75 FR 20879). No comments were received. To view the petition and all supporting documents log onto the Federal Docket Management System Web site at: https://www.regulations.gov/. Then follow the online search instructions to locate docket number ``NHTSA-2010-0047.'' For further information on this decision, contact Mr. George Gillespie, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), telephone (202) 366-5299, facsimile (202) 366-7002. Affected are approximately 6,170 tires imported into the United States by Tireco who identified the tires as ``Geo-Trac'' brand P235/75R15 passenger car tires. In consultation with the fabricating manufacturer, the Shandong Linglong Tyre Co., Ltd., Tireco has determined that all of the noncompliant tires were manufactured between June 12, 2009 (Serial Week 24) and August 20, 2009 (Serial Week 34). A total of 6,170 these noncompliant tires have been recovered from its distributors and dealers and are currently in Tireco's possession for relabeling. The remaining tires (approximately 3,370) are still in the hands of Tireco's customers. Tireco explains that the noncompliance is that the markings on the non-compliant tires specifying the maximum inflation pressure in kPa and in psi are reversed from the order required by paragraph S5.5.5(c). The Company said that the maximum inflation pressure should have been marked as ``300 kPa (44 psi)'' but were ``inadvertently'' marked on both sidewalls with a maximum inflation pressure of ``44 kPa (300 psi).'' Tireco reported that this noncompliance was brought to their attention on August 19, 2009 by one of the company's distributor customers. Tireco argues that no vehicle operator would ever inflate the tires to the incorrect pressures that appear on the sidewalls of the subject tires, and specifically stated that ``it would be virtually impossible to do so.'' Tireco supports this conclusion with the following statements:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. 14 CFR part 21 may require applicants to demonstrate compliance with the latest regulations in effect on the date of application for amended Type Certificates (TC) or Supplemental TCs for aeronautical products.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The rule allows some experienced pilots who would otherwise qualify as flight instructors or check airmen, but who are not medically eligible to hold the requisite medical certificate, to perform flight instructor or check airmen functions in a simulator.

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.

The FMCSA amends its proposal regarding establishment of the Unified Registration System (URS) required by the ICC Termination Act of 1995 (ICCTA) and originally announced in a May 19, 2005 notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). URS is the replacement system for several existing registration and information systems for motor carriers, property brokers, and freight forwarders under FMCSA jurisdiction. This SNPRM responds to comments to the 2005 URS NPRM, incorporates new proposals implementing requirements imposed by final rules published after the 2005 URS NPRM, and includes new proposals to implement certain provisions of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). The Agency believes the proposed URS would improve the registration process for motor carriers, property brokers, freight forwarders and other entities that register with FMCSA.

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 July 15, 2011, and comments were due by September 13, 2011. No comments were received.

Mazda North American Operations (MNAO),\1\ on behalf of Mazda Motor Corporation of Hiroshima, Japan (Mazda), has determined the lens of the headlamps equipped on certain 2004 through 2009 Mazda RX-8 model passenger cars, manufactured from April 1, 2003, to May 29, 2009, and certain 2006 through 2008 MX-5 model passenger cars, built from May 17, 2005, to November 27, 2008, failed to meet the requirements of paragraph S7.2(b) of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment. Mazda has filed an appropriate report pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports, dated December 16, 2009.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued 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:

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 20 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemption renewals will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

This document contains corrections to the final rule regulations (49 CFR parts 523 and 535), which were published in the Federal Register of Thursday, September 15, 2011 (76 FR 57106). The regulations established fuel efficiency standards for medium- and heavy-duty engines and vehicles, as prescribed under the Energy Independence and Security Act (49 U.S.C. 32902(k)(2)).

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Model CN-235-100, CN-235-200, and CN-235-300 airplanes. 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:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA announces its plan to submit the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The FMCSA requests approval to revise an ICR entitled, ``Application for Certificate of Registration for Foreign Motor Carriers and Foreign Motor Private Carriers,'' that requires Mexico- domiciled for-hire and private motor carriers to file an application Form OP-2 if they wish to register to transport property only within municipalities in the United States on the U.S.-Mexico international border or within the commercial zones of such municipalities. On July 22, 2011, FMCSA published a Federal Register notice allowing for a 60-day comment period on the ICR. No comments were received.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Tatitlek, AK, to accommodate the creation of one standard instrument approach procedure at the Tatitlek Airport. The FAA is taking this action to enhance safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the Tatitlek Airport.

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.

The Department of Transportation is directing all interested persons to show cause why it should revoke the Commuter Air Carrier Authorization issued to Friendship Airways, Inc. d/b/a Yellow Air Taxi and deny its application to resume commuter operations, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 40109(f) and 14 CFR part 298.

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.

On August 1, 2011, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, PHMSA published a notice with request for comments in the Federal Register (76 FR 45904). The notice concerned several pipeline safety information collections that PHMSA will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for renewal and one information collection that PHMSA intends to discontinue. PHMSA received no comments on the notice. PHMSA is now forwarding the information collection request to OMB and providing an additional 30 days for comments.

Pursuant to 40 CFR 1508.22 and 43 TAC Sec. 2.5(e)(2), the FHWA and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) are issuing this notice to advise the public that an environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared for the proposed North Houston Highway Improvement Project, in Harris County, Texas. The proposed project and study limits begin at interchange of United States Highway (US) 59 and State Highway (SH) 288 and follow northward along IH 45 to the interchange of IH 45 and Beltway 8 North, a distance of approximately 16 miles. The proposed project area also includes portions of IH 10, IH 610, US 59, SH 288 near the downtown area, and the Hardy Toll Road located north of downtown Houston. The proposed project will be developed in compliance with Section 6002 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

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 August 12, 2011 (76 FR 50320).

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau GmbH Model Discus 2cT gliders. 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 invites existing and potential multistate organizations, coalitions, or other arrangements or entities engaged in corridor transportation activities and research to apply for participation in the Multistate Corridor Operations and Management (MCOM) Program authorized by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Research program. The purpose of the MCOM program is to promote regional cooperation, planning, and shared project implementation for research programs and projects to improve multimodal transportation system management and operations. This notice seeks applications for available fiscal year (FY) 2011 funding ($7 million), which will be provided to cover a maximum of 80 percent of proposed program/project costs. Multiple awards are possible, but not guaranteed.

These special conditions are issued for the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GIV-X airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features associated with the architecture and connectivity capabilities of the airplane's computer systems and networks, which may allow access by external computer systems and networks. Connectivity by external systems and networks may result in security vulnerabilities to the airplane's systems. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for these design features. These 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 action removes two modified VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways, V-320 and V-440, from a final rule published in the Federal Register of April 28, 2011. That rule amended 29 Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes in Alaska affected by the relocation of the Anchorage VOR navigation aid. The FAA is taking this action as a result of these VOR Federal airways not passing flight inspections to retain existing minimum enroute altitude (MEA) requirements in the vicinity of Anchorage, AK.