Department of Transportation February 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 10 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.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt sixteen 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.

Section 6005 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) established the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Pilot Program, codified at 23 U.S.C. 327. To ensure compliance by each State participating in the Pilot Program, 23 U.S.C. 327(g) mandates semiannual audits during each of the first 2 years of State participation and annual audits during each subsequent year of State participation. This notice announces and solicits comments on the sixth audit report for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).

We are revising an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for transport category airplanes that have one or more lavatories equipped with paper or linen waste receptacles. That AD currently requires installation of placards prohibiting smoking in the lavatory and disposal of cigarettes in the lavatory waste receptacles; establishment of a procedure to announce to airplane occupants that smoking is prohibited in the lavatories; installation of ashtrays at certain locations; and repetitive inspections to ensure that lavatory waste receptacle doors operate correctly. This new AD extends the time an airplane may be operated with certain missing ashtrays. This AD was prompted by the determination that certain compliance times required by the existing AD could be extended and still address fires occurring in lavatories caused by, among other things, the improper disposal of smoking materials in lavatory waste receptacles. We are issuing this AD to correct this unsafe condition on these products.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for all RR RB211-Trent 800 series turbofan engines. That AD currently requires removal from service of certain critical engine parts based on reduced life limits. This new AD reduces the life limits of additional critical engine parts. This AD was prompted by RR reducing the life limits of additional critical engine parts. We are issuing this AD to prevent the failure of critical rotating parts, which could result in uncontained failure of the engine and damage to the airplane.

We propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Fokker Services B.V. Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes. The existing AD currently requires revising the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the instructions for continued airworthiness for certain airplanes, and the FAA-approved maintenance program for certain other airplanes, to incorporate new limitations for fuel tank systems. Since we issued that AD, Fokker Services B.V. has revised a Fokker 70/100 maintenance review board (MRB) document with revised limitations, tasks, thresholds, and intervals. This proposed AD would revise the maintenance program to incorporate the limitations, tasks, thresholds, and intervals specified in that Fokker MRB document. We are proposing this AD to reduce the potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

We propose to rescind an airworthiness directive (AD) for RRD BR700-715A1-30, BR700-715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30 turbofan engines. The existing AD resulted from the need to reduce the published life limits of high-pressure (HP) turbine stage 1 discs, part numbers (P/Ns) BRH20130 and BRH20131, and HP turbine stage 2 discs, P/Ns BRH19423 and BRH19427. Since we issued the existing AD, RRD has revised the approved published life limits of these parts to the same or higher limits as originally certified.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Honeywell International Inc. models TFE731-4, -4R, -5, -5R, - 5AR, and -5BR series turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a rim/web separation of a first stage low-pressure turbine (LPT1) rotor assembly. This proposed AD would require replacing affected LPT1 rotor assemblies with LPT1 rotor assemblies eligible for installation. We are proposing this AD to prevent uncontained disk separation, leading to fuel tank penetration, fire, personal injury, and damage to the airplane.

This action amends Class E airspace at City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, Colorado Springs, CO. Decommissioning of the Black Forest Tactical Air Navigation System (TACAN) has made this action necessary for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. This action also adjusts the geographic coordinates of the airport.

This technical amendment corrects a final rule published in the Federal Register of April 28, 2011; subsequently delayed in the Federal Register of June 16, 2011; and announced with a new effective date in the Federal Register of December 9, 2011. In that rule, the route description of VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway V- 388 was inadvertently reversed. This technical amendment corrects that error.

This action modifies area navigation (RNAV) route T-288 by extending the route westward from the Rapid City, SD, VORTAC to the Gillette, WY, VOR/DME. This extension enhances the efficiency and safety of the National Airspace System (NAS) by supplementing the existing VOR Federal airway structure in that area.

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 regarding the passenger motor vehicle insurance companies and rental/leasing companies comply with 49 CFR Part 544, Insurer Reporting Requirement, 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 November 25, 2011 (76 FR 72750). The agency received no comments.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 767-200, -300, and -300F series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of loss of avionics cooling due to an unserviceable relay installed on a panel as part of the cabin air conditioning and temperature control system (CACTCS). This AD requires doing certain wiring changes, installing a new relay and necessary wiring in the CACTCS, and performing an operational test of the cooling pack system. We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of electrical equipment bay cooling and the overheating of flight deck instruments, which would result in the eventual loss of primary flight displays, an unusually high pilot workload, and depressurization of the cabin.

The NHTSA announces a meeting of NEMSAC to be held in the Metropolitan Washington, DC area. This notice announces the date, time, and location of the meeting, which will be open to the public. This meeting will include a special roundtable event, hosted by the NEMSAC, regarding the EMS Education Agenda for the Future. The purpose of NEMSAC is to provide a nationally recognized council of emergency medical services (EMS) representatives and consumers to provide advice and recommendations regarding EMS to DOT's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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.

Chrysler Group, LLC, (Chrysler),\1\ has determined that certain model year 2011 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan multipurpose passenger vehicles manufactured between March 16, 2011 through March 22, 2011, do not fully comply with paragraph S4.3(d) of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 110, Tire selection and rims and motor home/recreation vehicle trailer load carrying capacity information for motor vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less. Chrysler has filed an appropriate report dated May 3, 2011, pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports.

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 applications described herein. This notice is abbreviated to expedite docketing and public notice. Because the sections affected, modes of transportation, and the nature of application have been shown in earlier Federal Register publications, they are not repeated here. Requests for modification of special permits (e.g., to provide for additional hazardous materials, packaging design changes, additional mode of transportation, etc.) are described in footnotes to the application number. Application numbers with the suffix ``M'' denote a modification request. These applications have been separated from the new application for special permits to facilitate processing.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter Deutschland (ECD) Model EC135 helicopters. This AD results from a mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) AD issued by the aviation authority of the Federal Republic of Germany, with which we have a bilateral agreement, to identify and correct an unsafe condition. The MCAI AD states that in the past, the FADEC FAIL caution light illuminated on a few EC135 T1 helicopters. It states that this was caused by a discrepancy in the parameters that was generated within the fuel main metering unit and transmitted to the FADEC. This discrepancy led to the display of the FADEC FAIL caution light and ``freezing'' of the fuel main metering valve at its position, resulting in loss of the automatic engine control in the affected system. With the MCAI AD, a synchronization procedure for pilots, which was already used in the past, is being reintroduced, which prevents the parameter discrepancy arising and thus sustains the automatic engine control. The AD actions are intended to prevent failure of the FADEC to automatically meter fuel, indicated by a FADEC FAIL cockpit caution light, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the sixth meeting of RTCA Special Committee 225, Rechargeable Lithium Batteries and Battery Systems, Small and Medium Size.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for all Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 2B and 2B1 turboshaft engines. That AD currently requires checking the transmissible torque between the low- pressure (LP) pump impeller and the high-pressure (HP) pump shaft on high-pressure/low-pressure (HP/LP) pump hydro-mechanical metering units (HMUs) that do not incorporate Modification TU 147. This new AD requires inspection and possible replacement of the HMU. This AD was prompted by three additional cases of uncoupling of the HP/LP pump HMU LP fuel pump impeller and the HP fuel pump shaft, since the existing AD was issued. We are issuing this AD to prevent an uncommanded in-flight shutdown, which can result in a forced autorotation landing or accident.

FMCSA corrects the hours of service (HOS) final rule published on December 27, 2011 (76 FR 81143). This correction notice corrects the amendatory language or guidance to legal editors of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) on the proper codification of the December 27, 2011 rule. This notice does not change, in any manner, the regulatory text.