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

This action amends Class E airspace at Lamar Municipal Airport, Lamar, CO. Decommissioning of the Lamar 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.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is considering a proposal to authorize the release of 18 acres of the airport property at the Jackson Municipal Airport, Jackson MN. The City is proposing a land swap to exchange this 18 acre parcel for another parcel of 24.72 acres. The acreage being released is not needed for aeronautical use as currently identified on the Airport Layout Plan. The acreage comprising this parcel was originally acquired in 1976 with an Airport Development Aid Program (ADAP) grant (76-5-27-0045-01). In exchange for the 18 acres the airport will receive a new parcel of land in the approach to the crosswind runway 4/22. The appraised fair market value of the proposed release parcel is $130,500, the fair market value of the proposed acquire parcel is $165,000. The FAA approved a Categorical Exclusion for environmental requirements on May 13, 2010. Approval does not constitute a commitment by the FAA to financially assist in the disposal of the subject airport property nor a determination of eligibility for grant-in-aid funding from the FAA. The disposition of proceeds from the disposal of the airport property will be in accordance with FAA's Policy and Procedures Concerning the Use of Airport Revenue, published in the Federal Register on February 16, 1999. In accordance with section 47107(h) of title 49, United States Code, this notice is required to be published in the Federal Register 30 days before modifying the land-use assurance that requires the property to be used for an aeronautical purpose.

This notice is a request for comments and suggestions relative to the draft work plan of the TransportationDangerous Goods Working Group, of the United States-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC). Comments will be accepted from all interested stakeholders.

In this NPRM, PHMSA is proposing to revise the Hazardous Materials Regulations applicable to air bag inflators, air bag modules, and seat-belt pretensioners. The proposed changes would incorporate the provisions of two special permits into the regulations. In addition, PHMSA proposes to revise the current approval and documentation requirements for a material appropriately classified as a UN3268 air bag inflator, air bag module, or seat-belt pretensioner. The proposed changes will, if adopted, reduce the regulatory burden on the automotive industry while maintaining the current level of safety.

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 transportation corridor project (Cottonwood Street; 4500 South to Vine Street in Murray City, Salt Lake County in the State of Utah). These actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

This action proposes to amend Class E Airspace at Memphis, TN, as the West Memphis Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) has been decommissioned and new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures have been developed at Memphis International Airport. This action also would remove West Memphis Municipal Airport, West Memphis, TN from the existing airspace surrounding Memphis International Airport, Memphis, TN. This action would enhance the safety and airspace management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This document announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that right-hand drive (RHD) 2000-2003 Jeep Wrangler multi-purpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) that were not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) are eligible for importation into the United States because they have safety features that comply with, or are capable of being altered to comply with, all such standards.

These special conditions are issued for the XtremeAir GmbH XA42 airplane. The XA42 airplane has a novel or unusual design feature associated with its static stability. This airplane can perform at the highest level of aerobatic competition. To be competitive, the aircraft was designed with positive and, at some points, neutral stability within its flight envelope. Its lateral and directional axes are also decoupled from each other providing more precise maneuvering. 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. These special conditions are only applicable to aircraft certified solely in the acrobatic category.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 15 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 corrects two notices published in the Federal Register on January 31, 2012, and June 14, 2010. In each instance, FMCSA announced in error that 22 named drivers being renewed for an exemption were employed by Rotel North American Tours, LLC. This notice corrects the error and provides the correct name of the employer for these drivers, Rotel Tours of Germany.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt nineteen 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 receipt of applications from nineteen individuals for exemption from the prohibition against persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals with ITDM to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

PHMSA is issuing an advisory bulletin to owners and operators of natural gas cast iron distribution pipelines and state pipeline safety representatives. Recent deadly explosions in Philadelphia and Allentown, Pennsylvania involving cast iron pipelines installed in 1942 and 1928, respectively, gained national attention and highlight the need for continued safety improvements to aging gas pipeline systems. This bulletin is an update of two prior Alert Notices (ALN-91-02; October 11, 1991 and ALN-92-02; June 26, 1992) covering the continued use of cast iron pipe in natural gas distribution pipeline systems. This advisory bulletin reiterates two prior Alert Notices which remain relevant, urges owners and operators to conduct a comprehensive review of their cast iron distribution pipelines and replacement programs and accelerate pipeline repair, rehabilitation and replacement of high-risk pipelines, requests state agencies to consider enhancements to cast iron replacement plans and programs, and alerts owners and operators of the pipeline safety requirements for the investigation of failures. In addition, the latest survey and reporting requirements of cast iron pipelines required by the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 are included for information.

The Board has approved the second quarter 2012 rail cost adjustment factor (RCAF) and cost index filed by the Association of American Railroads. The second quarter 2012 RCAF (Unadjusted) is 1.185. The second quarter 2012 RCAF (Adjusted) is 0.520. The second quarter 2012 RCAF-5 is 0.492.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Pratt & Whitney PW4050, PW4052, PW4056, PW4060, PW4060A, PW4060C, PW4062, PW4062A, PW4152, PW4156, PW4156A, PW4158, PW4160, PW4460, PW4462, and PW4650 turbofan engines, including models with any dash number suffix. This AD was prompted by reports of five engine in-flight shutdowns and seven unplanned engine removals. This AD requires inspections, cleaning, and engine modifications to address coking in the No. 4 bearing compartment and in the oil pressure and scavenge tubes. We are issuing this AD to prevent an engine fire, a fractured fan drive shaft, and damage to the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Pratt & Whitney PW4052, PW4152, PW4056, PW4156A, PW4060, PW4060A, PW4060C, PW4062, PW4062A, PW4158, PW4460, PW4462, PW4164, PW4164C, PW4164C/B, PW4168, and PW4168A turbofan engines with certain high- pressure turbine (HPT) stage 1 front hubs installed. This proposed AD was prompted by Pratt & Whitney's updated low-cycle-fatigue analysis that indicated certain HPT stage 1 front hubs could initiate a crack prior to the published life limit. This proposed AD would require removing the affected HPT stage 1 front hubs from service using a drawdown plan. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the HPT stage 1 front hub, which could lead to an uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.

These special conditions are issued for the installation of an inflatable three-point restraint safety belt with an integrated airbag device at the aft position in two-place side-facing divan seats on the Embraer S.A. aircraft model EMB-505. These airplanes, as modified by the installation of these inflatable safety belts, will have novel and unusual design features associated with the upper-torso restraint portions of the three-point safety belts, which contain an integrated airbag device. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. 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.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A340-211, -212, -311, and -312 airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracking at the fastener hole area just above stringer 28, of both left- and right-hand fuselage frame 39.1, and repair if necessary. This AD was prompted by a determination that certain airplanes were not included in a certain airworthiness limitation item (ALI) task (inspections for cracking of the fuselage frame 39.1) and that the inspections must be done to address the identified unsafe condition. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking in the fuselage that could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

This notice advises owners and operators of pipeline facilities of PHMSA's plan for implementing the national registry of pipeline and liquefied natural gas operators. This notice provides updates to the information contained in a PHMSA Advisory Bulletin published on January 13, 2012 (77 FR 2126).

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Fokker Services B.V. Model F.27 Mark 050 airplanes, and Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of loose nuts on contactors in the electrical power center (EPC), and in some cases, burned contactors. This proposed AD would require inspecting and, if necessary, adjusting, the torque values of nuts on circuit breakers, contactors and terminal blocks of the EPC and battery relay panel. This proposed AD would also require inspecting to determine if certain parts are installed, and installing the parts if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct loose nuts, which could result in arcing and potentially an onboard fire, possibly resulting in damage to the airplane and injury to occupants or maintenance personnel.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702) airplanes, Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705) airplanes, and Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of a bleed air leak from the high pressure ducts which was not immediately detected by the bleed leak detection system. This proposed AD would require installing new sensing elements in the main landing gear wheel well and the overwing area, protective blankets on the upper surface of the wing box and fuel tubes, and protective shields on the rudder quadrant support-beam in the aft equipment compartment. We are proposing this AD to prevent an undetected bleed air leak which can cause loss of rudder control, can lead to degradation of structural integrity, and could be a potential heat source that can lead to fuel being ignited.

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 removes twenty-two Domestic, Alaskan, and Hawaiian compulsory reporting points previously removed from service and taken out of the FAA aeronautical database. The FAA is removing these Part 71 outdated compulsory reporting points since they are no longer valid, to be consistent with the FAA's aeronautical database. This will avoid confusion and eliminate safety issues with existing fixes using the same fix name elsewhere within the National Airspace System (NAS).