Department of Transportation April 24, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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.

The Maritime Administration announces that the Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council (MTSNAC) will hold a meeting to discuss recommendations to the Secretary on the integration of marine highways into the national transportation system and the development of a steady and reliable funding mechanism for port infrastructure development. A public comment period will commence at 1:30 p.m. on May 8, 2012. To provide time for as many people to speak as possible, speaking time for each individual will be limited to three minutes. Members of the public who would like to speak are asked to contact Richard J. Lolich by May 1, 2012. Commenters will be placed on the agenda in the order in which notifications are received. If time allows, additional comments will be permitted. Copies of oral comments must be submitted in writing at the meeting. Additional written comments are welcome and must be filed by May 11, 2012.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Empresa Brasileria de Aeron[aacute]utica S.A. (EMBRAER) Model EMB-505 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 an inadequate amount of drain holes in the primary control surfaces (rudder, elevator, and aileron) and their tab surfaces may allow water to accumulate in the control surfaces. This condition could cause unbalanced flight control surfaces and reduced flutter margins, which could result in loss of control of the airplane. We are issuing this proposed AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is announcing a technical symposium that will be held in Washington, DC on May 18, 2012 to discuss safety considerations for electric vehicles powered by lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. The symposium will include brief NHTSA presentations outlining current agency research and activities related to Li-ion batteries and Li-ion battery-powered vehicles, as well as presentations by the Department of Energy, voluntary standards bodies, and automotive and battery manufacturers. Information on the date, time, location, and framework for this public event is included in this notice. Because of space limitations, registration by May 11, 2012 is highly recommended. There are no fees to register or to attend this event.

This notice concerns two petitions for waiver submitted to the FAA by Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX): a petition to waive the restriction that the risk to the public from the launch of an expendable launch vehicle not exceed an expected average number of 0.00003 casualties (Ec

To comply with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, FRA is adjusting the aggravated maximum penalty that it will apply when assessing a civil penalty for a violation of a railroad safety statute, regulation, or order under its authority. In particular, FRA is increasing the aggravated maximum civil penalty (i.e., the maximum civil penalty per violation where a grossly negligent violation or a pattern of repeated violations has created an imminent hazard of death or injury or has caused death or injury) from $100,000 to $105,000. The current minimum civil penalty per violation of $650 and the current ordinary maximum civil penalty per violation of $25,000 remain the same.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Learjet Inc. Model 60 airplanes. This AD was prompted by two incidents of swapped fire extinguishing wires. This AD requires inspecting the electrical leads routed to the fire extinguishing containers for proper identification and missing labels, and to ensure the electrical leads are connected to the correct squibs; and corrective actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to prevent the extinguishing agent of the fire extinguishing container from being delivered to the wrong engine in the event of an engine fire, and a consequent uncontrolled fire.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 777-200 and -300 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of two failures of the single-tabbed bracket on the rudder. This AD requires replacing certain single-tabbed bonding brackets in the airplane empennage with two-tabbed bonding brackets. This AD also requires, for certain airplanes, installing new bonding jumpers, and measuring the resistance of the modified installation to verify resistance is within specified limits. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the bonding jumper bracket, which could result in loss of lightning protection ground path, which could lead to increased lightning-induced currents and subsequent damage to composite structures, hydraulic tubes, and actuator control electronics. In the event of a lightning strike, loss of lightning ground protection could result in the loss of control of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 777-200, -200LR, -300, -300ER, and 777F series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of cracks found in the Web pockets of the wing center section (WCS) spanwise beams. This AD requires repetitive detailed inspections and high frequency eddy current inspections for cracks of the WCS spanwise beams, and repair if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking in the WCS spanwise beams, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the wings.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Learjet Inc., Model 45 airplanes. This AD was prompted by changes to the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the maintenance manual, which adds life-limits, revises life-limits, or adds inspections not previously identified. This AD requires revising the maintenance program to include new or more restrictive life-limits and inspections. We are issuing this AD to limit exposure of flight critical components to corrosion, cracking, or failure due to life-limits, which if not corrected, could result in loss of roll control, fatigue cracking, or loss of structural components.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702), CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900), and CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of the air driven generator (ADG) failing to power essential buses during functional tests, due to the low threshold setting of the circuit protection on the ADG's generator control unit (GCU) preventing the ADG from supplying power to the essential buses. This AD requires installing a new or serviceable ADG GCU. We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of power from the ADG to the essential buses which, in the event of an emergency, could prevent continued safe flight.