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

FRA recently announced the forty-eighth meeting of the RSAC, a Federal Advisory Committee that develops railroad safety regulations through a consensus process (77 FR 73734). This meeting has been postponed until further notice and will be rescheduled at a future date.

We are revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD) for certain General Electric Company (GE) CF6-80C2 series turbofan engines. That NPRM proposed to supersede an AD that required replacement of fuel tubes connected to the fuel flowmeter. That NPRM was prompted by several reports of fuel leaks, and two reports of engine fire, due to mis-assembled supporting brackets on the fuel tube connecting the flowmeter to the Integrated Drive Generator (IDG) fuel- oil cooler. That NPRM required installation of a new simplified one- piece supporting bracket to eliminate mis-assembly. This supplemental action adds an engine model, alters the list of affected part numbers (P/Ns), changes the replacement schedule, and revises our estimated cost of compliance. We are reopening the comment period to allow the public the opportunity to comment on these proposed changes. We are proposing this AD to prevent high-pressure fuel leaks caused by improper seating of fuel tube flanges, which could result in an engine fire and damage to the airplane.

This notice announces final environmental actions taken by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, Phase 2 Preliminary Engineering Design Refinements, Fairfax and Loudoun Counties, VA. The purpose of this notice is to announce publicly the environmental decisions by FTA on the subject project and to activate the limitation on any claims that may challenge these final environmental actions.

This document announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that nonconforming 2005 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti passenger cars 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 are substantially similar to vehicles that were originally manufactured for sale in the United States and that were certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety standards (the U.S.-certified version of the 2005 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti passenger cars) and they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

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.

In accordance with the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 5117(c), PHMSA is publishing the following list of special permit applications that have been in process for 180 days or more. The reason(s) for delay and the expected completion date for action on each application is provided in association with each identified application.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A330-300 series airplanes and Model A340-200 and -300 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports that, during a flight test, several spoiler servo-controls (SSCs) did not remain locked in the retracted position (hydraulic locking function) after manual depressurization of the corresponding hydraulic circuit. Loss of that locking functionwhich is ensured by a blocking valvewas caused by an internal leak from a sheared seal on the blocking valve. This AD requires inspecting to determine if certain SSCs are installed, performing an operational test of any affected SSC, and replacing if necessary. We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of the hydraulic locking function during take-off and go-around phases, which, in combination with malfunction of one engine, could result in reduced controllability of the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GV and GV-SP airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of two failures of the fuel boost pump and over-heat damage found on the internal components and external housing. This proposed AD would require doing an inspection to determine if fuel boost pumps having a certain part number are installed, replacing the fuel boost pumps having a certain part number, and revising the airplane maintenance program to include revised instructions for continued airworthiness. We are proposing this AD to prevent fuel leakage into the dry cavity of the boost pump and outside of the fuel pump, and to prevent capacitor clearance issues in the dry cavity, which together could result in an uncontrolled fire in the wheel well.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 8 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.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-102, -103, and -106 airplanes, and Model DHC-8-200, -300, and -400 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of excessive wear found in the clevis (bolt) hole where the rod assembly attaches to the rudder/brake pedal bellcrank, due to prolonged fretting. This proposed AD would require measuring the bellcrank clevis holes, inspecting for cracking of the bellcrank, and re-working the clevis holes with steel bushings, or replacing the bellcrank. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct a worn or cracked clevis hole, which could cause failure of the bellcrank on one side, with subsequent asymmetric braking and consequent runway excursion.

This action amends the time of designation for restricted area R-6501B, Underhill, VT by adding a requirement for issuance of a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) 24 hours in advance of any activation of the restricted area. This action does not affect the boundaries, altitudes or activities conducted within the area.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain serial numbers (S/Ns) of Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-Trent 768-60, 772- 60, and 772B-60 turbofan engines. This AD requires initial and repetitive on-wing or in-shop inspections of the high pressure/ intermediate pressure (HP/IP) turbine bearing support oil feed tube outer heat shield. This AD also requires installation of a revised HP/ IP turbine bearing support structure as terminating action to the repetitive inspections of the HP/IP turbine bearing support oil feed tube outer heat shield. This AD was prompted by a report of high oil consumption due to an oil leak from the HP/IP turbine bearing support oil feed tube. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the HP turbine disc, uncontained engine failure, and damage to the airplane.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 757-200, -200CB, and -300 series airplanes. That AD currently requires initial and repetitive inspections of the fuselage skin and bear strap at the forward, upper corner of the L1 entry door cutout for cracking, and repair if necessary. That action also provides an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. That AD also requires additional inspections for airplanes having repairs or preventative modifications installed and inspections for certain other airplanes. This AD requires the previous actions with additional airplane group configurations added to paragraph (n) of this AD. This AD was prompted by a determination that certain airplane group configurations in paragraph (n) of the existing AD were inadvertently removed in the final rule. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the fuselage skin and bear strap at the forward upper corner of the L1 entry door cutout, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the L1 entry door, and consequent rapid decompression of the airplane.

This action proposes to modify Class E airspace at Eureka, NV. Controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate aircraft using Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures at Eureka Airport, Eureka, NV. The FAA is proposing this action to enhance the safety and management of aircraft operations at the airport.

This action proposes to modify Class E airspace at Portland- Hillsboro Airport, Portland, OR, to accommodate aircraft departing and arriving under Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the airport. This action also would make a minor adjustment to the airport's geographic coordinates listed in Class D and Class E airspace. This action, initiated by the biennial review of the Portland-Hillsboro airspace area, would enhance the safety and management of aircraft operations at the airport.

PHMSA is issuing this Advisory Bulletin to inform owners and operators of gas transmission pipelines that if the pipeline pressure exceeds maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) plus the build-up allowed for operation of pressure-limiting or control devices, the owner or operator must report the exceedance to PHMSA on or before the fifth day following the date on which the exceedance occurs. If the pipeline is subject to the regulatory authority of one of PHMSA's State Pipeline Safety Partners, the exceedance must also be reported to the applicable state agency.

This action extends the comment period for a notice of availability that was published in the Federal Register on December 7, 2012. In that document, the FAA announced a proposed policy statement regarding the regulation of some occupational safety and health conditions affecting cabin crewmembers on aircraft by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The comment period is scheduled to close on January 7, 2013. Several airline associations have requested that the FAA extend the comment period for an additional 30 days to allow time for their members to evaluate the impacts and implications of the proposed policy and prepare comments.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 14 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.