Department of Transportation 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 12 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 renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 32 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 action establishes Class E airspace at Coaldale VHF Omni- Directional Radio Range Tactical Air Navigational Aid (VORTAC), Coaldale, NV to facilitate vectoring of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft under control of Oakland Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC). This action enhances the safety and management of IFR operations within the National Airspace System.

This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA and the USACE that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to proposed highway projects for a 26.7 mile segment of I-69 in the Counties of Greene and Monroe, State of Indiana, and grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for all Fokker Services B.V. Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes. That 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. This new AD requires revising the maintenance program to incorporate the limitations, tasks, thresholds, and intervals specified in certain revised Fokker maintenance review board (MRB) documents. This AD was prompted by a revised Fokker 70/100 MRB document with revised limitations, tasks, thresholds, and intervals. We are issuing this AD to reduce the potential of structural failures or 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 are superseding an existing Emergency airworthiness directive (AD) for Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model S-70, S-70A, S-70C, S-70C(M), and S-70C(M1) helicopters with a certain part- numbered intermediate gearbox (IGB). The existing Emergency AD requires a one-time inspection of the internal oil passages of the IGB for an obstruction. That Emergency AD was prompted by an accident that resulted from blockage of oil in the IGB by a plug that was inadvertently left in the IGB during the coating of the IGB housing. We are issuing this supersedure to that Emergency AD to include two additional part numbers of affected IGBs and identify a specific date since new or overhaul of the affected IGBs. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect a plug in the IGB and prevent overheating and seizing of the IGB, failure of the tail rotor drive output shaft, loss of tail rotor drive, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model S-92A helicopters. This AD requires inspecting the tail rotor (T/R) pylon for a loose or missing fastener, a crack, damage, or corrosion and adding an internal doubler to the aft shear deck tunnel assembly. This AD was prompted by the discovery of cracks in T/R pylons. The actions are intended to detect a loose or missing fastener, a crack, damage, or corrosion on the T/R pylon and, if present, to repair the T/R pylon and install a doubler on the aft shear deck tunnel assembly or to replace the T/R pylon and install a doubler on the aft shear deck tunnel assembly. The actions are intended to prevent failure of the T/R pylon or other T/R components, which could lead to the loss of control of the helicopter.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public that the FAA's Air Traffic Procedures Advisory Committee (ATPAC) two year charter has been coordinated and signed by the FAA Administrator. The ATPAC charter is valid for two years and provides a venue to review air traffic control procedures and practices for standardization, revision, clarification, and upgrading of terminology and procedures.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is considering a proposal to authorize the release of 0.32 acres of airport property (Parcel No. 18) at the J. Douglas Bake Memorial Airport, Oconto, WI. Parcel No. 18 is located outside of the airport fence along the west edge of the airport and contains a part of a road used to access a land-locked parcel of private property located adjacent to the airport. Using the piece of airport property as an uncontrolled access road has resulted in a non-aeronautical use of airport property and a compliance issue for the airport. In addition, the uncontrolled access raises liability concerns for the airport. The land release would bring the airport into compliance with grant assurances and assure compatible land use. It would also remove the liability issue related to the unauthorized use of the access road. A categorical exclusion for this land release action was prepared by Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation-Bureau of Aeronautics and issued on June 22, 2011. The aforementioned land is not needed for aeronautical use. The parcel is depicted on the Airport Layout Plan and Exhibit ``A'' property map dated July 12, 2011. There are no impacts to the airport by allowing the airport to dispose of this parcel. The subject parcel was originally acquired on September 10, 2002, as part of Airport Improvement Program grant No. 04 and is described in the warranty deed recorded in Volume 933 pages 480-481, Oconto County, Wisconsin. The value of the parcel is $600. 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.

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 below is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comments. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on August 6, 2012 (75 FR 46789). No comments were received. Correction: The notice in the August 6, 2012 Federal Register [77 FR 46789] requested comments on the Agency's Renewal of a Previously Approved Information Collection: Disclosure of Change-of-Gauge Services. The approval for the Information Collection, abstracted below, expired on August 31, 2012 during the 60-day comment period. Therefore, the Agency is now requesting Reinstatement of a Previously Approved Collection: Disclosure of Change-of-Gauge Services.

We are revising an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. Model P-180 airplanes. That AD currently requires replacement of any firewall shutoff or crossfeed valve with a serial number in a certain range even if it has been previously modified. The way the applicability was written includes valves that should not be affected and are not included in the referenced service information. This AD requires the same actions as the current AD, but only affects those firewall shutoff valves referenced in the referenced service information. We are issuing this AD to clarify the affected parts required to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

These special conditions are issued for the ATR-GIE Avions de Transport Regional Models ATR42-500 and ATR72-212A airplanes. These airplanes will have novel or unusual design features associated with the architecture and connectivity capabilities of the airplanes' computer systems and networks, which may allow access to or by external computer systems and networks. Connectivity to, or access by, external systems and networks may result in security vulnerabilities to the airplanes' 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.

The FAA is correcting an airworthiness directive (AD) that published in the Federal Register. That AD applies to certain Univair Aircraft Corporation Models (ERCO) 415-C, 415-CD, 415-D, E, G; (Forney) F-1 and F-1A; (Alon) A-2 and A2-A; and (Mooney) M10 airplanes. All references to Ercoupe Service Memorandum No. 20, Revision A, dated September 1, 2008, in the non-regulatory preamble and the regulatory text of the AD are incorrect because it is a service bulletin instead of a memorandum. This document corrects these errors. In all other respects, the original document remains the same.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes to amend the maintenance regulations for domestic, flag, and supplemental operations, and commuter and on-demand operations for aircraft type certificated with a passenger seating configuration of 10 seats or more (excluding any pilot seat). The proposed rules would require these operators to develop policies, procedures, methods, and instructions for performing contract maintenance that are acceptable to the FAA and to include them in their maintenance manuals. The rules would also require the operators to provide a list to the FAA of all persons with whom they contract their maintenance. These changes are needed because contract maintenance has increased to over 70 percent of all air carrier maintenance, and numerous investigations have shown deficiencies in maintenance performed by contract maintenance providers. The proposals would help ensure consistency between contract and in-house air carrier maintenance and enhance the oversight capabilities of both the air carriers and the FAA.

This notice announces changes in the Public Transportation on Indian Reservations program (Tribal Transit Program) in accordance with the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) (Pub. L. 112-141), which authorizes the program for Federal fiscal years (FY) 2013 and 2014. MAP-21 was signed into law by President Barack Obama on July 6, 2012 and became effective on October 1, 2012. This notice responds to the new legislation under the Tribal Transit Program by: (1) Introducing FTA's consultation process and schedule for implementing changes due to MAP-21; (2) describing and seeking comment on the methodology for the formula allocation and the assumptions made regarding who is eligible for the formula program; (3) seeking comment on the terms and conditions for the formula and discretionary components of the program; and (4) seeking comments on how the discretionary program resources should be allocated.

This action proposes special conditions for the Embraer S.A. Model EMB-550 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature(s) associated with the use of an Automatic Takeoff Thrust Control System (ATTCS) during go-around. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed 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 all Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called A300-600 series airplanes); and Model A310 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by events of excessive rudder pedal inputs and consequent high loads on the vertical stabilizer on several airplanes. This AD requires either incorporating a design change to the rudder control system and/ or other systems, or installing a stop rudder inputs warning (SRIW) modification. We are issuing this AD to prevent loads on the vertical stabilizer that exceed ultimate design loads, which could cause failure of the vertical stabilizer and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Aeronautical Accessories, Inc. (AAI) high landing gear forward crosstube assemblies (crosstubes) installed on Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) Model AB412 and AB412EP; and Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell) Model 205A, 205A-1, 205B, 212, 412, 412CF, and 412EP helicopters during production or based on a supplemental type certificate (STC). This AD requires counting and recording the total number of landings for the crosstubes, and inspecting the crosstubes and replacing them if a crack or other damage exists. This AD was prompted by two reports from the field of failed crosstubes. The actions are intended to prevent failure of a crosstube, collapse of the landing gear, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400, -401, and -402 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of an in-service incident where the propeller de- icing system became unavailable due to burnt/chafed wires within the alternating current contactor box (ACCB). This AD requires inspection for chafing, damage, and loose wiring within an ACCB and repair if necessary; and requires rework and re-identification of the wiring installation within each ACCB. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct damaged, chafed, or loose wiring within an ACCB, which could affect the operation of the windshield heater, ice detector, angle of attack (AOA) vane heater, pilot probe heater, engine intake heater, or propeller de-icing system, and subsequently adversely affect the airplane's flight characteristics in icing conditions.

The purpose of this Notice is to make available to the public the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) derived from the Environmental Assessment (EA) regarding the Port of Guam Modernization Program (Program). The objective of this Program is to improve or replace existing port facilities, reconfigure operations, expand storage capacity, and upgrade existing infrastructure. Specifically, the proposed action would construct a new break-bulk terminal area in the western portion of the terminal yard. A non-port operations area would be developed east of the proposed new break-bulk terminal to improve efficiency and security. New entrance and exit gates would be constructed to increase processing efficiency and reduce truck queuing times. Some existing buildings would be demolished, expanded, and/or refurbished and new buildings would be constructed. Deteriorating or failing utilities would be upgraded or replaced. Oil/water separators would be installed in storm water outfalls into the harbor. New safety and security improvements would be constructed.

The FHWA, on behalf of Caltrans, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by Caltrans, that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to a proposed local bridge project, the 6th Street Viaduct Seismic Improvement Project in downtown Los Angeles over the Los Angeles River (Bridge No. 53C-1880) and the 6th Street Viaduct Overcrossing, which spans the US 101 Hollywood Freeway (Bridge No. 53-0595) in Los Angeles County, State of California. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.