Department of Transportation May 14, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action amends the Order Limiting Operations at New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) that published on December 27, 2006, and was amended on November 8, 2007, August 19, 2008, October 7, 2009, April 4, 2011, and May 23, 2012. The Order remains effective until the final Rule on Slot Management and Transparency for LaGuardia Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport becomes effective but not later than October 24, 2014.

This action amends the Order Limiting Operations at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) that published on January 18, 2008, and was amended on February 14, 2008, October 7, 2009, and April 4, 2011. The Order remains effective until the final Rule on Slot Management and Transparency for LaGuardia Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport becomes effective but not later than October 24, 2014.

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan), has determined that certain model year 2008 through 2010 Nissan Titan trucks do not fully comply with the requirements of paragraph S19.2.2(b) of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, Occupant Crash Protection. Nissan has filed an appropriate report pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports, dated August 18, 2010. Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and 30120(h) and the rule implementing those provision at 49 CFR Part 556, Nissan has petitioned for an exemption from the notification and remedy requirements of 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 on the basis that this noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety. Notice of receipt of Nissan's petition was published, with a 30 day public comment period, on December 21, 2010, in the Federal Register (75 FR 80109). No comments were received. To view the petition and all supporting documents log onto the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) Web site at: https://www.regulations.gov/. Then follow the online search instructions to locate docket number ``NHTSA-2008-0210.'' Contact Information: For further information on this decision, contact Mr. Lawrence Valvo, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), telephone (202) 366-5359, facsimile (202) 366-7002. Vehicles Involved: Affected are approximately 102,254 model year 2008 through 2010 Nissan Titan trucks that were manufactured from April 10, 2007, through August 6, 2010. Summary of Nissan's Petition: Nissan states that the noncompliance is that the label identifying the amber air bag status telltale lamp for the front outboard passenger seating position is identified with the words ``PASSENGER AIR BAG'' instead of ``PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF.'' Nissan believes the noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety for the following reasons: 1. The passenger air bag system on the subject vehicles operates as designed and automatically deactivates the passenger air bag when it is appropriate in accordance with the requirements in S19.2 of FMV55 No. 208. That is, the system requires no input from the operator to perform its intended function. Further, the front passenger airbag status telltale operates correctly and illuminates when the passenger air bag is deactivated as required by the standard. 2. The meaning of the air bag status telltale alone (without the identifying words) is unequivocal to the vehicle occupants. The telltale remains off when the passenger air bag is in the normal mode. When the passenger air bag is deactivated, the telltale is illuminated, showing an icon representing an air bag with an X drawn over it. This clearly represents a deactivated air bag. Nissan notes that in certain other markets, the telltale alone is deemed sufficient with no identifying words required next to the telltale. The identifying words ``passenger side air bag'' (without the word ``OFF'') do not confuse the otherwise clear and readily apparent meaning of the telltale. 3. Information provided in several locations in the vehicle owner's manual further reduces any possibility of operator confusion. If the meaning of telltale is unclear, the operator can refer to multiple explanations in the owner's manual. 4. Telltale Function is also described in Quick Reference Guide. 5. There have been no customer complaints, injuries, or accidents related to the word ``OFF'' missing from the label. Nissan has searched its databases and has found no cases of misunderstanding the telltale. 6. Nissan conducted an informal survey at Nissan's National Headquarters Building in Franklin, Tennessee. The building houses mostly business personnel (sales marketing, finance) and not design engineers that would have special understanding of the air bag systems. As employees were approaching the building to begin their workday, they were asked to participate in a survey regarding the Titan and that the survey would take about 30 seconds of their time. The participants represented a good cross-section of the general population by age, gender and race. The subject Titan pickup truck was equipped with the required yellow passenger side air bag status telltale that contained the ``no air bag'' symbol, but did not display the word ``OFF''. The passenger air bag telltale was illuminated. Survey participants were asked to describe the meaning of the telltale. Sixty people participated in the survey. Of the sixty people, 58 responded correctly that the telltale indicated the passenger side airbag was in suppressed mode. The survey shows that people understand the meaning of the passenger air bag telltale even with the word ``OFF'' missing. We note also that adding the word ``OFF'' did not help the two respondents to understand the meaning of the telltale. They would have needed to consult the Owner's Manual. Nissan acknowledges that this was an ad hoc survey that may not meet rigid statistical standards, nevertheless, we believe it is predictive of the results that would be obtained from a larger, controlled survey. 7. A decision to grant this petition would be consistent with arguably similar prior requests related to labeling issues. For example, NHTSA has previously granted petitions related to certain tire and tire placard labeling errors. Nissan also states that it has taken steps to correct the non- compliance in future production. Supported by the above stated reasons, Nissan believes that the described FMVSS No. 208 noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety, and that its petition, to exempt it from providing recall notification of noncompliance as required by 49 U.S.C. 30118 and remedying the recall noncompliance as required by 49 U.S.C. 30120, should be granted. Discussion: Section S19.2.2 of FMVSS No. 208 specifically states:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Maritime Administration's (MARAD's) intention to request extension of approval for three years of a currently approved information collection.

The Board is granting an exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502 from the prior approval requirements at 49 U.S.C. 11323-25 for Grand Trunk Western Railroad Company (GTW), an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian National Railway Company, to acquire from CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSXT) an exclusive, perpetual, non-assignable railroad operating easement over: 1. The location of the railroad at-grade crossing, at or near Leewood, between CSXT at milepost 00F Z 371.26 and Illinois Central Railroad Company (IC) at milepost 387.85, including the underlying right-of-way extending 50 feet on either side of the centerline of the CSXT tracks to IC's existing right-of-way and 75 feet on either side of the centerline of the IC tracks, together with appurtenances (other than the CSXT tracks outside the crossing) and related interlocking (Leewood Crossing); and 2. The location of the railroad at-grade crossing, at or near Aulon, between CSXT at milepost 0NI 224.05 and IC at milepost 390.0, including the underlying right-of-way extending approximately 50 feet on either side of the centerline of the CSXT track to IC's existing right-of-way and 50 feet on either side of the centerline of the IC tracks, together with appurtenances (other than the CSXT tracks outside the crossing) and related interlocking (Aulon Crossing). This acquisition is related to the Board's February 8, 2013 decision in this docket granting GTW's petition for exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502 from the prior approval requirements at 49 U.S.C. 11323-25 to acquire from CSXT an operating easement over approximately 2.1 miles of CSXT's Memphis Terminal Subdivision between Leewood, Tenn., and Aulon, Tenn. After the Board served that decision, CSXT and GTW realized that they had unintentionally failed to seek authority permitting the operating easement to span the Aulon and Leewood Crossings. By a decision served on May 9, 2013, the Board is granting GTW's petition for supplemental authority and allowing it to expand its operating easement over these crossings.

We propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Airbus Model A318-111 and -112 airplanes, Model A319 series airplanes, Model A320 series airplanes, and Model A321 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires repetitive inspections of the 80VU rack lower lateral fittings for damage; repetitive inspections of the 80VU rack lower central support for cracking; and corrective action if necessary. That existing AD also specifies optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. Since we issued that AD, we have received reports of worn lower lateral fittings of the 80VU rack. This proposed AD would reduce the inspection compliance time, add an inspection of the upper fittings and shelves of the 80VU rack, and add airplanes to the applicability. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct damage or cracking of the 80VU fittings and supports, which could lead to possible disconnection of the cable harnesses to one or more computers and, if occurring during a critical phase of flight, could result in reduced control of the airplane.

The FHWA, on behalf of Caltrans, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by Caltrans, USACE and USFWS that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to a proposed State Route 41 Madera Passing Lanes project 0.3 miles north of Road 208 to 2.2 miles north of Road 208 in Madera County, in the State of California. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

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.

This action amends Class D airspace at El Monte Airport, El Monte, CA. This action, initiated by the FAA's biennial review of the El Monte Airspace area, creates additional Class D airspace to accommodate aircraft departures and arrivals. This improves the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of two in-service occurrences on Model 737-400 airplanes of total loss of boost pump pressure of the fuel feed system, followed by loss of fuel system suction feed capability on one engine, and in-flight shutdown of the engine. This AD requires repetitive operational tests of the engine fuel suction feed of the fuel system, and corrective actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct loss of the engine fuel suction feed capability of the fuel system, which, in the event of total loss of the fuel boost pumps, could result in dual engine flameout, inability to restart the engines, and consequent forced landing of the airplane.