Department of Transportation November 20, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that proposed a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A330 series airplanes. The NPRM would have required replacement of the elevator servo-controls with new servo-controls when the existing parts have reached their operational life limit. Since the NPRM was issued, we have determined that more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations are necessary and that NPRM does not adequately address the identified unsafe condition. Accordingly, the NRPM is withdrawn.

Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatements of previously approved collections. This document describes one collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

PHMSA and FRA are issuing this safety advisory as a follow-up to the agencies' joint safety advisory published on August 7, 2013 and FRA's Emergency Order No. 28 published that same day, both of which relate to the July 6, 2013, catastrophic accident in Lac- M[eacute]gantic, Quebec. In this safety advisory, PHMSA and FRA are reinforcing the importance of proper characterization, classification, and selection of a packing group for Class 3 materials, and the corresponding requirements in the Federal hazardous materials regulations for safety and security planning. In addition, we are reinforcing that we expect offerors by rail and rail carriers to revise their safety and security plans required by the Federal hazardous materials regulations, including the required risk assessments, to address the safety and security issues identified in FRA's Emergency Order No. 28 and the August 7, 2013, joint Safety Advisory.

Pursuant to Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 5 U.S.C. App. 2), notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC). The meeting will take place on Tuesday, December 10, 2013, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Wednesday, December 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the National Housing Center, 1201 15th Street NW., Washington, DC 20005. This will be the 58th meeting of the COMSTAC. The proposed schedule for the COMSTAC working group meetings on December 10 is below:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on August 21, 2013, vol. 78, no. 162, page 51807. The FAA collects data from airport sponsors and planning agencies to determine eligibility, and to ensure proper use of Federal Funds and project accomplishment for the Airports Grants Program.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on August 21, 2013, vol. 78, no. 162, page 51808. The FAA Office of the Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation (AST) conducts this survey in order to obtain industry input on customer service standards which have been developed and distributed to industry customers.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Agusta Model A109C, A109E, A109K2, and A119 helicopters. This proposed AD would require recurring visual inspections of the tail rotor (T/R) blade retaining bolts (bolts) for a crack, corrosion, damage, or missing cadmium plating in the central part of the bolt. If a crack is not detected by the initial visual inspection then this proposed AD would require a liquid penetrant inspection. Replacing a cracked or damaged bolt would be required before further flight. This proposed AD is prompted by two reported incidents of cracked bolts. The proposed actions are intended to detect an unairworthy bolt and prevent failure of a bolt, release of a T/R blade, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.