Department of Transportation January 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This final rule amends the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) joint procedures that implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by adding new categorical exclusions (CE) for projects within an existing operational right-of-way and projects receiving limited Federal funding, as described in sections 1316 and 1317, respectively, of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21).

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 777 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of latently failed fuel shutoff valves discovered during fuel filter replacement. This proposed AD would require revising the maintenance or inspection program to include a new airworthiness limitation. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct latent failures of the fuel shutoff valve to the engine, which could result in the inability to shut off fuel to the engine and, in case of certain engine fires, an uncontrollable fire that could lead to wing failure.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) issue this early scoping notice to advise other agencies and the public that they intend to explore potential alternatives for improving public transportation service to and within the central Wasatch Mountains of Salt Lake County and Summit County, Utah. UTA is conducting this work through formal agreement and partnership with numerous state and local agencies, including Salt Lake County, Summit County, Wasatch Front Regional Council, Salt Lake City, Cottonwood Heights, Sandy City, Park City, Town of Alta, and others. This early scoping process is part of a regional planning effort to examine regional connectivity for the central Wasatch Mountains. This notice invites the public to help frame transportation improvements, while considering the inherent interdependence of watershed protection, wilderness protection, land-use planning, and economic opportunities in the central Wasatch Mountains. This process builds upon prior planning efforts contained in Salt Lake County's ``Wasatch Canyons Tomorrow'' study and ``Mountain Transportation Study'' completed in September 2010 and November 2012, respectively. The early scoping process is intended to support a future National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) scoping process, as appropriate.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Turbomeca S.A. ASTAZOU XIV B and XIV H engines. This AD was prompted by reports of cracks on the 2nd-stage turbine disk. This AD requires replacement of the 2nd-stage turbine disk. We are issuing this AD to prevent disk cracking, uncontained 2nd-stage turbine blade release, damage to the engine, and damage to the helicopter.

These special conditions are issued for the Learjet Model 35, 35A, 36, and 36A airplanes. These airplanes, as modified by Peregrine, 13000 E. Control Tower Road, Unit K-4, Englewood, CO, 80112, will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with rechargeable lithium- ion batteries and battery systems. These batteries have certain failure, operational, and maintenance characteristics that differ significantly from those of the nickel-cadmium and lead-acid rechargeable batteries currently approved for installation on large transport-category airplanes. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. 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.

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

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of $24.9 million of Fiscal Year 2013 funds for the deployment of low or no emission transit buses. Of that amount, $21.6 million is available for buses and $3.3 million is available for supporting facilities and related equipment. If additional funding is appropriated for this program in FY 2014, FTA may, at its discretion, also make those funds available under this announcement.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Holdrege, NE. Decommissioning of the Holdrege non-directional radio beacon (NDB) at Brewster Field Airport has made airspace reconfiguration necessary for standard instrument approach procedures and for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. Geographic coordinates also would be adjusted.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Jefferson City, MO. Decommissioning of the Noah non-directional radio beacon (NDB) at Jefferson City Memorial Airport has made reconfiguration necessary for standard instrument approach procedures and for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action proposes special conditions for the Airbus Model A350-900 series airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with a lateral trim function that deploys flaps asymmetrically for airplane lateral trim control. This function replaces the traditional method of providing airplane lateral trim over a small range through flap and aileron mechanical rigging. 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.

This action proposes special conditions for Airbus Model A350- 900 series airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature(s) associated with the post-crash fire survivability of composite fuel tanks. 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 Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-524G2-19, RB211-524G3-19, RB211-524H-36, and RB211-524H2-19 turbofan engines. This AD requires a one-time reduction in the cyclic life of certain high-pressure (HP) compressor rotor stage 1 and stage 2 discs, and removal of discs that exceed the reduced cycle life. This AD was prompted by a review by RR of the cyclic life of life-limited parts (LLPs) for RB211-524 series engines. We are issuing this AD to prevent the failure of certain LLPs, which could result in uncontained engine damage and damage to the airplane.

On December 31, 2013, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued Safety Advisory 14-1 to provide guidance to State Safety Oversight Agencies (SSOAs) and rail fixed guideway public transportation agencies on redundant protections for roadway workers in the rail transit industry, and review and revision of rules and procedures to protect roadway workers from trains and moving equipment. FTA issued this guidance in response to a number of recent accidents in the industry, and two urgent recommendations by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). FTA's Safety Advisory 14-1, ``Right-of-Way Worker Protection,'' is available in its entirety on the agency's public Web site (https://www.fta.dot.gov/tso.html). Further, FTA has asked each SSOA to coordinate with every rail transit agency within its jurisdiction to complete and submit Appendix 1 to Safety Advisory 14-1, ``Right-of-Way Worker Protection Assessment Checklist,'' and to conduct formal hazard analyses regarding the presence of workers in rail transit rights-of-way.

On January 2, 2014, the Board served an updated decision announcing the 2012 revenue adequacy determinations for the Nation's Class I railroads, taking into account BNSF Railway Company's refiled R-1 report for 2012. Three carriers, BNSF Railway Company, Norfolk Southern Combined Railroad Subsidiaries, and Union Pacific Railroad Company, were found to be revenue adequate.

On January 2, 2014, the Board served an updated decision announcing the 2010 revenue adequacy determinations for the Nation's Class I railroads, taking into account BNSF Railway Company's refiled R-1 report for 2010. One carrier, Union Pacific Railroad Company, was found to be revenue adequate.

The FAA publishes a monthly notice, as appropriate, of PFC approvals and disapprovals under the provisions of the Aviation Safety and Capacity Expansion Act of 1990 (Title IX of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990) (Pub. L. 101-508) and Part 158 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Part 158). This notice is published pursuant to paragraph d of Sec. 158.29.

The FAA publishes a monthly notice, as appropriate, of PFC approvals and disapprovals under the provisions of the Aviation Safety and Capacity Expansion Act of 1990 (Title IX of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990) (Pub. L.101-508) and Part 158 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Part 158). This notice is published pursuant to paragraph d of Sec. 158.29.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is issuing this notice to advise the public that the FAA has prepared, and approved on November 6, 2013, a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)/Record of Decision (ROD) based on the Final Environmental Assessment (Final EA) for the Proposed Construction and Operation of a Replacement Aerial Tramway (ATRAM), South Franklin Mountain, El Paso, Texas. The FAA prepared the Final EA in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and the FAA's regulations and guidelines for environmental documents and the Final EA was signed on September 30, 2013. Copies of the Final EA and/or FONSI/ROD are available by contacting Ms. Virginia Marcks through the contact information provided below.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Sikorsky Model S-70, S-70A, S-70C, S-70C (M), and S-70C (M1) helicopters with General Electric (GE) T700-GE-401C or T700-GE-701C engines installed. This AD requires establishing new fatigue life limits for certain GE engine gas generator turbine (GGT) rotor parts. This AD was prompted by a reevaluation of the method for determining the life limit for certain GE engine GGT rotor parts and the determination that these life limits should be based on low cycle fatigue (LCF) events instead of hours time-in-service (TIS). The actions are intended to prevent fatigue failure of a GGT rotor part, engine failure, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Embraer S.A. Model ERJ 170 and ERJ 190 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of failures of the emergency slide on the forward passenger door, which prevented the door from opening. This AD requires repetitive re-packing of certain forward door escape slides. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the emergency slide, which can prevent the forward passenger door from opening, and which could result in impeded emergency evacuation and possible subsequent injury to passengers and flightcrew.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2009-14-02 for certain The Boeing Company Model 747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747- 200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, 747-400F, 747SR, and 747SP series airplanes. AD 2009-14-02 required repetitive inspections for wear damage and cracks of the fuselage skin in the interface area of the vertical stabilizer seal and fuselage skin, a detailed inspection for wear damage and cracks of the surface of any skin repair doubler in the area, and corrective actions if necessary. For airplanes on which the fuselage skin has been blended to remove wear damage, AD 2009-14-02 also required repetitive external detailed inspections or high frequency eddy current inspections for cracks of the blended area of the fuselage skin, and corrective actions if necessary. This new AD reduces the repetitive inspection interval, changes certain corrective actions, and expands the applicability. This AD was prompted by a report of wear through the fuselage skin that occurred sooner than the previous repetitive inspection interval. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct wear damage and cracks of the fuselage skin in the interface area of the vertical stabilizer seal and fuselage skin in sections 46 and 48, which could cause in-flight depressurization of the airplane.