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

The FAA is correcting a final rule published on March 21, 2014. In that final rule, the FAA amended its regulations to extend the prohibition against certain flights within the Tripoli Flight Information Region from March 21, 2014 to March 21, 2015. The FAA inadvertently cited an incorrect RIN number. This document corrects that error and also corrects an inadvertent amendment.

FMCSA announces that it has received an application from the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (Virginia DMV) for a limited exemption from the Agency's commercial driver's license (CDL) regulation. Section 383.77(b)(1) allows a State to waive the CDL skills test described in 49 CFR 383.113 for applicants regularly employed or previously employed within the last 90 days in a military position requiring operation of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). Virginia DMV proposes that it be allowed to extend the 90-day timeline to one year following the driver's separation from military service. Virginia DMV believes the 90-day timeframe is too short to take advantage of the waiver for many of the qualified discharged veterans reentering and settling into civilian life. FMCSA requests public comment on Virginia DMV's application for exemption. In addition, because the issues concerning the Virginia DMV request could be applicable in each of the States, FMCSA requests public comment whether the exemption, if granted, should cover all State Driver's Licensing Agencies (SDLAs).

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) plans to dispose of an obsolete vessel, the ex-USNS COMET (T-AK-269), which is currently located at its Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet in Benicia, California. MARAD, in consultation with the California State Historic Preservation Office, determined that the vessel is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion c. The ex-USNS COMET is considered to be the first purpose-built oceangoing ``roll-on/roll- off'' vessel. Roll-on/roll-off, or Ro/Ro, describes how wheeled- vehicular cargo is loaded and unloaded. MARAD is authorized to provide qualified public and non-profit organizations the opportunity to obtain, via donation, obsolete ships from the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF) for use as memorials and/or in other non-commercial enterprises. Accordingly, MARAD is issuing this notice to provide the public and non-profit organizations such an opportunity. For donation application information, please see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT below.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Taylor, TX. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Taylor Municipal Airport. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations for SIAPs at the airport. Airport coordinates would also be adjusted.

The Surface Transportation Board (Board) will hold a public hearing on April 10, 2014, at its offices in Washington, DC, to provide interested persons the opportunity to report on recent service problems in the United States rail network, to hear from rail industry executives on plans to address their service problems, and to discuss additional options to improve service.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (Type Certificate previously held by Mitsubishi; Raytheon Aircraft Company) Model MU-300 airplanes, and Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (Type Certificate previously held by Raytheon Aircraft Company; Beech Aircraft Corporation) Model 400, 400A, and 400T airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by multiple reports of fatigue cracking in the horizontal stabilizer ribs. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections of the horizontal stabilizer rib assemblies for cracking, and replacement if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct such cracking, which could result in the failure of the horizontal stabilizer and loss of pitch control of the airplane.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR). The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of the 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.

Changes have been made to the AIP grant assurances to conform the list of General Federal Requirements to the correct numbering of some of the documents that recently changed, to add recent legislation, to revise Assurance 10 to conform to current statute, to clarify that Assurance 25, Airport Revenues, applies when an airport sponsor takes a grant for airport planning, and to note that Assurance 37 applies to airport concession disadvantaged business enterprises. Assurance 20 of the Non-Airport Sponsor Assurances for Non-Airport Sponsors Undertaking Noise Compatibility Program Projects is also revised to delete paragraphs which discussed land purchased for airport development. In addition, on April 24, 2013, the Secretary of Transportation signed the DOT Standard Title VI Assurances and Non-Discrimination Provisions, Order 1050.2A (Title VI Assurances). The Title VI Assurances were incorporated into the FAA Office of Civil Rights Order 1400.11, the ``Nondiscrimination in Federally-Assisted Programs at the Federal Aviation Administration Order,'' which was published on August 27, 2013. The changes to the AIP grant assurances in this Notice incorporate the Title VI Assurances.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2010-23-12 for certain Airbus Model A330 and Model A340 series airplanes. AD 2010-23- 12 required inspecting to determine the part number for Thales Avionics Angle of Attack (AoA) probes, and replacing any affected probe with a serviceable probe. This new AD adds airplanes to the applicability and, for certain airplanes, requires that those affected probes be replaced. This AD was prompted by reports that the AoA sensors on certain airplanes were modified and re-identified without performing the inspection to determine the part number; therefore, the affected probes were not replaced with serviceable probes. We are issuing this AD to prevent erroneous AoA information and consequent delayed activation or non-activation of the AoA protection systems, which, in combination with flight at a high angle of attack, could result in reduced controllability of the airplane.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Park Service (NPS) are inviting interested persons to apply to fill one existing opening and one upcoming opening on the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG) Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) to represent environmental concerns. Selected members will each serve 3-year terms.

We are superseding airworthiness directive (AD) 2007-03-02 for all Rolls-Royce Deutschland (RRD) Tay 620-15, Tay 650-15, and Tay 651- 54 turbofan engines. AD 2007-03-02 required an ultrasonic inspection (UI) of low-pressure (LP) compressor fan blades for cracks on certain serial number (S/N) Tay 650-15 engines. AD 2007-03-02 also required, for all Tay 611-8, 620-15, Tay 650-15, and Tay 651-54 engines, initial and repetitive UIs of LP compressor fan blades. AD 2007-03-02 also required, for Tay 650-15 and Tay 651-54 engines, UIs of LP compressor fan blades whenever the blade set is removed from one engine and installed on a different engine. This AD requires additional inspections for the affected engines and removal of the Tay 611-8 engine from the applicability. This AD was prompted by a report of an additional engine failure due to multiple fan blade separation. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the LP compressor fan blade, engine failure, and damage to the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of excessive wear on the lower latch surface of the main landing gear (MLG) up-lock hook. This AD requires revising the maintenance program. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct up- lock hooks worn beyond the wear limit, which could prevent the successful extension of the MLG using the primary landing gear extension system, which in combination with an alternate extension system failure could result in the inability to extend the MLG.

A Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published in the Federal Register on March 18, 2014 amending Class E airspace at Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport is being withdrawn. Upon review, the FAA found that the Bridgeport VOR has not been decommissioned, and therefore airspace reconfiguration is not required.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC).

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that FHWA will submit the collection of information described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on January 17, 2014. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden.

This document grants in full Ford Motor Company's (Ford) petition for an exemption of the Fiesta vehicle line in accordance with 49 CFR Part 543, Exemption from Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard. This petition is granted because the agency has determined that the antitheft device to be placed on the line as standard equipment is likely to be as effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as compliance with the parts-marking requirements of the 49 CFR Part 541, Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard (Theft Prevention Standard). Ford also requested confidential treatment of specific information in its petition. The agency will address Ford's request for confidential treatment by separate letter.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 6 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.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that FHWA will submit the collection of information described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on January 17, 2014. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that FHWA will submit the collection of information described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on January 17, 2014. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that FHWA will submit the collection of information described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on January 17, 2014. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501- 3519 (PRA), the Surface Transportation Board (Board) gives notice that it is requesting from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the information collectionthe Waybill Samplefurther described below. The Board previously published a notice about this collection in the Federal Register on January 16, 2014, at 79 FR 2,938. That notice allowed for a 60-day public review and comment period. No comments were received. Comments are may now be submitted to OMB concerning: (1) The accuracy of the Board's burden estimates; (2) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; (3) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology when appropriate; and (4) whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Board, including whether the collection has practical utility. Submitted comments will be summarized and included in the Board's request for OMB approval.