Department of Transportation June 25, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice serves to inform interested parties and the public of the Maritime Administration's (MARAD) new policy on certification of cruise vessel security and safety training providers. As required by the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010, Public Law 111-207 (July 27, 2010) (codified at 46 U.S.C. sections 3507-08) (CVSSA), the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), in consultation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and MARAD developed training standards and curricula (the ``Model Course'') to allow for the certification of passenger vessel security personnel, crewmembers, and law enforcement officials on the appropriate methods for the prevention, detection, evidence preservation and reporting of criminal activities in the international maritime environment. In addition, the CVSSA provided the Maritime Administrator with the discretionary authority to certify organizations in the United States and abroad that offer the curriculum for training and certification. On May 23, 2013, the agency published a notice in the Federal Register seeking public comment on a draft policy under which such certification would be carried out (78 FR 30956). In response, the agency received four separate comments to which it provides its responses below. The agency is now announcing its voluntary certification program for training providers to assure the general public that passenger cruise vessel security and safety personnel have received training that is in strict compliance with the CVSSA mandated Model Course. MARAD certification will serve to assist the cruise industry in identifying and obtaining qualified training services.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 747-8 and 747-8F series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by an analysis by the manufacturer, which revealed that certain fuse pins for the strut-to-wing attachment of the outboard aft upper spar are susceptible to migration in the event of a failed fuse pin through bolt. This proposed AD would require replacing the fuse pins for the strut-to-wing attachment of the outboard aft upper spar with new fuse pins, and replacing the access cover assemblies with new access cover assemblies. We are proposing this AD to prevent migration of these fuse pins, which could result in the complete disconnect and loss of the strut-to-wing attachment load path for the outboard aft upper spar. The complete loss of an outboard aft upper spar strut-to-wing attachment load path could result in divergent flutter in certain parts of the flight envelope, which could result in loss of control of the airplane.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR. 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.

As authorized by 46 U.S.C. 12121, the Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirement of the coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that FRA and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) intend to prepare an EIS pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) for the impacts of constructing and operating a dedicated high-speed rail (HSR) system (Proposed Action) proposed by the private company, Texas Central High-Speed Railway (TCR), for the Central Texas High-Speed Rail Corridor. The EIS will evaluate route alternatives for passenger rail for the corridor between Dallas and Houston, which currently has no passenger rail service. FRA will evaluate alternatives for construction and operation of the Proposed Action consisting of a sealed HSR corridor.