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

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. A Special Federal Aviation Regulation requires passengers who intend to use an approved POC to present a physician statement before boarding. The flight crew must then inform the pilot-in-command that a POC is on board.

This document denies a petition from Mr. Peter J. Gonzalez (the petitioner) of Fuquay Varina, NC, requesting that the agency open an investigation into headlamp failures on the model year (MY) 2008 Saturn Outlook and similar vehicles. After reviewing the petition and other information, NHTSA has concluded that further investigation of MY 2007-2009 Saturn Outlook vehicles and the similar GMC Acadia vehicles (subject vehicles) is unlikely to result in a determination that a safety-related defect exists. The agency accordingly denies the petition.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2B16 (CL-604 Variant) airplanes. This AD requires revising the airplane flight manual to incorporate temporary revisions that introduce additional limitations for operation of taxi and landing lights. This AD was prompted by a determination that there is a potential for fuel leakage from auxiliary power unit (APU) boost pump component installations in the right-hand landing lights compartment. We are issuing this AD to advise the flightcrew of the limitations for taxi lights and landing lights to prevent heat generated by the taxi lights and landing lights on the ground reaching the auto-ignition temperature of the fuel, which could potentially ignite any fuel or fumes present in the right-hand landing lights compartment.

This action establishes Class E airspace at the Needles VHF Omni-Directional Radio Range Tactical Air Navigation Aid (VORTAC), Needles, CA, to facilitate vectoring of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft under control of Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC). This improves the safety and management of IFR operations within the National Airspace System.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2012-09- 07, for certain Airbus Model A319-111, -112, and -132 airplanes; Model A320-111, -211, -212, -214 and -232 airplanes; and Model A321-111, - 211, -212, and -231 airplanes. AD 2012-09-07 currently requires performing an electrical bonding test between the gravity fill re-fuel adaptor and the top skin panels on the left-hand and right-hand wings, and if necessary performing a general visual inspection for corrosion of the component interface and adjacent area, and repairing the gravity fuel adaptor if any corrosion is found. Since we issued AD 2012-09-07, we have determined that more airplanes are subject to the identified unsafe condition due to the installation of an incorrect repair intended to address the identified unsafe condition. This proposed AD would add airplanes to the applicability in AD 2012-09-07, and would require inspecting those airplanes to determine if a repair was done, and doing the electrical bonding test and corrective action if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct corrosion and improper bonding, which, in combination with a lightning strike in this area, could create a source of ignition in a fuel tank, resulting in a fire or explosion, and consequent loss of the airplane.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has placed in the docket and on its Web site, proposed guidance, in the form of a circular, to assist recipients in their implementation of the Section 5339 Bus and Bus Facilities Formula Program (Bus Program). The purpose of this proposed circular is to provide recipients of FTA financial assistance with instructions and guidance on program administration and the grant application process. This proposed circular is a result of the new Bus Program enacted through the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). By this notice, FTA invites public comment on the proposed circular.

The Surface Transportation Board (Board) hereby gives notice of one vacancy on its Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee (RETAC) for a representative of a coal producer. The Board is soliciting suggestions from the public for a candidate to fill this vacancy.

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 May 12, 2014, vol. 79, no. 91, page 27030-27031. The survey will help the editors learn more about the target audience and how they elect to improve their safety skills/practices, and what they need to know to improve their safety skills/practices. With this information, the editors can craft FAA Safety Briefing content targeted to its audience to help accomplish the FAA and Department of Transportation's mission of improving safety.

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 May 2, 2014, vol. 79, no. 85, page 25171. The FAA uses the information gathered from Grand Canyon National Park air tour operators to monitor their compliance with the Federal regulations.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the eleventh meeting of the RTCA Special Committee 227, Standards of Navigation Performance.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 217Aeronautical Databases being held jointly with EUROCAE WG-44Aeronautical Databases.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the seventeenth meeting of the RTCA Special Committee 225, Rechargeable Lithium Battery and Battery Systems.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2012-19- 11, which applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 737 airplanes. AD 2012-19-11 currently requires incorporating design changes to improve the reliability of the cabin altitude warning system by installing a redundant cabin altitude pressure switch, replacing the aural warning module (AWM) with a new or reworked AWM, and changing certain wire bundles or connecting certain previously capped and stowed wires as necessary. For certain airplanes, AD 2012-19-11 also requires prior or concurrent incorporation of related design changes by modifying the instrument panels, installing light assemblies, modifying the wire bundles, and installing a new circuit breaker, as necessary. Since we issued AD 2012-19-11, we have determined that certain airplanes were not included in the requirement to incorporate related design changes. This proposed AD would add, for certain airplanes, a requirement to incorporate related design changes. This proposed AD also, for certain airplanes, no longer gives credit for accomplishing certain previous actions. We are proposing this AD to prevent the loss of cabin altitude warning, which could delay flightcrew recognition of a lack of cabin pressurization, and could result in incapacitation of the flightcrew due to hypoxia (a lack of oxygen in the body), and consequent loss of control of the airplane.

In response to the Golden Gate Bridge Highway & Transportation District's (Bridge District) request for a Buy America waiver for waterjets, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) hereby waives its Buy America requirements for waterjets to be installed in the Bridge District's M.V. Mendocino ferry vessel. This waiver is limited to a single procurement for the waterjets to be installed in the M.V. Mendocino ferry vessel, which is part of an FTA-funded project.

Under this notice, the FAA announces the submission deadline of August 12, 2014, for requests to amend slot records (adjust slot times and arrival/departure designations) at New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA).

The Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public to take this opportunity to comment on the ``Extension of Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery'' for approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3519 (PRA). This collection was developed as part of a Federal Government-wide effort to streamline the process for seeking feedback from the public on the Board's service delivery. This notice announces our intent to submit this collection to OMB for approval and solicits comments on specific aspects for the proposed information collection. Comments are requested concerning: (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and (e) estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of operation, maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, disclose, or provide information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time needed to review instructions; to develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for the purpose of collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information; to train personnel and to be able to respond to a collection of information, to search data sources, to complete and review the collection of information; and to transmit or otherwise disclose the information. Submitted comments will be summarized and included in the Board's request for OMB approval.

In accordance with the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 5117(c), PHMSA is publishing the following list of special permit applications that have been in process for 180 days or more. The reason(s) for delay and the expected completion date for action on each application is provided in association with each identified application.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR part 107, Subpart B), notice is hereby given of the actions on special permits applications in (June to June 2014) The mode of transportation involved is identified by a number in the ``Nature of Application'' portion of the table below as follows: 1Motor vehicle, 2Rail freight, 3Cargo vessel, 4Cargo aircraft only, 5Passenger-carrying aircraft. Application numbers prefixed by the letters EE represent applications for Emergency Special Permits. It should be noted that some of the sections cited were those in effect at the time certain special permits were issued.

This responds to three (3) petitions for reconsideration to NHTSA's August 20, 2013 final rule adopting amendments to certain provisions of the early warning reporting (EWR) rule and regulations governing motor vehicle and equipment safety recalls. NHTSA received three (3) petitions for reconsideration that contained requests to alter or withdraw several adopted amendments. In addition, this document makes minor technical corrections to ensure all recall communications are received through NHTSA's online recalls portal and that all owner notification letters are sent to owners at the time the remedy is available.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, and -315 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of a fractured wing-to-fuselage strut attachment joint bolt. This AD requires a torque check of all wing-to-fuselage strut attachment joint bolts, and repair or replacement if necessary. For certain airplanes, this AD also requires a detailed inspection for corrosion, damage, and wear of each wing-to-fuselage strut attachment joint bolt and associated hardware, and replacement if necessary; and a borescope inspection for corrosion and damage of the bore hole and barrel nut threads, and repair or replacement if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fractured strut attachment joint bolts, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the wing-to-fuselage strut attachment joint and subsequent loss of the wing.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-300, 747-400, and 747-400D series airplanes. This AD was prompted by an evaluation by the design approval holder (DAH) indicating that the upper deck tension ties are subject to widespread fatigue damage (WFD). This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracking in the upper deck tension ties, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary; tension tie replacement; and post-replacement repetitive inspections for cracking in the upper deck tension ties, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the upper deck tension ties. Severed or disconnected tension ties at multiple locations could result in rapid decompression and loss of structural integrity of the airplane.

In response to Congress' mandate in the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA), FRA is proposing to expand the scope of its alcohol and drug regulations to cover employees who perform maintenance-of-way (MOW) activities. In addition, FRA is proposing certain substantive amendments that either respond to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendations or update and clarify the alcohol and drug regulations based on a retrospective regulatory review (RRR) analysis.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Maritime Administration (MARAD) announce that the Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council (MTSNAC) will hold a closed door meeting on August 14, 2014. After a review of all comments received from the interested public during its two national maritime symposiums, MARAD is now planning to provide the council a compilation of select concepts for further consideration. In January 2014, MARAD held a three-day National Maritime Strategy Symposium to discuss issues facing U.S.-flag vessels. The purpose of this initial public meeting was to generate ideas to improve, strengthen, and sustain the cargo opportunities and sealift capacity of the U.S.-flagged fleet engaged in international commercial trade. A second symposium was held in May which focused on domestic shipping, shipbuilding, ports and the needs of maritime stakeholders on the inland waterways, Great Lakes, gulf and coastwise trade. The August 14 meeting will be held to obtain the opinions and views of council members with respect to the value and impact of certain strategy options gathered through MARAD outreach. The input MARAD expects to receive from the council will be part of its on-going deliberations as it prepares a long term maritime strategy.

These special conditions are issued for Airbus Model A350-900 airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with airplane electronic system security protection or isolation from unauthorized internal access. 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.