Department of Transportation 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 12 individuals for an exemption from the prohibition against persons with a clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause a loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) from operating CMVs in interstate commerce. The regulation and the associated advisory criteria published in the Code of Federal Regulations as the ``Instructions for Performing and Recording Physical Examinations'' have resulted in numerous drivers being prohibited from operating CMVs in interstate commerce based on the fact that they have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication, rather than an individual analysis of their circumstances by a qualified medical examiner. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication to operate CMVs for 2 years in interstate commerce.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Rockwell Collins TDR-94 and TDR-94D Mode select (S) transponders that are installed on airplanes. This AD was prompted by instances where the TDR-94 and TDR-94D Mode S transponders did not properly respond to Mode S Only All-Call interrogations when the airplane transitioned from a ground to airborne state. This AD requires inspecting the setting of the airplane type code category strapping and requires either modifying the airplane type code category setting or installing the software upgrade to convert the affected transponders to the new part number. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

These special conditions are issued for Airbus Model A350-900 airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature that will incorporate a nitrogen generation system (NGS) for all fuel tanks, to actively reduce flammability exposure within the fuel tanks significantly below that required by the fuel-tank flammability regulations. Among other benefits, the NGS significantly reduces the potential for fuel-vapor ignition caused by lightning strikes. 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.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collections and their expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period was published on May 12, 2014 [NHTSA-2014-0049 Volume 79, Number 91, pages 27047 and 27048].

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.

Notice is hereby given of a meeting of the National Grain Car Council (NGCC), pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C., app. 2 section 10(a)(2).

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Innovative Public Transportation Workforce Development Program Ladders of Opportunity Initiative. FTA will make available approximately $7.85 million in funds appropriated in Fiscal Year 2013 and Prior Years, in support of this effort. This NOFA solicits proposals that promote innovative nationally and regionally significant public transportation workforce development models and programs that invest in America's economic growth and help build ladders of opportunity into the middle class for American workers.

The FHWA is updating the existing value engineering (VE) regulations to make them consistent with the statutory changes in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) and to make other non-substantive changes for clarity.

This action establishes Class E airspace at the Flagstaff VHF Omni-Directional Radio Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigation aid, Flagstaff, AZ, to facilitate vectoring of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft under control of Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC). This improves the safety and management of IFR operations within the National Airspace System.

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 June 12, 2014, vol. 79, no. 113, page 33798. The respondents supply information through the AC 8050-135 to the FAA Civil Aviation Registry's Aircraft Registration Branch in order to obtain an authorization code for access to the International Registry.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of $19.98 million of Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 and FY 2014 funds under the Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning as authorized under Section 20005(b) of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), Public Law 112-141, July 6, 2012. The program augments FTA's Fixed Guideway Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program by supporting comprehensive planning associated with new fixed guideway and core capacity improvement projects that will help the projects develop information to address the CIG Program's evaluation criteria and thus be more competitive for that program's funding. This notice solicits proposals to compete for FY 2013 and FY 2014 funding under the Pilot Program for TOD Planning and may include additional funds made available under future appropriations. It outlines the process to apply for funding, identifies FTA's priorities for these discretionary funds, and establishes the criteria FTA will use to identify meritorious projects for funding. This announcement is available on the FTA Web site at: https://www.fta.dot.gov. FTA may announce final selections on the Web site and in the Federal Register. Additionally, a synopsis of this funding opportunity will be posted in the FIND module of the government-wide electronic grants (GRANTS.GOV) Web site at https:// www.grants.gov.

On September 2, 2014, the Board served a decision announcing the 2013 revenue adequacy determinations for the Nation's Class I railroads. Five carriers, BNSF Railway Company, Grand Trunk Corporation, Norfolk Southern Combined Railroad Subsidiaries, Soo Line Corporation and Union Pacific Railroad Company, were found to be revenue adequate.

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.

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 collection is used to nominate private citizens for recognition of their significant voluntary contribution to aviation education and flight 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 for to renew an information collection. The information collected is used by the FAA to register aircraft or hold an aircraft in trust. The information required to register and prove ownership of an aircraft is required by any person wishing to register an aircraft.

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. Part A of Subtitle VII of the Revised Title 49 U.S.C. authorizes the issuance of regulations governing the use of navigable airspace. Information is collected to determine compliance with Federal regulations. Respondents are individual airmen, state or local governments, and businesses.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146 series airplanes, and Model Avro 146-RJ series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a pressurization problem on an airplane during climb-out; a subsequent investigation showed a crack in the fuselage skin. This proposed AD would require repetitive external eddy current inspections on the aft skin lap joints of the rear fuselage for cracking, corrosion, and other defects, and repair if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracking, corrosion, and other defects, which could affect the structural integrity of the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A318-111 and -112 airplanes, Model A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracks on the forward corner fittings of engine pylon aft secondary structures. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections of certain forward corner fittings of the pylon aft secondary structures, and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD also provides optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct detachment of the lower fairing attachment and/or loss of the aft fixed fairing with the movable fairing from the airplane in flight, which could result in damage to the airplane.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-06- 18, for all Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called Model A300-600 series airplanes) and Model A300 series airplanes. AD 2008-06-18 currently requires repetitive inspections for any cracking of the wing lower skin panel and associated internal support structure, and if necessary, corrective actions such as modifying the lower panel inboard of rib 9 aft of the rear spar and repairing cracks. Since we issued AD 2008-06-18, we have received a report that information from an analysis and fleet survey show a need for reduced compliance times and intervals. This proposed AD would continue to require the existing requirements, and would reduce some compliance times. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracking, which could lead to reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for a new information collection, which is summarized below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

These special conditions are issued for Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GVI airplane. This airplane, as modified by Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, will have novel or unusual design features associated with the installation of electro-hydraulically operated seats with a backup power supply (BPS) and hydraulic reservoir, pump, and actuators, as well as massage and heating functions. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for these design features. 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 modifies Class E airspace at Hulett Municipal Airport, Hulett, WY, to accommodate aircraft using the Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures. This action enhances the safety and management of aircraft operations at the airport.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A300 series airplanes; Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4- 600R series airplanes; Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called Model A300-600 series airplanes); and Model A310 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of rupture of the uplock springs of the nose landing gear (NLG) and main landing gear (MLG) doors and legs. This AD requires repetitive inspections of the uplock springs of the NLG and MLG doors and legs for broken and damaged springs, and corrective actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct improper free fall extension of the MLG or NLG, which could lead to possible loss of control of the airplane on the ground, and consequent damage to the airplane and injury to occupants.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Harry E. Williams de Havilland Model DH 82A airplanes, all Cliff Robertson de Havilland Model DH 82A airplanes, and all de Havilland Model DH 83 airplanes. This AD requires inspecting the aircraft maintenance records and/or the installed lateral fuselage tie rods and attaching nuts to determine the origin of manufacture. This AD also requires immediately replacing lateral fuselage tie rods and attaching nuts produced by a specific manufacturer. This AD was prompted by reports of structural failure of the attachment of the wing to the fuselage that resulted from failed lateral fuselage tie rods. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.