Department of Transportation 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3519 (PRA), the Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) gives notice of its intent to seek from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) an extension of approval for the collection of Applications for Land-Use Exemption Permits (for Solid Waste Rail Transfer Facilities). Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 10501(c)(2), as amended by the Clean Railroads Act of 2008 (CRA), the Board issued rules in Solid Waste Rail Transfer Facilities, EP 684 (served on March 24, 2011). Under these rules, a person seeking a Land-Use Exemption Permit must file an application including substantial facts and argument as to why a permit is necessary and, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act, an environmental report and/or an environmental impact statement. Under 49 CFR 1155.20, an applicant is required to file a notice of intent to apply for a land-use-exemption permit before filing its application. A suggested form for this notice may be found in Appendix A to part 1155. Further, under 49 CFR 1155.21(e), an application must include a draft Federal Register notice. A suggested form for the draft Federal Register notice may be found at Appendix B to part 1155. Comments are requested 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.

The FAA assigned the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) a new phase 2 task to provide recommendations regarding new or updated standards in the highest priority topic areas for airplane performance and handling characteristics. This task addresses the Flight Test Harmonization Working Group's recent recommendations. This notice informs the public of phase 2 ARAC activity and does not solicit membership for the existing Flight Test Harmonization Working Group (FTHWG).

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 soliciting public comment on the ICR, with a 60-day comment period was published on January 21, 2014, at 79 FR 3467.

This is notification of criteria used to evaluate the Waypoint 2 Space, Inc. (W2S) safety approval application. The FAA issued W2S a safety approval, subject to the provisions of Title 51 U.S.C Subtitle V, ch. 509, and the orders, rules and regulations issued under it. Pursuant to Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) Sec. 414.35, this Notice publishes the criteria that were used to evaluate the safety approval application.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a crack found in the fuselage during a fatigue test campaign. This proposed AD would require repetitive rototest inspections for cracking; corrective actions if necessary; and modification of the torsion box, which would terminate the repetitive inspections. We are proposing this AD to prevent cracking in the side box beam flange of the fuselage, which could affect the structural integrity of the airplane.

FMCSA announces the availability of and requests public comment on data and information about Importaciones y Distribuciones Latina America Gami SA de CV (IDLA), a new motor carrier that does not currently have a U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S.DOT) registration number. IDLA applied to participate in the Agency's long- haul pilot program to test and demonstrate the ability of Mexico- domiciled motor carriers to operate safely in the United States beyond the municipalities in the United States on the United States-Mexico international border or the commercial zones of such municipalities. This action is required by the ``U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007'' and all subsequent appropriations.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), after consultation with representatives of the governors of the affected States, rescinds certain covered emergency exemptions. The exemptions originally took effect automatically upon declaration of an emergency by various governors or FMCSA, and were extended by FMCSA after consultation with representatives of the governors. The President signed the ``Home Heating Emergency Assistance Through Transportation Act of 2014'' (HHEATT Act, or ``the Act'') on March 21, 2014. The Act extends until May 31, 2014, all ``covered emergency exemptions'' created between February 5, 2014, and March 21, 2014, to provide regulatory relief to commercial motor vehicle operators directly supporting the delivery of propane and other home heating fuels. In accordance with the Act, FMCSA has consulted with representatives of each of the governors to determine whether emergency circumstances still exist and has determined that certain covered emergency exemptions created under the HHEATT Act are no longer necessary and should be rescinded.

We are superseding airworthiness directive (AD) 2007-19-09R1 for all Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 2B1 turboshaft engines that do not have modification TU157 incorporated. AD 2007-19-09R1 required replacement of the hydromechanical metering unit (HMU) with a serviceable HMU. This AD requires HMU replacement; reduction of the compliance interval; and inclusion of the power turbine C2 cycle consumption rate when determining compliance times. This AD was prompted by reports of ruptures on HMU constant delta pressure valves that have less than 2,000 hours in service. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the HMU, which could lead to damage to the engine, and damage to the aircraft.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of swing arm assemblies of engine fuel feed ejector pumps detaching from the outlet port of the engine fuel feed ejector pump and partially blocking the engine fuel feed line. This proposed AD would require installing a restrictor into the engine fuel feed line. We are proposing this AD to prevent blocked engine fuel flow and possible engine flameout.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the fifth meeting of RTCA Special Committee 228Minimum Operational Performance Standards for Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

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 January 31, 2014, vol. 79, no. 21, page 5512. The information enables the FAA to evaluate the validity of the user's request for National Airspace (NAS) data from FAA systems and equipment.

FMCSA announces its denial of Timberdoodle Company's (Timberdoodle) request for an exemption from section 395.3(b)(1) of the ``Hours of Service [HOS] of Drivers'' regulations (49 CFR part 395). Section 395.3(b)(1) prohibits the operation of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) by anyone who has accumulated 60 hours of on-duty time in a period of 7 days. Timberdoodle requested that its drivers be allowed to exclude from this calculation all on-duty time other than time actually driving a CMV. FMCSA concluded that Timberdoodle has not demonstrated how its CMV operations under such an exemption would be likely to achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level of safety that would be obtained in the absence of the exemption.

The NHTSA announces a meeting of NEMSAC to be held in the Metropolitan Washington, DC, area. This notice announces the date, time, and location of the meeting, which will be open to the public, as well as opportunities for public input to the NEMSAC. The purpose of NEMSAC, a nationally recognized council of emergency medical services representatives and consumers, is to advise and consult with DOT and the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS (FICEMS) on matters relating to emergency medical services (EMS).

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of two in-service incidents where one side of the main landing gear (MLG) did not achieve down-lock. This proposed AD would require a detailed inspection of the apex joints of the stabilizer brace lock link in the MLG for clearance; rectifying and repairing the clearance gap, if necessary; and lubricating the apex joints of the stabilizer brace lock link in the MLG. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct insufficiently greased stabilizer brace lock linkage of the MLG and over-torqued lock linkage attachment bolts, which could lead to the failure to extend and down-lock the MLG, and could affect the safe landing of the airplane.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend the following currently approved information collection: Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery.

This action modifies RNAV route T-265 in support of the O'Hare Modernization Project (OMP)/Chicago Airspace Project (CAP). This action re-aligns T-265 slightly to the west providing appropriate lateral spacing from a new Rockford Airport Traffic Control Tower (RFD) and Chicago Terminal Radar Approach Control (C90) airspace boundary and to maintain the efficiency and safety of aircraft transitioning around the Chicago Class B airspace area.

The Surface Transportation Board will receive comments in Docket No. EP 722 to explore the Board's methodology for determining railroad revenue adequacy, as well as the revenue adequacy component used in judging the reasonableness of rail freight rates. The Board will also receive comments in Docket No. 664 (Sub-No. 2) on how it calculates the railroad industry's cost of equity capital. The Board is seeking written comments on these matters, as described below, and later will hold a hearing to address these issues.

Pursuant to a recommendation by the Future of Aviation Advisory Committee, the Secretary of Transportation is announcing the third-annual competition to recognize students with the ability to demonstrate unique, innovative thinking in aerospace science and engineering. In its third year, the Secretary has decided to create two divisions within the award: A high school division and a university division (both undergraduate and graduate). The Secretary of Transportation intends to use the awards to incentivize students at high schools and universities to think creatively in developing innovative solutions to aviation and aerospace issues, and to share those innovations with the broader community.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA announces its plan to submit the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The FMCSA requests approval to revise and extend an ICR entitled, ``Hazardous Materials Safety Permits.'' This ICR requires companies holding permits to develop communications plans that allow for the periodic tracking of the shipments. A record of the communications that includes the time of the call and location of the shipment may be kept by either the driver (e.g., recorded in the log book) or the company. The motor carrier or driver must maintain a record of the communications for at least six months after the initial acceptance of a shipment of hazardous material for which a safety permit is required.

To reduce the risk of devastating backover crashes involving vulnerable populations (including very young children) and to satisfy the mandate of the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007, NHTSA is issuing this final rule to expand the required field of view for all passenger cars, trucks, multipurpose passenger vehicles, buses, and low-speed vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of less than 10,000 pounds. The agency anticipates that today's final rule will significantly reduce backover crashes involving children, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and other pedestrians who currently have the highest risk associated with backover crashes. Specifically, today's final rule specifies an area behind the vehicle which must be visible to the driver when the vehicle is placed into reverse and other related performance requirements. The agency anticipates that, in the near term, vehicle manufacturers will use rearview video systems and in- vehicle visual displays to meet the requirements of this final rule.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Fokker Services B.V. Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a design review, which revealed that no controlled bonding provisions are present on a number of critical locations inside the fuel tank or connected to the fuel tank wall. This AD requires installing additional bonding provisions in the fuel tank, and revising the airplane maintenance or inspection program by incorporating fuel airworthiness limitation items and critical design configuration control limitations. We are issuing this AD to prevent an ignition source in the fuel tank vapor space, which could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a crew alerting system message caused by an inversion of the wiring in the slats control manifold (SCM). This proposed AD would require doing an operational test of the SCM, and replacing the affected SCM with a serviceable SCM if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct inversion of the wiring in the SCM, which could lead to a commanded retraction of the median and outboard slats in flight, and result in reduced controllability of the airplane.