Department of Transportation April 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The tire identification number (TIN), which must appear on virtually all new and retreaded motor vehicle tires sold in the United States, plays an important role in identifying which tires are subject to recall and remedy campaigns for safety defects and noncompliances. This final rule makes two amendments to the TIN. First, because NHTSA has run out of two-symbol codes to identify new tire plants, NHTSA is expanding the first portion of the TIN, previously known as the manufacturer identifier, but more commonly referred to as a ``plant code,'' from two symbols to three for manufacturers of new tires. This amendment substantially increases the number of unique combinations of characters that can be used to identify individual manufacturers of new tires. Second, NHTSA is standardizing the length of the tire identification number to eliminate confusion that could arise from the variable length of tire identification numbers. This final rule standardizes the length of the TIN at 13 symbols for new tires and 7 symbols for retreaded tires, making it easier to identify a TIN from which a symbol is missing.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is considering a proposal to change a portion of the airport from aeronautical use to non-aeronautical use and to authorize the conversion of the airport property. The proposal consists of three parcels of land containing a total of approximately 240.80 acres located on the east side of the airport between South Portland Avenue and Interstate Highway 44. The parcel 52 was originally acquired under the following grant: Airport Development Aid Program (ADAP) No. 6-40-0072-76 in 1975. The parcel 51 was originally acquired under the following grant: Airport Development Program (AIP) No. 3-40-0072-23 in 1992. The parcel 46 was acquired by Trust funds only. The land comprising these parcels is outside the forecasted need for aviation development and, thus, is no longer needed for indirect or direct aeronautical use. The Airport wished to develop this land for compatible commercial, non-aeronautical use. The income from the conversion of these parcels will benefit the aviation community by reinvestment in the airport. Approval does not constitute a commitment by the FAA to financially assist in the conversion of the subject airport property nor a determination of eligibility for grant-in-aid funding from the FAA. The disposition of proceeds from the conversion of the airport property will be in accordance with FAA's policy and Procedures Concerning the Use of Airport Revenue, published in the Federal Register on February 16, 1999. In accordance with section 47107(h) of title 49, United States Code, this notice is required to be published in the Federal Register 30 days before modifying the land-use assurance that requires the property to be used for an aeronautical purpose.

This action amends the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) regulations to incorporate changes to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) chain of custody and control form (CCF) recently approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Specifically, this rulemaking expands the DOT's definition of the CCF to include both paper and electronic forms.

This rule amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODPs) for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

This action proposes to remove certain redundant or underutilized ground-based non-directional beacon and very high frequency, omnidirectional radio range Standard Instrument Approach Procedures based on the criteria established by the FAA's Policy for Discontinuance of Certain Instrument Approach Procedures.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by results of a design review indicating that the burst pressure of the flexible hose, used to vent oxygen from the high-pressure relief valve of the oxygen cylinder overboard, was lower than the opening pressure of the high-pressure relief valve, which could cause the flexible hose to burst before it can vent the excess oxygen overboard. This proposed AD would require replacing the oxygen hose assembly with a new, improved assembly. We are proposing this AD to prevent the accumulation of oxygen in an enclosed space, which could result in an uncontrolled oxygen-fed fire if an ignition source is nearby.

On March 16, 2015, the Minnesota Division of the FHWA signed the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Trunk Highway 41 River Crossing Tier I Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). The ROD states the FHWA decision to declare the modified Alternative C-2 corridor as the selected alternative. The selected alternative involves the construction of a new east-west freeway connection between US 169 and US 212 within the modified Alternative C-2 corridor. The selected alternative is the environmentally-preferred alternative. The Tier I FEIS was made available to the public on December 12, 2014, through an NOA in the Federal Register (79 FR 73890) with a comment period that ended on January 12, 2015. See For Further Information Contact to request a copy of the ROD.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 767-200, -300, and -300F series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a finding that certain barrel nuts installed at the vertical fin may be subject to stress corrosion and cracking. This proposed AD would require either repetitive inspections of vertical fin barrel nuts for corrosion or a magnetic check to identify certain barrel nuts, and corrective actions if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct corroded and loose barrel nuts that attach the vertical fin to body section 48, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the vertical fin attachment joint, loss of the vertical fin, and consequent loss of controllability of the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain serial number GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. M601E-11, M601E-11A, and M601F turboprop engines. This proposed AD was prompted by the determination that wear or cracking, and subsequent misalignment of the quill shaft of the engine and the power turbine (PT) shaft, may lead to rupture of the quill shaft, overspeed of the PT, and uncontained engine failure. This proposed AD would require inspection of the reduction gearbox and supporting cone. We are proposing this AD to prevent misalignment and rupture of the quill shaft, which could lead to overspeed of the PT, uncontained engine failure, and damage to the airplane.

The FAA proposes to rule and invite public comment on the release of land at the former Stapleton International Airport (SIA) under the provisions of Section 125 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21), now 49 U.S.C. 47107(h)(2).

The FAA proposes to rule and invite public comment on the release of land at the former Stapleton International Airport (SIA) under the provisions of Section 125 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21), now 49 U.S.C. 47107(h)(2).

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.

The FHWA is issuing this revised notice to advise the public that FHWA and WisDOT will be preparing a Tier 1 EIS for proposed transportation improvements in the United States Highway (US) 51 corridor in Dane County, Wisconsin generally between Interstate 39/90 east of the City of Stoughton and US 12/18 (Madison South Beltline Highway). The previous Notice of Intent was to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and was published in the Federal Register on February 1, 2012.

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 December 4, 2014. The requested information is included in air carriers applications for insurance when insurance is not available from private sources.

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. This survey assesses airman opinion of key dimensions of service quality of aeromedical certification services.

This notice is announcing a one-day public workshop to discuss the recent Pipeline Safety Management Systems (SMS) national consensus standard. The meeting will include participation from all major pipeline sectors, state and Federal regulators, and public safety advocates. This workshop will detail the development process of the SMS standard. The workshop will also emphasize the core elements of the standard including: Leadership and management commitment; risk management; emergency preparedness and response; competence awareness and training; management review and continuous commitment, and the critical role of safety culture.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A300 B4-601, B4-603, B4-620, B4-622, B4-605R, B4-622R, F4- 605R, F4-622R, and C4-605R Variant F airplanes; and Model A310-203, - 204, -221, -222, -304, -322, -324, and -325 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of inner skin disbonding damage on a rudder. This AD requires repetitive ultrasonic inspections for disbonding of certain rudders; an elasticity of laminate checker inspection; a woodpecker or tap test inspection; venting the core, if necessary; and repairing, if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct rudder disbonding, which could affect the structural integrity of the rudder.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2011-09-03 for all Lockheed Martin Corporation/Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company Model 382, 382B, 382E, 382F, and 382G airplanes. AD 2011-09-03 required repetitive eddy current inspections to detect cracks in the center wing upper and lower rainbow fittings, and corrective actions if necessary; and repetitive replacement of rainbow fittings, which would extend the repetitive interval for the next inspection. This new AD requires reduced intervals for inspections of the upper rainbow fittings. This AD was prompted by analysis of in-service cracking, which has shown that a reduction in the inspection intervals is necessary for the upper rainbow fittings. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the upper and lower rainbow fittings on the center wings, which could grow large and lead to the failure of the fitting and a catastrophic failure of the center wing.

This document denies a July 7, 2014 petition from Mr. Brian Rosa of Union, NJ, requesting that the agency open an investigation into an alleged defect resulting in engine stall without warning after refueling in a model year (MY) 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan minivan. The petitioner's vehicle is a Chrysler RS platform minivan. The RS platform includes MY 2003 through 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan, Dodge Caravan, Chrysler Town and Country and Chrysler Voyager minivans. NHTSA evaluated the petition by analyzing consumer complaints submitted to the Agency, analyzing field data and reviewing technical information provided by Chrysler in response to an information request letter from the Agency, and testing an RS minivan that was the subject of a post- refuel engine stall complaint to NHTSA. After completing this evaluation, NHTSA has concluded that further investigation of the alleged defect in the subject vehicles is unlikely to result in a determination that a safety-related defect exists. The agency accordingly denies the petition.

FMCSA announces its decision to grant requests from 39 individuals for exemptions from the Agency's physical qualifications standard concerning hearing for interstate drivers. The current regulation prohibits hearing impaired individuals from operating CMVs in interstate commerce. After notice and opportunity for public comment, the Agency concluded that granting exemptions for these drivers to operate property-carrying CMVs will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety maintained without the exemptions. The exemptions are valid for a 2- year period and may be renewed, and the exemptions preempt State laws and regulations.