Department of Transportation July 2015 – 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 the information collections required under 49 U.S.C. 10904-05 and 10907, and 16 U.S.C. 1247(d). Under these statutory provisions, the Board administers programs designed to preserve railroad service or rail rights-of-way. When a line is proposed for abandonment, affected shippers, communities, or other interested persons may seek to preserve rail service by filing with the Board: An offer of financial assistance (OFA) to subsidize or purchase a rail line for which a railroad is seeking abandonment (49 U.S.C. 10904), including a request for the Board to set terms and conditions of the financial assistance; a request for a public use condition (Sec. 10905); or a trail-use request (16 U.S.C. 1247(d)). Similarly, when a line is placed on a system diagram map identifying it as an anticipated or potential candidate for abandonment, affected shippers, communities, or other interested persons may seek to preserve rail service by filing with the Board a feeder line application to purchase the identified rail line (Sec. 10907). When a line is so placed on the map, the feeder line applicant need not demonstrate that the public convenience and necessity require or permit the sale of the line, but need only pay the constitutional minimum value to acquire it. Additionally, the railroad owning the rail line subject to abandonment must, in some circumstances, provide information to the applicant or offeror. The relevant information collections are described in more detail below. 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.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 767 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracking at a central part of the structure. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections of the skin hidden by the upper and lower splice fittings on both sides of the fuselage, and corrective action if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the hidden fuselage skin and cracking, corrosion, and other damage to the splice fittings and adjacent visible fuselage skin and structure that could lead to loss of a primary load path between the fuselage and the wing box, and consequent reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2011-17-07 for certain M7 Aerospace LLC (type certificate previously held by M7 Aerospace LP) Models SA226-T, SA226-T(B), SA226-TC, and SA226-AT airplanes. AD 2011-17-07 required repetitive replacement and inspection of certain elevator, rudder, aileron, and aileron-to-rudder interconnect primary control cables, and checking and setting of flight control cable tension. This AD requires repetitively inspecting and replacing the primary flight control rudder cables, repetitively replacing all other primary flight control and trim tab cables, and checking/setting the flight control cable tension. This AD was prompted by a report of extensive damage found on the left hand primary flight control rudder cable located under the cockpit floor on one of the airplanes affected by AD 2011-17-07. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

This preliminary notice is to announce a public workshop to advance risk modeling methodologies of gas transmission and hazardous liquid pipelines and non-pipeline systems. This workshop will bring industry, Federal and state regulators, interested members of the public, and other stakeholders together to share knowledge and experience on risk modelling within the pipeline industry and other fields, ways to advance pipeline risk models, and practical ways that operators can adopt and/or adapt them to the analyses of their systems. Additionally, through this notice, and in preparation for this public meeting, we are inviting abstracts on relevant engineering and technical modeling considerations related to advancing pipeline risk models, and risk modeling methodologies used in other non-pipeline applications. PHMSA recognizes that other industries may offer potential ideas and solutions to risk modelling that are applicable to pipelines and therefore encourages participation in the solicitation from outside of the pipeline industry and outside of industrial applications. Each author of an accepted abstract will be invited to make a short presentation at the workshop.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A318-111 and -112 airplanes; Model A319-111, -112, and - 115 airplanes; Model A320-214 airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, - 211, -212, and -213 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracked cadmium-plated lock nuts that attach the hinge to the fan cowl door. This proposed AD would require inspecting to determine the serial number of each engine fan cowl door, inspecting for cracking of the hinge lock nuts of any affected door, and replacing the lock nuts if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the hinge lock nuts, which could result in separation of the hinge from the fan cowl door, in-flight loss of the door, and consequent damage to the airplane.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-26- 07, which applies to all McDonnell Douglas Model DC-8-11, DC-8-12, DC- 8-21, DC-8-31, DC-8-32, DC-8-33, DC-8-41, DC-8-42, and DC-8-43 airplanes; Model DC-8-50 series airplanes; Model DC-8F-54 and DC-8F-55 airplanes; Model DC-8-60 series airplanes; Model DC-8-60F series airplanes; Model DC-8-70 series airplanes; and Model DC-8-70F series airplanes. AD 2008-26-07 currently requires repetitive inspections of the lower skin and stringers at certain stations, and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD is intended to complete certain mandated programs intended to support the airplane reaching its limit of validity (LOV) of the engineering data that support the established structural maintenance program. This proposed AD would also require an eddy current high frequency (ETHF) inspection for cracks of the fastener open holes common to the lower skins, stringers, and splice fittings at a certain station; installation of external doublers and fasteners and repetitive eddy current low frequency (ETLF) inspections around the fasteners for any crack; and corrective actions if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the lower skins, stringers, and fastener holes of the splice fittings, which could result in the loss of structural integrity of the airplane.

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 that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the applications described herein. This notice is abbreviated to expedite docketing and public notice. Because the sections affected, modes of transportation, and the nature of application have been shown in earlier Federal Register publications, they are not repeated here. Requests for modification of special permits (e.g. to provide for additional hazardous materials, packaging design changes, additional mode of transportation, etc.) are described in footnotes to the application number. Application numbers with the suffix ``M'' denote a modification request. These applications have been separated from the new application for special permits to facilitate processing.

By this action the FAA informs airspace users of the type of air traffic control (ATC) service provided in the oceanic airspace controlled by the United States of America (U.S.). This notice is consistent with U.S. obligations under the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), including, that all Contracting States disseminate information regarding the types of ATC services provided in oceanic airspace under their control.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the sixth meeting of the Special Committee 231.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is requesting public comment on a request by the Sumner County Regional Airport Authority of Gallatin, Tennessee, owner of the Sumner County Regional Airport, to change a portion of airport property from aeronautical to non- aeronautical use at the Sumner County Regional Airport. The request consists of approximately 14.29 acres to the City of Gallatin, Tennessee for construction of Airport Road. This action is taken under the provisions of Section 125 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21).

The FAA proposes to rule and invite public comment for a temporary change in use not to exceed 5 years to accommodate vehicular parking on a section of the aircraft parking apron to the immediate west of the terminal building, at Albany International Airport, Albany, NY.

The Maritime Administration (MARAD), in cooperation with the Maryland Environmental Resource Center, will hold an open forum to solicit individual input to MARAD on the Agency's Maritime Environmental and Technical Assistance (META) Program and key environmental issues facing maritime transportation. Input received will enable the Agency to assess the effectiveness and utility of the Program thus far, and will inform MARAD and Department of Transportation decision making regarding possible future research, development and demonstration projects.

The Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) program requires a notice of the time, place, and nature of each Joint Planning Advisory Group (JPAG) meeting be published in the Federal Register. The full text of the VISA program, including these requirements, is published in Federal Register/Vol. 79, No. 209, 6446264470, dated October 29, 2014. On June 2-3, 2015, the Maritime Administration and the U.S. Transportation Command co-hosted the 2015 Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement Joint Planning Advisory Group Table-Top Exercise at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Participants of the Table Top Exercise (TTX) were required to possess a secret clearance due to the classified nature of the meeting and attendance was by invitation only. The Maritime Administrator invited VISA carriers, Maritime Labor Unions, Longshoreman Labor and designated U.S. Strategic Seaport personnel. In addition, representatives from the Department of Transportation, the Maritime Administration and the Department of Defense (DOD) to include the Office of the Secretary of Defense, U.S. Transportation Command, the Military Sealift Command and the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command attended the meeting.

The NHTSA announces a meeting of the 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).

FMCSA confirms its decision to exempt 73 individuals from its rule prohibiting persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) from operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. The exemptions enable these individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 23 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemption renewals will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

FMCSA announces an extension of the deadline for submitting petitions for reconsideration of its May 27, 2015, final rule concerning the lease and interchange of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) by motor carriers of passengers. The final rule provides regulations governing the lease and interchange of passenger-carrying CMVs to identify the motor carrier operating a passenger-carrying CMV that is responsible for compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) and ensure that a lessor surrenders control of the CMV for the full term of the lease or temporary exchange of CMVs and drivers. The American Bus Association (ABA) and United Motorcoach Association (UMA) filed a joint request for an extension of the June 26, 2015, deadline for the submission of petitions for reconsideration of the final rule. The Agency grants the request and extends the deadline for submission of petitions for reconsideration from June 26 until August 25, 2015.

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.