Department of Transportation October 13, 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the Twentieth RTCA Special Committee 225 meeting.

This rule updates the regulations governing the required design standards to be utilized on Federal-aid highway program (FAHP) projects. In issuing the final rule, FHWA incorporates by reference the latest versions of design standards and standard specifications previously adopted and incorporated by reference, and removes the corresponding outdated or superseded versions of these standards and specifications. This rule also makes technical changes to the regulatory text consistent with updated Federal Register procedures.

Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521 (PRA), and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 CFR 1320.11, the Surface Transportation Board has obtained OMB approval of an extension of the information collectionNotifications of Trails Act Agreement and Substitute Sponsorship. This collection, which is codified at 49 CFR 1152.29, has been assigned OMB Control No. 2140-0017. Unless renewed, OMB approval expires on July 31, 2018. The display of a currently valid OMB control number for this collection is required by law. Under the PRA and 5 CFR 1320.8, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless the collection displays a currently valid OMB control number.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2010-04- 03, for all Airbus Model A310 series airplanes. AD 2010-04-03 currently requires accomplishing repetitive detailed visual inspections for cracking around the fastener holes in certain wing top skin panels between the right side and left side of the front and rear spars, and repair if needed. Since we issued AD 2010-04-03, Airbus improved the ultrasonic inspection program to allow earlier crack detection and to extend the repetitive inspection intervals. We have determined these inspections are necessary to address the unsafe condition. This proposed AD would continue to require the repetitive detailed inspections for cracking around the fastener holes in certain wing top skin panels between the front and rear spars, and repair if needed, and would require supplemental repetitive ultrasonic inspections for cracking around the fastener holes in certain wing top skin panels and repair if needed. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracking around the fastener holes in certain wing top skin panels between the right side and left side of the front and rear spars, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

In recent years, there have been significant hazardous liquid pipeline accidents, most notably the 2010 crude oil spill near Marshall, Michigan, during which almost one million gallons of crude oil were spilled into the Kalamazoo River. In response to accident investigation findings, incident report data and trends, and stakeholder input, PHMSA published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) in the Federal Register on October 18, 2010. The ANPRM solicited stakeholder and public input and comments on several aspects of hazardous liquid pipeline regulations being considered for revision or updating in order to address the lessons learned from the Marshall, Michigan accident and other pipeline safety issues. Subsequently, Congress enacted the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act that included several provisions that are relevant to the regulation of hazardous liquid pipelines. Shortly after the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act was passed, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued its accident investigation report on the Marshall, Michigan accident. In it, NTSB made additional recommendations regarding the need to revise and update hazardous liquid pipeline regulations. In response to these mandates, recommendations, lessons learned, and public input, PHMSA is proposing to make changes to the hazardous liquid pipeline safety regulations. PHMSA is proposing these changes to improve protection of the public, property, and the environment by closing regulatory gaps where appropriate, and ensuring that operators are increasing the detection and remediation of unsafe conditions, and mitigating the adverse effects of pipeline failures.