Department of Transportation 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

By Federal Register notice (See 79 FR 77594-77595, December 24, 2014) the National Park Service (NPS) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) invited interested persons to apply to fill two existing openings and one upcoming opening on the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG) Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC). The notice invited interested persons to apply to fill two currently vacant seats representing environmental concerns and one future opening to represent Native American interests. This notice informs the public of the persons selected to fill these current and future vacancies.

We are revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 757 airplanes. The NPRM proposed to require modifying the fuel quantity indication system (FQIS) wiring or fuel tank systems to prevent development of an ignition source inside the center fuel tank. The NPRM was prompted by fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. This action revises the NPRM by revising the applicability, including optional actions for cargo airplanes, and extending the compliance time. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM (SNPRM) to prevent ignition sources inside the center fuel tank, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane. Since these actions significantly change the corrective action options for cargo airplanes relative to the proposal in the NPRM, and because the cost estimate is significantly revised, we are reopening the comment period to allow the public the chance to comment on these proposed changes.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Short Brothers & Harland Ltd. Model SC-7 Series 3 airplanes. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as fatigue cracking, which could lead to structural failure of the nose landing gear (NLG). We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This notice is to advise interested persons that PHMSA will host a Research and Development Forum on Thursday, April 16, 2015, in Washington, DC. PHMSA will use the forum to present the results of recently completed research projects and to discuss current and future research projects. PHMSA will also be soliciting comments on new research projects which may be considered for inclusion in its strategic plan.

The FHWA proposes to establish a process for the development of a State asset management plan in accordance with section 1106 of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), to improve or preserve the condition of the assets and the performance of the National Highway System (NHS) as they relate to physical assets. In this document ``asset management plan'' and ``risk-based asset management plan'' are used interchangeably. An asset management plan is a key management tool for highway infrastructure owners. State departments of transportation (State DOT) increasingly use asset management plans to make decisions about where and when to invest State and Federal funds in highway infrastructure improvements to achieve and sustain a desired state of good repair over the life cycle of the assets at minimum practicable cost. The development and implementation of an asset management plan also is an important part of the overall MAP-21 framework for enhancing the management and performance of transportation highway infrastructure funded through the Federal-aid highway program (FAHP). The asset management plan required by section 1106 of MAP-21 will provide States with critical data and identify investment and management strategies to improve or preserve the condition of the assets and the performance of the NHS. Under section 1106, the plan must include strategies leading to a program of projects that would make progress toward achievement of the State targets for asset condition and performance of the NHS in accordance with section 1203(a) of MAP-21, and supporting progress toward the achievement of the national goals identified in section 1203(a). While the primary purpose of this proposed rule is to address asset management plan requirements in section 1106, this proposed rule also would address other MAP-21 requirements that relate to asset management. The proposed rule defines the minimum standards that States would use in developing and operating highway bridge and pavement management systems as required by section 1203(a) of MAP-21. Also, this proposed rule would address the requirements in section 1315(b) of MAP- 21 by requiring States to conduct statewide evaluations to determine if reasonable alternatives exist to roads, highways, or bridges that repeatedly require repair and reconstruction activities from emergency events. The proposed rule would require State DOTs to take these evaluations into account in their asset management plans for facilities that are included in the plans.

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.

In a decision served on February 13, 2015, we proposed to adopt 1.007 (0.7% per year) as the measure of average change in railroad productivity for the 2009-2013 (5-year) averaging period. This value represents a decrease of 0.3% from the average for the 2008-2012 period. The Board's February 13, 2015 decision in this proceeding stated that comments may be filed addressing any perceived data and computational errors in our calculation. It also stated that, if there were no further action taken by the Board, the proposed productivity adjustment would become effective on March 1, 2015.

FMCSA extends the comment period for its January 23, 2015, notice. This notice shares information on the ``Crash Weighting Analysis'' which informs decision-making about the feasibility of using a motor carrier's role in crashes as an indicator of future crash risk. The January notice advised the public of the availability of the study report for review and comment, and requested feedback on what steps the Agency should take regarding crash and Police Accident Report (PAR) data quality. The Agency extends the deadline for comment from February 23 to March 25, 2015.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 34 individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). They are unable to meet the vision requirement in one eye for various reasons. The exemptions will enable these individuals to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce without meeting the prescribed vision requirement in one eye. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemptions will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these CMV drivers.

The Board is instituting a proceeding to determine the railroad industry's cost of capital for 2014. The decision solicits comments on the following issues: (1) The railroads' 2014 current cost of debt capital; (2) the railroads' 2014 current cost of preferred equity capital (if any); (3) the railroads' 2014 cost of common equity capital; and (4) the 2014 capital structure mix of the railroad industry on a market value basis. Comments should focus on the various cost of capital components listed above using the same methodology followed in Railroad Cost of Capital2013, EP 558 (Sub-No. 17) (STB served July 31, 2014).

Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatement of previously approved collections. This document describes an existing collection of information for 49 CFR part 574, Tire Identification and Recordkeeping, for which NHTSA intends to seek renewed OMB approval. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period was published on November 25, 2014 (79 FR 70271).

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 November 25, 2014 [79 FR 70272]. The 60-day comment period ended on January 25, 2015. The agency received no comment.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) invites comments on its intent to request from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a three year renewal of form PHMSA F 7000-1.1Annual Report for Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Systems which is currently collected under OMB Control number 2137-0614.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for SOCATA Model TBM 700 airplanes (type certificate previously held by EADS SOCATA) that would revise AD 2007-04-13. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as cracks found on the main landing gear cylinders. We are issuing this proposed AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13.

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 is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comments. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on November 26, 2014 (Federal Register 70610, Vol. 79, No. 228).

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.

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.

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.

Notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee (RETAC), pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C. app. 2 section 10(a)(2).

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 17 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.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2012-24- 10, which applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 747-400 and -400F series airplanes. AD 2012-24-10 currently requires installing new software, replacing the duct assembly with a new duct assembly, making wiring changes, and routing certain wire bundles. Since we issued AD 2012-24-10, we have received new reports of intermittent or blank displays of a certain integrated display unit (IDU) that were due to an intermittent false ground not addressed by the software installation or wiring changes required by AD 2012-24-10. This proposed AD would retain the requirements of AD 2012-24-10 and would require installing a new or serviceable pressure switch bracket and altitude pressure switch, and add an airplane to the applicability of the existing AD. We are proposing this AD to prevent IDU malfunctions, which could affect the ability of the flightcrew to read primary displays for airplane attitude, altitude, or airspeed, and consequently reduce the ability of the flightcrew to maintain control of the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A300 B4-603, B4-605R, B4-620, B4-622, B4-622R airplanes; all Airbus Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes; and certain Airbus Model A300 F4-605R airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by the manufacturer's review of all repairs accomplished using the structural repair manual. This review was done using revised fatigue and damage tolerance calculations. This proposed AD would require an inspection of the surrounding panels of the left and right forward passenger doors, and corrective actions if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct previous incomplete or inadequate repairs to the surrounding panels of the left and right forward passenger doors and the fail-safe ring, which could negatively affect the structural integrity of the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model BD-100-1A10 (Challenger 300) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by testing of the spoiler electronic control unit (SECU) software for an upgrade, which revealed a timing error between the command and monitor channels. This proposed AD would require revising the maintenance or inspection program to incorporate repetitive operational tests of the aileron disconnect system, and corrective action if necessary. This proposed AD would also require modification and reidentification of the SECU, which would terminate the repetitive operational tests. We are proposing this AD to prevent a timing error in the SECU software, which, in combination with failure of the roll disconnect switch, could result in complete loss of spoiler functionality and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.