Department of Transportation March 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces a public meeting of the Transit Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS). TRACS is a Federal Advisory Committee established to provide information, advice and recommendations to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administrator on matters relating to the safety of public transportation systems.

This action changes the effective date of a final rule published in the Federal Register of February 19, 2016, amending Class E surface area airspace, Class E airspace designated as an extension, and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface, in the Enid, OK, area to allow additional time for charting. This correction adds the part-time Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) language inadvertently removed from the Class E surface area description for Vance AFB, and Woodring Municipal Airport, Enid, OK. Adjustment of the geographic coordinates are also made to the Vance VHF Omnidirectional Range Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) listed in the Class E airspace area designated as an extension to the Class D surface area.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model AS 365 N3 helicopters. This proposed AD would require inspecting the cabin and cockpit for labels, placards, or markings that provide jettison procedure instructions for cabin doors, removing any labels, placards, or markings that are in an incorrect location, and installing placards where they are missing. This proposed AD is prompted by the determination that placards had not been installed according to specifications on newly manufactured helicopters. The proposed actions are intended to provide exit procedures during an emergency.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model S-92A helicopters. This AD requires certain inspections of the main rotor and tail rotor control pushrods (pushrods). This AD is prompted by a Sikorsky investigation that indicated that some pushrods may have incorrectly installed locking mechanisms. These AD actions are intended to detect an incorrectly installed locking mechanism, which if not corrected, could result in a loose jam nut, failure of the pushrod, loss of main rotor or tail rotor flight control, and consequent loss of helicopter control.

This action proposes to modify Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Portales Municipal Airport, Clovis, NM. This action is necessary due to the decommissioning of the Portales non-directional radio beacon (NDB), cancellation of NDB approaches at Portales Municipal Airport, and implementation of area navigation (RNAV) procedures at the airport. This action will also update the geographic coordinates for Portales Municipal Airport to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. This proposal would enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations in the Clovis, NM, airspace area.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model AS 365 N3, EC 155B, and EC155B1 helicopters with certain external life rafts. This AD requires installing a sheath kit on the left-hand and right-hand raft deployment control systems. This AD is prompted by a report that the life raft deployment control could not be adjusted due to problems with the life raft deployment linkage. This unsafe condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of the external life raft to deploy and prevent evacuation of passengers during an emergency.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 96-12-12, which applies to certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA-31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325, and PA-31-350 airplanes. AD 96-12-12 requires a one-time inspection of the bulkhead assembly at fuselage station (FS) 317.75 for cracks and the installation of one of two reinforcement kits determined by whether cracks were found during the inspection. This new AD requires repetitive inspections of the bulkhead assembly at FS 317.75 for cracks, repair of cracks as necessary, and the installation of a reinforcement modification. This AD was prompted by cracks found in the FS 317.75 upper bulkhead. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

This notice provides NHTSA's finding with respect to a request to waive the requirements of Buy America from the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety (MBHS). NHTSA finds that a non-availability waiver of the Buy America requirement is appropriate for the purchase of a Leica total station using Federal highway traffic safety grant funds because there are no suitable products produced in the United States.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, the FAA's exemption process. 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.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, the FAA's exemption process. 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.

We are superseding airworthiness directive (AD) 2013-11-13 for all Rolls-Royce plc (RR) Viper Mk. 601-22 turbojet engines. AD 2013-11- 13 required reducing the life of certain critical parts. This AD adds two new engine models and additional engine parts to the applicability. This AD was prompted by a determination by RR that additional parts for the RR Viper Mk. 601-22 as well as additional engine models are affected. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of life-limited parts, which could lead to an uncontained part release, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the Third RTCA Special Committee 235 meeting.

NHTSA is proposing to amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 305, ``Electric-powered vehicles: Electrolyte spillage and electrical shock protection,'' to adopt various electrical safety requirements in Global Technical Regulation (GTR) No. 13, ``Hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles.'' To expand the standard's performance requirements beyond post-crash conditions, NHTSA proposes to adopt electrical safety requirements to protect against direct and indirect contact of high voltage sources during everyday operation of electric-powered vehicles. Also, NHTSA proposes to adopt an optional method of meeting post-crash electrical safety requirements consistent with that set forth in GTR No. 13 involving use of physical barriers to prevent direct or indirect contact (by occupants or emergency services personnel) with high voltage sources. Today's proposal would facilitate the introduction of new technologies including hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and 48 volt mild hybrid technologies, and responds not only to GTR No. 13 but also to petitions for rulemaking from Toyota Motor North America Inc. (Toyota) and the Auto Alliance (Alliance).

The Department of Transportation, through the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST-R), will begin testing Global Positioning System/Global Navigation Satellite System (``GPS/GNSS'') receivers this April pursuant to the DOT Adjacent Band Compatibility Study (``the Study'') test plan published with this notice. Device testing will take place at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory at the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) facility in New Mexico. The Study provides for testing categories of receivers that include aviation (non-certified), cellular, general location/navigation, high precision, timing, networks, and space-based receivers. DOT seeks to include a broad range of devices used in rail, aviation, motor vehicle, maritime, and space transportation safety systems, among a number of other applications of GPS/GNSS. The goal of the Study is to evaluate the adjacent radio frequency band power levels that can be tolerated by GPS/GNSS receivers, and advance the Department's understanding of the extent to which such power levels impact devices used for transportation safety purposes, among other GPS/GNSS applications. The Study will involve testing of receivers provided by government agencies. In addition, to maximize diversity in the devices tested and breadth of relevant data collected for analysis in the Study, the Department requests voluntary participation in this Study by any interested GPS/GNSS device manufacturers or other parties whose products incorporate GPS/GNSS devices. Such participation could involve provision of GPS/GNSS receivers to DOT for use in testing, provision of data on receiver design to facilitate data collection pursuant to the test plan, and/or on-site commitment and support from manufacturers and other entities providing GPS/GNSS receivers for testing. DOT expects that any onsite commitment and support would take approximately one work week.

FMCSA announces that the Division of Motor Vehicles, Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), has applied for an exemption from provisions of 49 CFR 383.75(a)(8)(v) that require third-party commercial driver license (CDL) testers to initiate and maintain a bond in an amount determined by the State to be sufficient to pay for re- testing drivers in the event that the third party or one or more of its examiners is involved in fraudulent activities related to conducting skills testing of CDL applicants. FMCSA requests public comment on IDT's application for exemption.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 36 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the hearing 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.

This document announces a decision by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that certain model year (MY) 2012 Fisker Karma passenger cars (PCs) that were not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) are eligible for importation into the United States because they are substantially similar to vehicles originally manufactured for importation into and sale in the United States that were certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety standards (the U.S. certified version of the 2012 Fisker Karma PC), and they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

This notice announces the availability of the Federal Transportation Administration's (FTA) Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Annual List of Certifications and Assurances for FTA Grants and Cooperative Agreements, which can be found at FTA's Web site, www.fta.dot.gov/ certs. This notice provides a condensed list of the pre-award Certifications and Assurances that may apply to an Applicant to FTA for federal assistance and the Award that may be made in FY 2016. This notice also describes both the Applicant and FTA's responsibilities with respect to the Certifications and Assurances and highlights the differences between the FY 2016 Certifications and Assurances and those published for FY 2015. Each Applicant to FTA for federal assistance must submit the Certifications and Assurances that apply to it and any Award for which it seeks federal assistance during FY 2016. An Applicant to FTA typically acts through its authorized representative (You). You, as the Applicant's Authorized Representative, must have the authority to sign the Applicant's Certifications and Assurances and to bind your Applicant's compliance with the Certifications and Assurances you select on its behalf. Your Certifications and Assurances must be affirmed by your Applicant's attorney. This notice provides instructions on how and when you should submit your Applicant's Certifications and Assurances for FY 2016.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A300 series airplanes; Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4- 600R series airplanes, and A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called Model A300-600 series airplanes); and Model A310 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of cracked aluminum support struts of the trimmable horizontal stabilizer (THS) caused by stress corrosion. This AD requires inspections to identify the part number of each support strut, repetitive inspections for cracking of the THS support strut ends, installation of reinforcing clamps on strut ends, and replacement of support struts, if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracked THS support struts, which could lead to the rupture of all four support struts making the remaining structure unable to carry limit loads, which could result in loss of the THS and reduced control of the airplane.

FMCSA extends the public comment period for the Agency's notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that published on January 21, 2016. This NPRM concerns the proposals to the current methodology for issuance of safety fitness determinations (SFD) for motor carriers. The Agency extends the deadline for the submission of initial comments to May 23, 2016. Reply comments will be due on or before June 23, 2016. In addition, FMCSA corrects the title and date of an American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) study report that the NPRM cited about the Agency's Safety Measurement System (SMS).

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.

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 reinstatements of previously approved collections. This document describes one collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

This document grants in full the American Honda Motor Co., Inc.'s (Honda) petition for an exemption of the Pilot vehicle line in accordance with 49 CFR part 543, Exemption from Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard. This petition is granted because the agency has determined that the antitheft device to be placed on the line as standard equipment is likely to be as effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as compliance with the parts-marking requirements of the 49 CFR part 541, Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard (Theft Prevention Standard).