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

By Federal Register notice (See 81 FR 24686-24687, April 26, 2016) the National Park Service (NPS) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) invited interested persons to apply to fill one current vacancy on the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG) Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC). The notice invited interested persons to apply to fill the opening to represent environmental concerns. This notice informs the public of the person selected to fill that current opening.

The U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration (MARAD) announces that the following U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (``Academy'') Board of Visitors (BOV) meeting will take place: 1. Date: July 13, 2016. 2. Time: 1:30 p.m. 3. Location: Capital Visitors Center, Washington, DC. Room to be determined. 4. Purpose of the Meeting: The purpose of this meeting is to brief BOV members on the Academy Advisory Board's annual report to the Secretary of Transportation and the status of reaccreditation. 5. Public Access to the Meeting: This meeting is open to the public. Seating is on a first-come basis. Members of the public wishing to attend the meeting will need to show photo identification in order to gain access to the meeting location.

This notice announces actions taken by FHWA and other Federal agencies that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to the proposed I-395/Route 9 Transportation Study Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), located in the City of Brewer, and Towns of Holden, Eddington, and Clifton, Penobscot County, Maine. Those actions grant approvals for the project.

We are publishing a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model AS332L2 and Model EC225LP helicopters, which was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of these helicopters. This AD immediately prohibits flight of all Model AS332L2 and EC225LP helicopters. This AD is prompted by an accident involving an EC225LP helicopter in which the main rotor hub (MRH) detached from the main gearbox (MGB). These actions are intended to prevent failure of the main rotor system and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A300 series airplanes; and Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called Model A300-600 series airplanes). This AD was prompted by a report of cracking of the lower tension bolt area at the rib one junction (both sides) of the lower wing. This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracking of the fasteners and of the fitting around the fastener holes at the frame (FR) 40 lower wing location, and corrective actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct crack initiation of the fittings of the FR40 lower wing locations, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2012-12-04, for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. AD 2012-12-04 required repetitive external detailed inspections and nondestructive inspections to detect cracks in the fuselage skin along the chem-mill steps at stringers S-1 and S-2R, between station (STA) 400 and STA 460, and repair if necessary. This new AD requires a preventive modification of the fuselage skin at crown stringers S-1 and S-2R. This new AD also reduces the inspection threshold for certain airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that, for certain airplanes, the skin pockets adjacent to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) antenna are susceptible to widespread fatigue damage. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the fuselage skin panels at the chem-mill steps, which could result in sudden fracture and failure of the fuselage skin panels, and consequent rapid decompression of the airplane.

To comply with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, FRA is adjusting the minimum penalty, ordinary maximum penalty, and the aggravated maximum penalty that it will apply when assessing a civil monetary penalty for a knowing violation of the Federal hazardous material transportation laws or a regulation, special permit, order, or approval issued under those laws. The aggravated maximum penalty is available only for a violation that results in death, serious illness, or severe injury to any person or substantial destruction of property. In particular, FRA is increasing the minimum penalty for a training violation from $450 to $463; the ordinary maximum civil monetary penalty per violation from $75,000 to $77,114; and the aggravated maximum civil penalty from $175,000 to $179,933.

This action modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Belleville Municipal Airport, Belleville, KS; Stanton County Municipal Airport, Johnson, KS; Marysville Municipal Airport, Marysville, KS; Atkinson Municipal Airport, Pittsburg, KS; and Washington County Veteran's Memorial Airport, Washington, KS. Decommissioning of non-directional radio beacons (NDBs), cancellation of NDB approaches, and implementation of area navigation (RNAV) procedures have made these actions necessary for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the above airports. This action also updates the geographic coordinates at Marysville Municipal Airport, Marysville, KS; and Atkinson Municipal Airport, Pittsburg, KS; and the name of Washington County Veteran's Memorial Airport (formerly Washington County Memorial Airport) to coincide with the FAAs aeronautical database.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) BR700-710A1-10, -710A2-20, and -710C4-11 turbofan engines. This AD requires removing the pawl carrier pivot pins, part number (P/N) BRR17117, from service and replacing them with parts eligible for installation. This AD was prompted by a seized low-pressure turbine (LPT) fuel shut-off pawl carrier caused by corrosion of the pawl carrier pivot pin. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the fuel shut-off mechanism, which could result in uncontained part release, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702), CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes, and CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that wear and possible leakage of the high-pressure seal in the cylinder of the No. 3 hydraulic system reservoir could occur and prevent the system from reaching normal operating pressure. This proposed AD would require repetitive operational checks for wear and leakage of the high-pressure seal in the cylinder of the reservoir of the No. 3 hydraulic system, and corrective actions if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct a malfunctioning temperature indication of the No. 3 hydraulic system. High hydraulic fluid temperature combined with a temperature transducer malfunction could result in un-annunciated overheating of the hydraulic system and consequent ignition sources inside the fuel tank, which, combined with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.