Department of Transportation May 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD) that proposed to supersede AD 2011-01-15, which applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 757-200, -200CB, and -300 series airplanes. AD 2011-01-15 requires repetitive inspections for cracking of the fuselage skin of the crown skin panel along the chem-milled step at certain stringers, and repair, if necessary. This action revises the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) by reducing the compliance time for certain inspections. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. Since these actions impose an additional burden over that proposed in the NPRM, we are reopening the comment period to allow the public the chance to comment on these proposed changes.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 46 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 receipt of applications from 36 individuals for exemption from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. 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. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals to qualify as drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce.

FRA announces the fifty-seventh meeting of the RSAC, a Federal Advisory Committee (Committee) that develops recommendations on railroad safety regulations and other railroad safety issues through a consensus process. This meeting has been rescheduled from January 26, 2017, the previously announced date. The RSAC meeting topics will include opening remarks from the FRA Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety and Chief Safety Officer, as well as a status report from the Engineering Task Force. In addition, FRA will present to the Committee the consensus recommendations from the Hazardous Materials Working Group's retrospective review of certain portions of the Hazardous Materials Regulations, with the intent of moving for a Committee vote to approve the same. This agenda is subject to change, including the possible addition of further proposed tasks.

This document delays the implementation dates in the final rule published November 7, 2014, because model training program developers alerted FRA they will not be able to timely produce model programs that an estimated 1,459 railroads and contractors are expected to use to comply with the rule's program submission requirements.

This action proposes to modify Class D airspace, and Class E airspace designated as an extension at W.K. Kellogg Airport (formerly W.K. Kellogg Field), Battle Creek, MI. Airspace reconfiguration is necessary due to the decommissioning of the Battle Creek VHF Omnidirectional Range Collocated Tactical Air Navigation System (VORTAC), and cancellation of the VOR approaches. Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface also would be amended due to the redesign of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach, thereby removing reference to the BATOL navigation aid and Battle Creek ILS localizer. This action would also update the geographic coordinates of the airport, as well as make an editorial change replacing Airport/ Facility Directory with the term Chart Supplement in the associated Class D and E airspace areas.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, and -315 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of undamped main landing gear (MLG) extension in-service. This proposed AD would require replacement of the MLG retraction actuator rod-ends on both MLG assemblies. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This notice announces actions taken by FHWA and other Federal agencies that are final within the meaning of Section 1308 of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act. The actions relate to the conversion of existing Elkhorn Avenue, Moraine Avenue, and Riverside Drive roadways from two-way to a 0.9 mile one-way loop through downtown Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. These improvements consist of ``Phase 1'' of the proposed action analyzed in the 2016 Environmental Assessment for the Downtown Estes Loop Project. Phase 1 includes pavement rehabilitation on Elkhorn and Moraine Avenues, realignment and reconstruction of Riverside Drive and reconstruction of the Ivy Street Bridge. Those actions grant approvals for the project.

This Notice requests the current holder(s)or their heirsof STC's SA401SW, Full flow oil filter; SE325SW, Full flow oil filter; SE419SW, Full flow oil filter; come forward and identify themselves before the FAA declares these STC's abandoned.

The FAA has completed its review of the St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) preliminary application for participation in the Airport Privatization Pilot Program. The preliminary application is accepted for review, with a filing date of March 22, 2017. The City of St. Louis, the airport sponsor, may proceed with the necessary steps to select a private operator, negotiate an agreement and submit a final application to the FAA for exemption under the pilot program.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Hawthorne Industrial Airport, Hawthorne, NV, to support the development of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations under standard instrument approach and departure procedures at the airport, for the safety of aircraft and management of airspace within the National Airspace System.

FMCSA announces that the U.S. Custom Harvesters, Inc. (USCHI) has requested an exemption from the ``K'' intrastate restriction on commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) held by custom harvester drivers operating in interstate commerce. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) exempt drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) controlled and operated by a person engaged in interstate custom harvesting, including the requirement that drivers be at least 21 years old. However, many younger custom harvester drivers hold CDLs with an intrastate-only (or ``K'') restriction. This has caused drivers of USCHI member companies to be cited during roadside inspections in a different State, as some officers interpret the ``K'' restriction to mean that the license is invalid outside the State of issuance, even when the younger driver is operating under the custom harvester exemption. This is an issue not only for individual drivers, but also for the custom harvester employing those drivers, whose safety record is adversely affected. FMCSA requests public comment on USCHI's application for exemption.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for cracking in the skin lap splice at the lower fastener row, and repair if necessary. This AD was prompted by an evaluation by the design approval holder (DAH) indicating that the lower skin at the skin lap splice lower fastener row is subject to widespread fatigue damage (WFD). We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

These special conditions are issued for non-rechargeable lithium battery installations on the Gulfstream Aerospace LP (GALP) Model Gulfstream G150 airplane, as modified by Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream). Non-rechargeable lithium batteries are a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

These special conditions are issued for non-rechargeable lithium battery installations on the Bombardier Aerospace Inc. (Bombardier) Model BD-700-1A11 airplane. Non-rechargeable lithium batteries are a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) invites public comment on methods to improve the prevention of, and response to sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other inappropriate conduct, as well as methods to improve the shipboard climate during the United States Merchant Marine Academy Midshipman Sea Year experience. The purpose of this public notice is to gather comments to assist in the development of a statutorily mandated report to Congress with actionable recommendations.