Department of Transportation 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the renewal of the RTCA Charter (FAA Order 1110.77W) for 6 months, effective April 1, 2017. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is authorized to establish the RTCA advisory committee in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The current charter agreement requires that the RTCA manage various Federal subcommittees on behalf of the agency. The objective of the advisory committee is to seek resolution of issues and challenges involving air transportation concepts, requirements, operational capabilities, the associated use of technology, and related considerations to aeronautical operations that affect the future of the Air Traffic Management System and the integration of new technologies.

On November 7, 2016, PHMSA published a notice and request for comments in the Federal Register, titled ``Pipeline Safety: Underground Natural Gas Storage Facility User Fee'' (November 2016 Notice), seeking comments from underground natural gas storage facility operators on a proposed PHMSA pipeline user-fee assessment and rate structure. PHMSA received nine comments in the docket. We are publishing this notice of agency action to address the comments received and to announce the rate structure PHMSA will implement in fiscal year (FY) 2017 if Congress appropriates FY 2017 funds for the Pipeline Safety Fund's Underground Natural Gas Storage Facility Safety Account.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) gives notice that it is requesting from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) an extension of approval for the collection of Demurrage Liability Disclosure Requirements.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2006-06-09, AD 2012-05-08, and AD 2012-07-08, for certain Embraer S.A. Model ERJ 170 airplanes. This AD requires revising the maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new airworthiness limitations. This AD was prompted by a determination that more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA published a document in the Federal Register on March 15, 2017, concerning the release of airport property at the South Texas Regional Airport in Hondo, Texas. The document contained the incorrect airport in the subject heading.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew a previously approved information collection. FAA Form 7480-1, Notice of Landing Area Proposal, is used to collect information about any construction, alteration, or change to the status or use of an airport.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew a previously approved information collection. National Flight Data Center (NFDC) Web Portal forms are used to collect aeronautical information, detailing the physical description and operational status of all components of the National Airspace System (NAS).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew a previously approved information collection.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew a previously approved information collection. FAA regulations require performance requirements for certain avionics equipment on aircraft operating in specified classes of airspace within the United States national Airspace System. This facilitates the use of ADS-B for aircraft surveillance by FAA air traffic controllers to accommodate the expected increase in demand for air transportation.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 3 individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

Pursuant to Section 11 of the Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act of 2015 (STB Reauthorization Act), the Surface Transportation Board (Board) is proposing changes to its rules pertaining to its rate case procedures to help improve and expedite the rate review process.

FMCSA announces a public meeting to discuss the technical specifications in Appendix A to Subpart B of part 395, Functional Specifications for All Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs), as published in the ``Electronic Logging Devices and Hours of Service Supporting Documents'' Final Rule (ELD Rule). This meeting will be a forum for discussion of the minimum requirements for ELDs and is being held to help manufacturers produce ELDs that will comply with the ELD Rule.

This action proposes to modify Class E airspace extending up to 700 feet above the surface at West Plains Regional Airport, West Plains, MO, to accommodate new standard instrument approach procedures for instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport. This action is necessary due to the decommissioning of the Hutton (HUW) Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR), and cancellation of VOR approach, and would enhance the safety and management of IFR operations at the airport. The airport's name also would be updated.

The FAA is considering a request from the Madison County Executive Airport Authority to waive the requirement that 3.19 acres of airport property located at the Huntsville Executive Airport Tom Sharp, Jr. Field in Huntsville, Alabama, be used for aeronautical purposes.

PHMSA is publishing this notice to seek public comments on a request for special permit, seeking relief from compliance with certain requirements in the federal pipeline safety regulations. At the conclusion of the 60-day comment period, PHMSA will review the comments received from this notice as part of its evaluation to grant or deny the special permit request.

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, maximum, and aggravated maximum penalties it will apply when assessing a civil penalty for a violation of a railroad safety statute, regulation, or order under its authority. FRA is also adjusting the minimum penalty, ordinary maximum penalty, and 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 under the hazardous material transportation laws is available only for a violation that results in death, serious illness, or severe injury to any person or substantial destruction of property.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain M7 Aerospace LLC Models SA226-T, SA226-AT, SA226-T(B), SA226-TC, SA227- AC (C-26A), SA227-AT, SA227-BC (C-26A), SA227-CC, SA227-DC (C-26B), and SA227-TT airplanes. This AD was prompted by detachment of the power lever linkage to the TPE331 engine propeller pitch control. This AD requires repetitively inspecting the propeller pitch control for proper torque, with corrections as necessary until required replacement or rework of the PPC assembly to have a threaded hole in the splined end of the shouldered shaft and installation of a secondary retention device is done. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of ARAC.

The FAA is considering a proposal to change 42.29 acres of airport land from aeronautical use to non-aeronautical use of property located at Lake Superior CollegeEmergency Response Training Center, 11501 MN Highway 23, Duluth, MN 55808. The aforementioned land is not needed for aeronautical use.

These special conditions are issued for the General Electric (GE) GE9X turbofan engine models. These engine models will have novel or unusual design features associated with composite fan blades. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for these design features. 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.

In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of BTS to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve continuation of the following information collection: Barrier Failure Reporting in Oil and Gas Operations on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). In August 2013, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and BTS signed an Interagency Agreement (IAA) to develop and implement SafeOCS, a voluntary program for confidential reporting of `near misses' occurring on the OCS. BTS has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with BSEE to expand the scope of SafeOCS to include an industry-wide repository of equipment failure data, analyze and aggregate information provided under this program, and publish reports that will provide BSEE, the industry, and all OCS stakeholders with essential information about failure types and modes of critical safety barriers for offshore operations related to well control. The data collection effort that is the subject of this notice addresses the collection of failure data as referenced in recently issued BSEE regulations (81 FR 25887, April 29, 2016) and (81 FR 61834, September 7, 2016). BTS received permission to collect the data under an emergency OMB control number on September 29, 2016. Through this notice, BTS is requesting permission to continue this previously approved data collection. This information collection is necessary to aid BSEE, the oil and gas industry, and other stakeholders in identifying barrier failure trends and causes of critical safety barrier failure events.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of applicable Federal regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of the FAA's regulatory activities. 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, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR). The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of the FAA's regulatory activities. 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.