Department of Transportation 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Airbus Helicopters) Model MBB-BK 117 D-2 helicopters. This AD requires amending the rotorcraft flight manual to establish a minimum airspeed limitation for the autopilot cruise height mode. This AD is prompted by two reports of uncommanded helicopter climbs and descents. The actions of this AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the BTS to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to reinstate previously approved OMB Number 2139-0046 for the following information collection: Barrier Failure Reporting in Oil and Gas Operations on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). BTS entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) to include an industry-wide repository of equipment failure data, analyze and aggregate information collected 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, addressed the collection of failure data as referenced in recently issued BSEE regulations on (81 FR 25888), 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 reinstate this previously approved OMB control number. 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.

FMCSA is seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the information collection described below. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, FMCSA is requesting comment from all interested parties on the proposed collection of information. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment. FMCSA proposes a survey to inquire about driver commuting practices to fulfill Section 5515 of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act, 2015 (FAST Act). Section 5515 of the FAST Act requires FMCSA to conduct a study on the safety effects of motor carrier operator commutes exceeding 150 minutes. The administrator is then required to submit a report to Congress containing the findings of the study. The survey proposed within this information collection request is seeking to gather information on the prevalence of excessive (greater than 150 minutes) driver commuting in the commercial motor vehicle (CMV) industry, including the number and percentage of drivers who commute; the distances traveled, time zones crossed, time spent commuting, and methods of transportation used; research on the impact of excessive commuting on safety and CMV driver fatigue; and the commuting practices of CMV drivers and policies of motor carriers.

FMCSA announces its decision to deny applications from 109 individuals who requested an exemption from the vision standard in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a CMV in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for three individuals from the requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) that interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have ``no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a CMV.'' The exemptions enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to deny applications from 35 individuals who requested an exemption from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) prohibiting persons with a clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition that is likely to cause a loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) from operating CMVs in interstate commerce.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface, at Spanish Fork Airport Springville-Woodhouse Field, Spanish Fork, UT, to accommodate new area navigation (RNAV) procedures at the airport. This action would ensure the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations within the National Airspace System.

This action amends Class D airspace, Class E surface area airspace, and Class E airspace upward from 700 feet above the surface at Pueblo Memorial Airport, Pueblo, CO. Also, the part-time Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) information is removed from Class E airspace designated as an extension, and the geographic coordinates for Pueblo Memorial Airport in the associated Class D and E airspace areas are amended to match the FAA's aeronautical database. A biennial review found these changes are necessary to accommodate airspace redesign for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations within the National Airspace System. An editorial change also is made to the Class D airspace and Class E surface area airspace legal descriptions replacing ``Airport/Facility Directory'' with the term ``Chart Supplement.''

This action amends Class E airspace at Alexander City, AL, due to the decommissioning of the Alexander City non-directional radio beacon (NDB), which requires airspace reconfiguration at Thomas C Russell Field Airport. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport. This action also updates the geographic coordinates of the airport.

We are revising an earlier proposal for certain The Boeing Company Model 767-300 and -300F series airplanes. This action revises the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) by adding new high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspections for cracking of an expanded area of the lower outboard wing skin for certain airplanes. We are proposing this airworthiness directive (AD) to address the unsafe condition on these products. Since these actions would impose an additional burden over those in the NPRM, we are reopening the comment period to allow the public the chance to comment on these changes.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 this notice announces the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting public comments on the following information collection was published on July 17, 2017.

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

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-24-02 for Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. AD 2014-24-02 required repetitively inspecting the main rotor (M/R) rotating scissors, removing certain lower half scissor spherical bearings (bearings) from service, and installing a special nut. This new AD revises the inspection requirements and requires replacing the bearings. This AD is prompted by a new report of a dislodged bearing of an M/R rotating scissor. The actions of this AD are intended to correct an unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for various aircraft equipped with a BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG (formerly BRP- Powertrain GmbH & Co. KG; Bombardier-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG; Bombardier- Rotax GmbH) 912 A series engine. 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 defective valve push-rod assemblies manufactured from June 8, 2016, through October 2, 2017. We are issuing this proposed AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Pilatus Aircraft Limited Model PC-7 airplanes. 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 the brakes remaining activated after release of the brake pedal. We are issuing this proposed AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This notice provides information regarding FHWA's finding that a Buy America waiver is appropriate for 33 iron and steel components of Georgia Ports Authority-procured Rail Mounted Gantry (RMG) cranes that will increase intermodal capacity at the Garden City Terminal in Garden City, Georgia. These iron and steel components are not manufactured (from melting to coating) in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities and of a satisfactory quality.

This notice announces a final environmental action taken by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for a project in Perth Amboy and South Amboy, Middlesex County, New Jersey. The purpose of this notice is to announce publicly the environmental decision by FTA on the subject project and to activate the limitation on any claims that may challenge this final environmental action.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Federal Aviation 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 rule amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

This rule amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface in Selinsgrove, PA. A new area navigation (RNAV) global positioning system (GPS) standard instrument approach procedure has been developed at Penn Valley Airport, requiring airspace reconfiguration. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport. This action also would update the geographic coordinates of the airport.