Department of Transportation September 21, 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Board has approved the fourth quarter 2018 Rail Cost Adjustment Factor (RCAF) and cost index filed by the Association of American Railroads. The fourth quarter 2018 RCAF (Unadjusted) is 1.079. The fourth quarter 2018 RCAF (Adjusted) is 0.457. The fourth quarter 2018 RCAF-5 is 0.427.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Zodiac Seats France, 537-Series Cabin Attendant Seats. This AD was prompted by operator reports that safety belt wear was found at the attachment to the cabin attendant seat. This AD requires inspecting the safety belt webbing, and modifying and re-marking each affected cabin attendant seat. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

PHMSA finds that California's meal and rest break requirements create an unnecessary delay in the transportation of hazardous materials, and are therefore preempted with respect to all drivers of motor vehicles that are transporting hazardous materials. The agency also finds that the California meal and rest break requirements are preempted with respect to drivers of motor vehicles that are transporting Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 explosive material and are subject to the attendance requirements of 49 CFR 397.5(a), because it is not possible for a motor carrier employer's drivers to comply with the off-duty requirement of the California rule and the federal attendance requirement. Finally, the California meal and rest break requirements are preempted as to motor carriers who are required to file a security plan under 49 CFR 172.800, and who have filed security plans requiring constant attendance of hazardous materials, because the California requirements are an obstacle to carrying out the requirements of 49 CFR 172.800 with respect to such motor carriers.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, PHMSA invites comments on a new information collection pertaining to hazardous materials transportation for which PHMSA intends to request from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). PHMSA received five comments in response to the 60-Day Notice, all of which were outside the scope of this information collection request.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A330-223F and Model A330-243F airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of cracking at fastener holes located at a certain frame on the lower shell panel junction. This proposed AD would require repetitive special detailed inspections (rototest) of certain fastener holes located at the lower shell junction of a certain frame on both left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) sides, and applicable related investigative and corrective actions. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Dassault Aviation Model MYSTERE-FALCON 900 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD requires revising the maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new and more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.