Department of Transportation February 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Transportation (DOT) invites public comments on our intention to request Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection (OMB Control Number 2105- 0563) in accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The collection is necessary for administration of the BUILD Transportation Discretionary Grants Program. BUILD Transportation grants support surface transportation infrastructure projects that have a significant local or regional impact. A 60-day Federal Register notice was published on December 28, 2018 (83 FR 67484). Since the publication of the 60-day Federal Register notice, no comments were received to the Docket (DOT-OST-2015-0221) and therefore no review of comments was required, so none was performed by the Department.

The FAA is withdrawing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that proposed to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) that would have applied to certain Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Models MU-2B- 10, MU-2B-15, MU-2B-20, MU-2B-25, MU-2B-26, MU-2B-26A, MU-2B-30, MU-2B- 35, MU-2B-36, MU-2B-36A, MU-2B-40, and MU-2B-60 airplanes. The NPRM resulted 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 and would have required repetitively inspecting the wing spacer plates for cracks until they were replaced with an improved design wing spacer plates. Since issuance of the NPRM, we determined that damage is contained to the wing spacer plate with no evidence that primary structure is affected. Accordingly, the NPRM is withdrawn.

This action proposes to modify Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Brady, Curtis Field, Brady, TX. This action is necessary due to the decommissioning of the Brady non-directional radio beacon (NDB), and cancellation of the NDB approach. It would enhance the safety and management of standard instrument approach procedures for instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport. Additionally, the geographic coordinates are being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

This action proposes to amend the Class E surface area and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Mount Vernon Airport, Mount Vernon, IL. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Mount Vernon VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) navigation aid, which provided navigation information for the instrument procedures at this airport, as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. The geographic coordinates and name of the airport would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. Airspace redesign is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport.

This document proposes to amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 305, ``Electric-powered vehicles: Electrolyte spillage and electrical shock protection,'' to clarify the direct contact protection requirements that apply to high voltage connectors, and to explicitly permit the use of high voltage connectors that cannot be separated without the use of tools. The proposed changes to these requirements would harmonize FMVSS No. 305 with Global Technical Regulations (GTRs) No. 13 and No. 20, which explicitly permit such connectors. In addition, it would make three minor technical corrections to the standard.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces that it has discontinued preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed capacity enhancements and other improvements (Proposed Action) at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), Charlotte, NC. The Proposed Action initially presented to the FAA entailed: (1) A Fourth 12,000-foot Parallel Runway 1-19 and End-Around Taxiways; (2) Concourse B and Ramp Expansion; (3) Concourse C and Ramp Expansion; and (4) Daily North Parking Deck. Based on developments during the National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (NEPA), review process, the project now subject to environmental review includes a fourth parallel runway of only 10,000 feet. The FAA determined that this was a sufficient change to one of the proposed capacity enhancements, as described in greater detail below in the Supplementary Information section of this Notice, to warrant cancellation of the EIS and conversion to an Environmental Assessment (EA).

The Surface Transportation Board's (Board's) Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) has prepared a Draft Environmental Assessment (Draft EA) in response to a petition for exemption filed on November 21, 2018 by Texas Railway Exchange LLC (TREX) to construct and operate an approximately 2,800-foot line of railroad in the City of Galveston, Galveston County, Texas. The proposed rail line would connect the Texas International Terminals facility (the Terminal) on Galveston Bay with an existing line of railroad operated by BNSF Railway Company by crossing an existing Union Pacific Railroad rail line. The proposed rail line would offer a new alternative rail transportation option for rail traffic entering and leaving the Terminal. The Draft EA evaluates the potential environmental impacts of two alternative rail alignments, as well as the No-Action Alternative and preliminarily concludes that construction of the proposed rail line connection would have no significant environmental impacts if the Board imposes and TREX implements the recommended mitigation measures set forth in the Draft EA. The entire Draft EA is available on the Board's website (www.stb.dot.gov) by clicking on the ``Decisions & Notices'' button that appears in the drop down menu for ``ELIBRARY,'' and searching by Service Date (February 22, 2019) or Docket Number (FD 36186).

The FAA proposes to rule and invites public comment on the release of land at the Deadhorse Airport, Deadhorse, Alaska.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A330-201, -202, and -203 airplanes, and Model A330- 301, -302, and -303 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of damaged drain pipes located above the lower aft pylon fairing (LAPF), caused by a contact between the drain pipe and the two u-shape ribs of the LAPF. This AD requires a special detailed inspection for damage, and corrective actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This notice announces a meeting of the Department of Transportation Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking.

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 an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on December 20, 2018. The information to be collected is necessary because the FAA needs accurate and up to date data indicating who is performing maintenance on behalf of air carriers, what type of maintenance is being performed, and where the maintenance is being performed. This collected information will be used by the FAA to adequately target its inspection resources for surveillance and make accurate risk assessments.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A350-941 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of an overheat failure mode of the hydraulic engine-driven pump (EDP), and a determination that the affected EDP needs to be replaced with an improved EDP. This AD requires replacement of a certain EDP with an improved EDP. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Saab AB, Saab Aeronautics Model SAAB 2000 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports that certain fuel probes indicated misleading fuel quantities on the engine indicating and crew alerting system (EICAS). This AD requires a functional check of certain fuel probes, and replacement with a serviceable part if necessary. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action amends the legal description of the Class D airspace area at Atwater, CA. The FAA identified an error in a bearing contained in the Class D airspace legal description. The bearing from the airport is corrected to have the legal description coincide with the graphical representation of the airspace. This change is editorial only and does not alter the current charted boundaries, altitudes, or ATC procedures for Castle Airport, Atwater, CA.

On December 20, 2018, Variant Equity I, LP (Variant), and Project Kenwood Acquisition, LLC (collectively, Applicants), both noncarriers, jointly filed an application to acquire from SCUSI Limited 100% of the stock in Coach USA Administration, Inc., a noncarrier that owns 100% of Coach USA, Inc., another noncarrier, that controls 29 motor passenger carriers that hold federally-issued interstate operating authority. The Board is tentatively approving and authorizing the transaction,\1\ and, if no opposing comments are timely filed, this notice will be the final Board action. Persons wishing to oppose the application must follow the rules.

In accordance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the BTS to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) approval for new iterations of an on-going biennial information collection related to the nation's ferry operations. The information collected from each Census will be used to produce a descriptive database of existing ferry operations. A summary report of survey findings will also be published by BTS on the BTS web page: www.bts.gov/ncfo.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that FRA is forwarding the Information Collection Requests (ICRs) abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs describe the information collections and their expected burden. On November 14, 2018, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICRs.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, FRA seeks approval of the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below. Before submitting this ICR to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified below.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-07-05, which applied to all Airbus SAS 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). AD 2017-07-05 required repetitive detailed visual inspections of the main landing gear (MLG) leg components and replacement of the MLG leg if cracked components are found. This AD retains the requirements of AD 2017-07-05 and removes the credit for doing an MLG overhaul in lieu of the initial inspection of the MLG leg components. This AD was prompted by further investigation after AD 2017-07-05 was issued, which revealed that overhaul of the MLG does not alleviate the need for inspecting the MLG hinge arm/barrel pin for cracking. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all AmSafe Inc. seatbelts, as installed in, but not limited to, various airplanes and rotorcraft. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of multiple failed keepers on seatbelt hook assemblies. This proposed AD would require an inspection for affected parts, repetitive general visual inspections of the seatbelt hook assembly for damage, repetitive functional checks, and replacement of all affected parts. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of loss of retention of the regulator inlet filter retainer on certain crew oxygen cylinder assemblies. This proposed AD would require an operational check of the crew oxygen cylinder assembly, replacement of an affected assembly, and eventual replacement of all affected assemblies with redesigned serviceable assemblies. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-07- 12, which applies to certain Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. AD 2016-07-12 requires repetitive inspections for damage and cracking of the aft fixed fairing (AFF) of the pylons, and repair if necessary. Since we issued AD 2016-07-12, we have received reports of cracks on a certain rib of a modified AFF of the pylons. This proposed AD would retain the repetitive inspections required by AD 2016-07-12, and require additional repetitive inspections at the upper spar at a certain rib area and corrective actions if necessary. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.