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

The FAA proposes to supersede airworthiness directive (AD) 2016-24-08 which applies to all Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-Trent 875- 17, RB211-Trent 877-17, RB211-Trent 884-17, RB211-Trent 884B-17, RB211- Trent 892-17, RB211-Trent 892B-17, and RB211-Trent 895-17 model turbofan engines. AD 2016-24-08 requires repetitive inspections of the engine upper fairing and repair or replacement of any fairing that fails inspection. Since the FAA issued AD 2016-24-08, RR has developed a modification of the engine upper bifurcation nose fairing assembly that terminates the inspection requirements of this AD. This proposed AD would continue the repetitive inspections until the terminating action is performed at the next engine shop visit. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for various transport airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of smoke and fumes in the flight deck. This proposed AD would require modification of certain universal serial bus (USB) receptacles located in the flight deck. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Spring 2019 Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. Publication of the Spring 2019 Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions represents a key component of the regulatory planning mechanism prescribed in Executive Order 12866 ``Regulatory Planning and Review'' (58 FR 51735) and Executive Order 13771 (82 FR 93390, January 30, 2017, Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs. The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires that agencies publish semiannual regulatory agendas in the Federal Register describing regulatory actions they are developing that may have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities (5 U.S.C. 602). In the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions (Unified Agenda) agencies report regulatory actions upcoming in the next year. Executive Order 12866 ``Regulatory Planning and Review,'' signed September 30, 1993 (58 FR 51735), and Office of Management and Budget memoranda implementing section 4 of that Order establish minimum standards for agencies' agendas, including specific types of information for each entry. The Unified Agenda helps agencies fulfill these requirements. All Federal regulatory agencies have chosen to publish their regulatory agendas as part of the Unified Agenda. The complete publication of the Spring 2019 Unified Agenda containing the regulatory agendas for 71 Federal agencies, is available to the public at https://reginfo.gov. The Spring 2019 Unified Agenda publication appearing in the Federal Register consists of agency regulatory flexibility agendas, in accordance with the publication requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Agency regulatory flexibility agendas contain only those Agenda entries for rules that are likely to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities and entries that have been selected for periodic review under section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440), CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701 & 702), CL-600- 2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900), and CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of power control unit (PCU) rod end fractures due to pitting corrosion. This proposed AD would require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. This proposed AD would also require detailed inspections of the elevator PCU rod ends and applicable corrective actions. This proposed AD would also prohibit using certain aircraft maintenance manual tasks. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

In response to petitions for rulemaking from the American Trucking Associations (ATA) and the Natural Gas Vehicles for America (NGVAmerica), NHTSA is proposing to amend the visual inspection labeling requirement in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 304, ``Compressed natural gas fuel container integrity,'' to state that CNG fuel containers used on heavy vehicles should be inspected at least once every 12 months. NHTSA is proposing this change because CNG heavy vehicles are typically used in high-mileage commercial fleet operations and following the current mileage-based inspection interval on the label means conducting multiple visual inspections per year. NHTSA has tentatively concluded multiple visual inspections per year based solely on mileage would not improve vehicle safety for these high-mileage CNG heavy vehicles, and could potentially reduce safety. Because the current periodic visual inspection interval is intended for light vehicles and is consistent with the operation of these vehicles, no change is proposed to the periodic visual inspection interval for CNG fuel containers on light vehicles.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-16- 10, which applied to all The Boeing Company Model 777 airplanes. AD 2017-16-10 required repetitive inspections of the left and right side underwing longerons for any crack, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD retains the requirements of AD 2017-16-10, reduces certain compliance times for certain airplanes, and removes airplanes from the applicability. This AD was prompted by reports of cracks on the underwing longerons. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

NHTSA announces a meeting of NEMSAC to be held at DOT Headquarters in Washington, DC. This notice announces the date, time, and location of the meeting, which will be open to the public, as well as provide opportunities for public input to the NEMSAC. The purpose of NEMSAC, a nationally recognized council of emergency medical services representatives and consumers, is to advise and consult with DOT and the Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services (FICEMS) on matters relating to emergency medical services (EMS).

FMCSA has received an application from Turfgrass Producers International (TPI) asking the agency to extend the hours-of-service (HOS) exemption for agricultural operations to drivers transporting turfgrass sod for its business operations. FMCSA requests public comment on TPI's application for exemption.

FMCSA announces that it has received an application for exemption from United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) from two provisions in the entry-level driver training (ELDT) final rule published on December 8, 2016. These provisions are the following: (1) The requirement that a driver training instructor have two years' experience and have held a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) for two years as set forth in the definitions of behind-the-wheel (BTW) instructor and theory instructor; and (2) the requirement to register each training location for a unique Training Provider Registry (TPR) number. FMCSA requests public comment on the applicant's request for exemption.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from ten individuals for an exemption from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions will enable these individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce without meeting the vision requirement in one eye.

This action proposes to modify Class D airspace at Acadiana Regional Airport, New Iberia, LA. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of the decommissioning of the ACADI non-directional radio beacon, (NDB). This would enhance the safety and management of standard instrument approach procedure for instrument flight rules (IFR), operations at this airport.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Hunt Field, Lander, WY, 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.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2012-22- 18, which applies to all Airbus SAS Model A330-243, -243F, -341, -342, and -343 airplanes. AD 2012-22-18 requires repetitive inspections of the three inner acoustic panels of both engine air intake cowls to detect disbonding, and corrective actions if necessary. Since we issued AD 2012-22-18, we have received additional reports of engine air inlet cowl collapse. This proposed AD would retain the requirements of AD 2012-22-18 with a reduced compliance time and reduced repetitive inspection intervals. This proposed AD would also provide for an optional modification that is terminating action for the repetitive inspections. These actions are specified in a European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which will be incorporated by reference. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain CFM International S.A. (CFM) LEAP-1B21, -1B23, -1B25, -1B27, - 1B28, -1B28B1, -1B28B2, -1B28B3, -1B28B2C, -1B28BBJ1, and -1B28BBJ2 model turbofan engines. This AD requires initial and repetitive inspections of the transfer gearbox (TGB) scavenge screens and, depending on the results of the inspection, possible removal of the engine from service. This AD was prompted by multiple reports of in- flight shutdowns (IFSDs) due to radial drive shaft (RDS) bearing failure. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

On January 2, 2019, TK Holdings Inc. (Takata) filed a defect information report (DIR), in which it determined that a defect existed in certain passenger-side air bag inflators that it manufactured, including passenger inflators that it supplied to General Motors, LLC (GM) for use in certain GMT900 vehicles. GM has petitioned the Agency for a decision that, because of differences in inflator design and vehicle integration, the equipment defect determined to exist by Takata is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety in the GMT900 vehicles, and that GM should therefore be relieved of its notification and remedy obligations. This notice serves to make the public aware of GM's pending request to the agency and the period for public comment. It does not address GM's substantive claims, nor legal arguments or interpretations asserted by GM.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection Requirements (ICRs) abstracted below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describe the nature of the information collection and their expected burdens. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collections of information was published on April 2, 2019 (84 FR 1670).

The FHWA is reopening the comment period for the Environmental Assessment (Draft) for the Washington, DC to Baltimore Loop Project, which was published on April 24, 2019. The original comment period closed on June 10, 2019. The extension is based on concern expressed by stakeholders that this closing date does not provide sufficient time to review and provide comprehensive comments on the proposal. The FHWA recognizes that others interested in commenting may have similar concerns and agrees that the comment period should be extended.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the FAA invites public comments about its intention to request Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for a renewal of an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on April 12, 2019. The FAA has launched a rebate program to emphasize the urgent need for pilots to comply with Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) Out requirements ahead of the January 1, 2020, compliance deadline. This program is defraying costs associated with the ADS-B equipment and installation for eligible general aviation (GA) aircraft, and helps ensure general aviation aircraft with ADS-B Out equipage.

This action modifies one VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway (V-78) and removes one VOR Federal airway (V-224) in the vicinity of Manistique, MI. The FAA is taking this action due to the planned decommissioning of the Schoolcraft County, MI, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigation aid (NAVAID), which provides navigation guidance for portions of the affected ATS routes. The Schoolcraft County VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Cirrus Design Corporation (Cirrus) Model SF50 airplanes. This AD was sent previously as an emergency AD to all known U.S. owners and operators of these airplanes. This AD requires replacing the angle of attack (AOA) sensors with improved AOA sensors. This AD was prompted by three incidents on Cirrus Model SF50 airplanes of the stall warning and protection system (SWPS) or Electronic Stability & Protection (ESP) System engaging when not appropriate. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.