Department of Transportation June 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is withdrawing a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) that proposed to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) that would have applied to all Airbus SAS Model A330-200, A330-200 Freighter, A330-300, A340-200, A340-300, A340-500, and A340-600 series airplanes. The SNPRM would have required repetitive tests of affected free fall actuators (FFAs), and replacement of any affected FFA that fails a test with a serviceable FFA; as specified in European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2019-0164, dated July 11, 2019 (``EASA AD 2019-0164''). Since issuance of the SNPRM, the FAA has determined that the SNPRM does not adequately address the identified unsafe condition. Accordingly, the SNPRM is withdrawn.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain General Electric Company (GE) GEnx-1B64/P2, -1B67/P2, - 1B70/P2, -1B70C/P2,-1B70/75/P2, -1B74/75/P2, -1B76/P2, -1B76A/P2, and GEnx-2B67/P model turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by the detection of melt-related freckles in the billet, which may reduce the life limits of certain high-pressure turbine (HPT) rotor stage 2 disks and a certain stages 6-10 compressor rotor spool. This proposed AD would require the removal of certain HPT rotor stage 2 disk and the removal of a certain stages 6-10 compressor rotor spool before reaching their new life limits. 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 Leonardo S.p.a. (Leonardo) Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. This proposed AD would require removing certain main gearbox (MGB) input modules from service. This proposed AD was prompted by the discovery that a batch of duplex bearings, which are installed on the MGB input modules, are defective. The actions of this proposed AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to revoke the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Ambassador Field, Big Sandy, TX; and establish and amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at several Texas airports. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of airspace reviews caused by the decommissioning of the Quitman VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) navigation aid, which provided navigation information for the instrument procedures these airports, as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. The names and geographic coordinates of several airports would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

This action affects several airports in Texas by amending Class D airspace and Class E surface airspace; revoking Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class E surface area; amending Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface; and removing Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface. This action is due to airspace reviews caused by the decommissioning of the Hobby and Temple VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) navigation aids as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. The geographic coordinates and names of several airports would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

The FHWA, on behalf of UDOT, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) that are final Federal agency actions. The final agency actions relate to a proposed highway project, the West Davis Corridor project in Davis County, Utah. Those actions grant licenses, permits and/or approvals for the project.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 12 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.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirements of the coastwise trade laws to allow the carriage of no more than twelve passengers for hire on vessels, which are three years old or more. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics invites the general public, industry and other governmental parties to comment on the continuing need for and usefulness of DOT requiring U.S. and foreign air carriers to file traffic and capacity data pursuant to 14 CFR 241.19 and Part 217, respectively. These reports are used to measure air transportation activity to, from, and within the United States.

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 March 31, 2020. The FAA requires that small unmanned aircraft accidents be reported to the FAA if they result in injury or damage exceeding certain thresholds.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations, notice is hereby given that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the application described herein. Each mode of transportation for which a particular special permit is requested is indicated by a number in the ``Nature of Application'' portion of the table below as follows: 1 Motor vehicle, 2Rail freight, 3Cargo vessel, 4Cargo aircraft only, 5Passenger-carrying aircraft.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that the FHWA will not be preparing an EIS to evaluate alternatives that would reduce congestion and improve safety and reliability of Hana Highway between the intersection of Hana Highway with Haleakala Highway and Maliko Gulch on the north side of the Paia-Haiku region, Maui County, Hawaii. An NOI to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal Register on November 17, 2009.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that it is rescinding its NOI and will not be preparing an EIS to evaluate alternatives that would improve the roadway capacity, safety, and reliability of Honoapiilani Highway between Maalaea and Launiupoko on the west side of the island of Maui. A NOI to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal Register on June 7, 2007.

The Board is publishing, and providing the public an opportunity to comment on, the 2019 weighted average state tax rates for each Class I railroad, as calculated by the Association of American Railroads (AAR), for use in the Revenue Shortfall Allocation Method (RSAM).

These special conditions are issued for the Leonardo Model AW169 helicopter. This model helicopter will have the novel or unusual design feature associated with a 30-minute all engines operating (AEO) power rating. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. 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.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that it is rescinding its NOI and will not be preparing an EIS for the proposed Kuhio Highway Improvements, Hanamaulu to Kapaa, Kauai County, Hawaii. An NOI to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal Register on June 3, 2002.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request 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 March 31, 2020. The reporting and recordkeeping requirements of this collection are related to FAA rules governing the operation of aircraft (other than moored balloons, kites, rockets, unmanned free balloons, and small unmanned aircraft) within the United States. These reporting and recordkeeping requirements are necessary for the FAA to assure compliance with these provisions.

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 March 20, 2020, no comments were received. The collection involves the applicant entering information onto and submitting the FAA Form 8310-3, Application for Repair Station Certificate and/or Rating to the appropriate FAA field office. Persons requesting to obtain an initial Air Agency Certificate to operate as an FAA certificated repair station or request changes to an existing repair station (air agency) certificate do so by submitting the request through the submission of the FAA Form 8310-3. This form is available to the applicant/respondent via www.faa.gov, email, in person, or by mail. The FAA Form 8310-3, Application for Repair Station Certificate and/or Ratings captures information such as, but not limited to; official name of repair station, location where business is conducted, official mailing address, any doing business as name, changes in ratings, or if initial certification, ratings sought, changes in location or housing and facilities, change in name or ownership, or any other purpose for which the applicant requests, including a request for approval to contract maintenance functions to outside entities. The FAA has identified an inaccuracy in how burden calculations are determined associated with initial repair station certifications and subsequent changes to an existing repair station certificate. The FAA has identified that the information collected through the FAA Form 8310-3 does not capture the entire repair station certification activities or changes to an existing certificate. OMB Control Number 2120-0682 is not only authorizing the Agency to receive information collected on the FAA Form 8310-3, but should also encapsulate the entire calculation burden associated with repair station certification and subsequent changes to an existing certificate. Once burden calculations associated with repair station certification activities are properly assessed, the FAA will publish a new notice to the Federal Register capturing the entire burden calculation for repair station certification and subsequent changes to an existing certificate.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C1 and AS332L1 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that the affected helicopters use the same ``flight/ground'' logic signal instead of independent redundant signals. This proposed AD would require amending the emergency procedures of the rotorcraft flight manual (RFM) for your helicopter, a wiring modification of the ``flight/ground'' logic signal source of the attitude heading and reference system (AHRS) 1, and then removal of the amendment to the RFM for your helicopter. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the FAA invites public comments about our intention to request 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 October 21, 2019. The collection involves submittal of limits of validity of engineering data that supports the structural maintenance program (hereafter referred to as LOV) for certain airplane models. The information to be collected will be used to demonstrate compliance with FAA regulations requiring establishment and incorporation of LOV into the airplane's structural maintenance program.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 777 airplanes. This AD requires a repetitive check of the fuel quantity indicating system (FQIS) fuel quantity calculation for the center wing tank (CWT) fuel quantity, developing a process to provide documentation to the flight crew that this check was done, and revising the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) to incorporate verification procedures and flight crew awareness. This AD was prompted by reports of discrepancies between the FQIS fuel quantity and the refueling truck uploaded fuel amount, followed by certain engine-indicating and crew-alerting system (EICAS) messages. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Trent XWB-97 model turbofan engines. This AD requires updating electronic engine control (EEC) software. This AD was prompted by the manufacturer's finding that a P30 (air pressure) sense line could become partially blocked with a mixture of ice and water, which would cause a time-lag in the P30 signal, interfering with the fuel flow limit calculations. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This notice provides priorities for programs in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, announces the full-year apportionments and allocations for grant programs, provides contract authority, and describes plans for several competitive programs.