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

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Kidde Aerospace & Defense cargo fire extinguisher halon bottles installed on various transport category airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report indicating that certain cargo fire extinguisher halon bottles installed in the cargo compartment had low charge pressure. This AD requires an inspection to determine the part number and serial number of the cargo fire extinguisher halon bottles and replacement of affected parts with serviceable parts. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

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 collection involves the requirement for Helicopter Air Ambulance Operators to report certain information to the FAA. The FAA collects 14 pieces of data from helicopter air ambulance operators, 8 of which are mandated in the report to Congress. We collect data on the following: number of helicopters, helicopter base locations, number of hours the helicopters are flown, number of patients transported, number of transportation requests accepted or denied, number of accidents, number of instrument flight hours flown, number of night flight hours flown, number of incidents, and the rate of accidents or incidents per 100,000 flight hours. The information to be collected will be used in helping the FAA develop risk mitigation strategies and provide information to Congress.

This notice sets forth the reasons for the denial of a petition submitted on April 10, 2020, by Mr. Surjit Singh to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). The petition requests that the Agency investigate Model Year 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350 vehicles for alleged premature rear brake line corrosion failure. NHTSA opened Defect Petition DP20-004 to evaluate the petitioner's request. After reviewing the information provided by the petitioner and available NHTSA complaint and Early Warning Reporting (EWR) data, NHTSA has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to pursue further action at this time. Accordingly, the Agency has denied the petition.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2015-14- 01, which applied to certain Bombardier, Inc., Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. AD 2015-14-01 required a detailed inspection for loose bolts on the aft translating door crank assembly, and removal and reinstallation of the bolts. This AD retains the inspections of AD 2015-14-01 and adds airplanes to the applicability. For all airplanes, this AD also requires a modification of the door crank handle, which will terminate the inspection requirements. This AD was prompted by reports of loose bolts that are intended to secure the translating door crank assembly to the outside handle shaft, and of sealant missing from these bolts on another translating door. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A300 F4-600R series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of damaged main deck cargo crossbeams on the right-hand side, between certain frame locations. This AD requires repetitive detailed inspections of the affected main deck cargo crossbeams for any damage, and depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective actions, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to supersede airworthiness directive (AD) 82- 20-05 for Societe Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale (now Airbus Helicopters) Model AS-350 and AS-355 series helicopters. AD 82-20-05 requires inspecting and establishing a life limit for the tail rotor (TR) drive shaft bearing (bearing). Since the FAA issued AD 82-20-05, inconsistencies have been identified between inspections and maintenance actions required by ADs and inspections and maintenance actions specified in the applicable maintenance manual. This proposed AD would require replacing certain part-numbered TR bearings with one part-numbered bearing and repetitively inspecting one part-numbered bearing. The actions of this proposed AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

In response to public input received as part of the rulemaking process, PHMSA is proposing to revise the Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations to amend the requirements for gas transmission pipeline segments that experience a change in class location. Under the existing regulations, pipeline segments located in areas where the population density has significantly increased must perform one of the following actions: Reduce the pressure of the pipeline segment, pressure test the pipeline segment to higher standards, or replace the pipeline segment. This proposed rule would add an alternative set of requirements operators could use, based on implementing integrity management principles and pipe eligibility criteria, to manage certain pipeline segments where the class location has changed from a Class 1 location to a Class 3 location. Through required periodic assessments, repair criteria, and other extra preventive and mitigative measures, PHMSA expects this alternative approach would provide long-term safety benefits consistent with the current natural gas pipeline safety rules while also providing cost savings for pipeline operators.

FMCSA announces its decision to deny an application for an exemption from the hours-of-service (HOS) provisions submitted by DPN USA, LLC, doing business as Matrix Medical Network (Matrix). Matrix requested an exemption to allow its employee-drivers known as ``Mobile Team Leads'' to have a 16-hour window within which to operate CMVs during their work shift and to return to work with less than the mandatory 10 hours off duty. The Agency has concluded that the terms and conditions of the exemption would not achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater than would be achieved by compliance with the HOS rules.

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 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 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 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 action proposes to amend the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Cairo Regional Airport, Cairo, IL. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Cape Girardeau very high frequency omni-directional range (VOR) navigation aid as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. The name and geographic coordinates of the airport would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all MHI RJ Aviation ULC Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701 & 702) airplanes; Model CL-600-2C11 (Regional Jet Series 550) airplanes; Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705) airplanes; Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes; and Model CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that a new or more restrictive airworthiness limitation is necessary. This proposed AD would require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate a new or more restrictive airworthiness limitation. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-26-10 which applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 757 airplanes. AD 2017-26-10 requires deactivating the spoiler control module relays and capping and stowing the associated wiring on certain airplanes. Since the FAA issued AD 2017-26-10, Boeing has developed wiring changes for certain spoiler control modules (SCMs), which will improve the lateral handling qualities of the airplane during approach and landing. This proposed AD would require repetitive operational tests of the spoiler inhibit function. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD would require installing a new relay bracket assembly, making changes to the wire bundles for certain SCMs, installing new SCMs, measuring the clearance between a wire bundle and the top of the new relay bracket assembly, and applicable on-condition actions. For a certain other airplane, this proposed AD would require changing certain wire bundles. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) has under OMB review the following proposed Information Collection Request ``Improving Customer Experience (OMB Circular A-11, Section 280 Implementation)'' for approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA).

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved certain Surface Transportation Board (Board or STB) information collections under the Paperwork Reduction Act. This notice lists the approved information collections and provides their OMB control numbers and current expiration dates.

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.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announces its decision to grant the Nauto, Inc. (Nauto) application for a limited 5-year exemption to allow its multi-sensor device to be mounted lower in the windshield on commercial motor vehicles (CMV) than is currently permitted. The Agency has determined that lower placement of the multi-sensor device would not have an adverse impact on safety and that adherence to the terms and conditions of the exemption would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety provided by the regulation.

This notice announces actions taken by TxDOT and Federal agencies that are final. The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for these projects are being, or have been, carried-out by TxDOT pursuant to an assignment agreement executed by FHWA and TxDOT. The actions relate to various proposed highway projects in the State of Texas. These actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the projects.